If you want your business to find the level of success it needs to thrive, you’ll need to make sure your office is up to scratch and working properly. If it’s not giving you and your team what you need, it’s time to make some changes. This is easier said than done, especially when you’re not quite sure where the problems lie. So, let’s take a look at some of the changes you could make to make things run more smoothly.

Use technology

If you’re finding that some of the issues stem from lack of communication, then it’s time to look into connecting your staff with technology. Teams function better when people are able to work together without having to work too hard to communicate. For example, if two people at the opposite end of the office need to work together, your best bet is to give them the ability to communicate without having to move from their desks. Things like Slack and Basecamp are a great place to start.

Consider external storage

If there’s a lot of equipment and clutter that’s building up in your office then it’s time to consider looking into external storage. By using a self storage contractor, you can make better use of your workspace and be able to move around freely. Not only does it prevent you from accidentally knocking over someone’s belongings, but it means that documents that don’t need to be on site can be stored neatly. So, make sure to use any local self storage options you can find to free up some room.

Create different types of work spaces

You should look into creating different types of work spaces. There should be space for lots of different types of working in the office. For example, you might need an open desk space for meetings so that people can work together without a divider. But, in other instances, you may also want to have closed off spaces for those times your employees need some peace and quiet to hit deadlines.

Divide it into departments

As mentioned earlier, sometimes your team might need to collaborate with another department. If this is something that happens regularly, it might be time to rearrange where people in the office are sitting to different places so that the office makes more sense. If some departments might distract or affect others, you might benefit from getting an office partition to create different work zones that can be used in different ways.

Make sure the environment is optimal

Finally, you need to be doing what you can to make sure the environment is optimal. Making sure that the light and sound levels are properly controlled prevents your employees from becoming distracted. A lack of light can negatively impact your staff’s mood, and too much sound can be counterproductive, not to mention headache inducing. Getting the balance right for both light and sound shouldn’t be overlooked. You may want to take a look at the decor to see if that might be counterproductive to your team. It could really impact the productivity of your team.

Industrial machinery is often expensive to buy. But the purchase cost is not the only expense you need to worry about. There are many other costs that are also necessary to budget for before you buy industrial machinery. Below are some of the different costs to consider.  

Insurance

If your machinery gets damaged as a result of a fire or flood, you may not be able to afford to replace it. This is why it’s worth insuring your equipment – this way you can afford to repair or replace machinery if it is damaged through no fault of your own. Insurance costs can vary depending on the cost of your machinery. In some cases, commercial property insurance may be able to cover contents like machinery. Some insurance schemes may even be able to cover general repairs and maintenance, but these are generally more expensive and not always worthwhile. 

Training

Employees may need to be thoroughly trained to use machinery – and this training could cost you money. In some cases, workers may need to undertake a course to be licensed to use machinery. While you may be able to hire employees that already have this licence, it could be hard to find such employees when operating certain niche equipment. Therefore you should be prepared to put new recruits through training and to pay for their course if necessary. 

Maintenance

To keep machinery working properly, it needs to be well maintained. For some machines, this could include a maintenance schedule made up of cleaning, lubricating and frequent inspections. Maintenance may be something that your staff can undertake, but for some machines you may be better off outsourcing professionals to service them. You’ll also have to factor in the cost of any cleaning products or lubricants that need to be continuously used and topped up. 

Repairs

Almost all machines will experience wear and tear over time. Before machinery fails completely, it’s important to schedule any repairs that need doing to parts that may be heavily worn. You can identify these heavily worn parts through regular inspections. Various parts ranging from spray nozzles to die blades can be found online. Sourcing these parts yourself could be cheaper than relying on a repair service to source them – however, this does involve knowing exactly which parts are damaged. When outsourcing repairs, make sure to shop around for repair quotes if you already know what the problem is. 

Energy costs

Finally, you need to factor in the energy that your machinery will consume. Modern industrial machinery tends to be a lot more energy-efficient than machines from 20 years ago. That said, some machines can still be very expensive to run. A few examples include wood pulping machines, blast furnaces, chemical processing machines and large cement mixers. Make sure you are prepared for the energy bills that come with running these machines. In some cases where machinery can be powered by electricity, bear in mind that it could be cheaper in the long run to invest in solar panels so that you can power your machinery with free energy from the sun. You could also consider using an energy broker to reduce costs.

When you run a business, you might find yourself developing the attitude that all other companies are potential competitors, especially if they are in the same industry as you. But this doesn’t have to be the case.While the business world has elements of being a dog-eat-dog world, where you do have to get ahead, there is still plenty of room for collaboration. In fact, collaboration is often the key to success. Here are some ways that other businesses can be beneficial and why you should focus on good B2B (business-to-business) relationships.Material and Equipment VendorsThe most obvious way that other businesses can help your company is by acting as vendors. Even large corporations can’t handle every single step of the production line, as it costs far too much to source everything from scratch.Instead, by using other companies as vendors, you can find good deals for necessary materials and equipment like perspex cut to size. You can also find the quality that you need for your company and, depending on how you negotiate, you may be able to get more value for your money by buying in bulk. OutsourcingAs well as buying or hiring equipment and materials from other companies, you can also outsource certain services to them. This will become increasingly important as your company gets larger and more complex because you will need help with the general running of your business.By outsourcing to a freelancer or another company, you can get professional services without having to hire a dedicated employee. So, if you need IT services, outsourcing is the best option for you. The same applies to accounting or legal services.CollaborationsYou can also work with other companies on certain projects. This is especially useful if both companies are in the same industry, but have different niches. By collaborating with another business, you can both market your services and expand your customer base.One way this can work is in the wedding industry. A florist can collaborate with a local baker to offer a certain deal for customers looking for both services. Wedding planners often work with specific businesses and vendors as well, as they can offer a discounted service while guaranteeing a customer.NetworkingBy engaging with other businesses in your industry, you can grow your networking opportunities naturally and build these relationships. The better relationships you have, the better deals you will be able to secure for your business, and the more opportunities for collaboration will come to you. Networking is also useful for your personal career goals, as well as those of others in your field. You can find skilled workers by getting in touch with other companies, or if you want to change your job, you may be able to find work much more easily by strengthening these professional connections.Yes, the business world is competitive, but this doesn’t mean that everyone has to be a rival. Make friends, and both parties will benefit.