Presented 3/18/2015 at Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce Building Your Business

1. Streamlining Your
Business with
Software Solutions
Helping Businesses
Grow & Succeed
Portland Community College

2. 1. How to identify business areas ripe for
software applications
2. Software solutions for common
problem areas
3. How to implement software solutions
successfully
LET’S GET STARTED…

3. IDENTIFY

4. WHAT’S YOUR END GAME?
• Automation
• Reduce steps
• Eliminate redundancy
• Transparent communication
• Foster collaboration

5. • Repetitive (e.g. sending reminders)
• Administrative (e.g. scheduling
appointments)
• Involves multiple people (e.g. account
management)
WHERE TO LOOK FIRST

6. MAP IT OUT
Example
Send email
Client emails
back
Send
confirmation
Send
reminder

7. YOUR TURN
• What can be automated?
• What are things people do that could
be done by technology?
• What are the most time-consuming,
frustrating processes?
• What processes are fit for a software
solution?

8. TOOLS
*Please note the SBDC is not endorsing these companies.

9. • Appointments
• Employees
• Meetings
• Tracking
TIME MANAGEMENT

10. Search: online appointment scheduling
Appointment.com
Starting at $8.25/month

11. Search: online employee scheduling
ShiftPlanning.com
Starting at $35/month

12. Search: meeting scheduler
Doodle.com
Starting at free

13. Search: time tracking software
Toggl.com
Starting at free

14. • Templates
– Gmail: Canned Responses
– Outlook: Templates
• Snooze
• Reminders
• Communication
EMAIL MANAGEMENT

15. Search: snooze email
Streak.com
Starting at free

16. Search: schedule email reminders
SendRecurring.com
Starting at free

17. Search: email marketing
MailChimp.com
Starting at free

18. • Communication all in one place
• Keep track of status and details
PROJECT MANAGEMENT

19. Search: project management
Asana.com
Starting at free

20. Search: project management
Trello.com
Starting at free

21. • Organize receipts
• Alternatives to QuickBooks
– FreshBooks
– Wave (waveapps.com)
ACCOUNTING

22. Search: receipt organization app
Shoeboxed.com
Starting at free

23. • Available anywhere
– Dropbox.com
– Box.com
• Collaboration on documents
– Google Drive
– OneDrive
DOCUMENT MANAGEMENT

24. • Inventory management
• Customer relationship management
• Sales management
• Voicemail
• Shipping management
• Marketing automation
• Social media
• Content management
• And more…
Other areas

25. • Capterra: www.capterra.com
• Review lists
• Ask your peers
• Look up integrations on popular
software solutions like: Hubspot,
Freshbooks, MailChimp, SurveyMonkey
Other resources

26. • Mobile/Native apps
• Security
• Customization
• In House vs. Outsourced Customization
• Up time
• Integrations
• Support and Documentation
WHAT TO LOOK FOR

27. IMPLEMENT

28. 1. Get the whole team on board
2. Identify business area to improve
3. Determine the goal(s) to achieve
4. Try 1 solution at a time
5. Factor in time for training and change
management
6. Commit for 30 days or at least the trial
period
7. Evaluate results after trial
IMPLEMENT FOR SUCCESS

29. • Identify goals and needs
• Choosing the right software solution
• Implement for success
RECAP

30. Business Advising + Business Education
= Thriving Business
In 2014, we worked with 750 businesses.
Join us at an upcoming free Orientation
BizCenter.org/PCC
ABOUT US

31. • Small Business Builders: April 8th
• Retail Small Business Management: April
20th
• Small Business Management: TBA
UPCOMING AT WILLOW CREEK
CENTER

32. Oregon Small Business Development Center Portland Community College
971-722-5080 | sbdc@pcc.edu | www.bizcenter.org/PCC
PCC CLIMB Center for
Advancement
1626 SE Water Ave, Suite 310
Portland, OR
PCC Willow Creek Center
241 SW Edgeway Drive
Beaverton, OR
PCC SE Campus
2305 SE 82nd and Division
Portland, OR
2014 Recipient of SBA’s Region 10 SBDC in Excellence and Innovation
The Portland Community College Small Business Development Center has helped thousands
of businesses over the past 30 years. We combine one-on-one advising with programs
taught by business experts, giving our clients the resources they need to grow their
businesses. In 2014 we worked with over 700 small business owners, trained over 1,500
clients in a wide range of courses, and celebrated many successes. We'd love to celebrate
your success.