The truth about operations management is this: either you love it, or you hate it. There are some among us who simply relish in the satisfaction of intense planning and organisation to ensure smooth processes – who make careers out of this. Then there’s the rest of us, who seek the quickest, simplest ways of getting things done, and can’t be bothered with the laborious amounts of extra admin, on top of everything else. Most of the time, we’re the ones who must juggle our actual job, plus see to the operations side of things – whether it be in a small agency setup or our very own fresh start-up business. Something has to give, right?
Thankfully, we are not alone in the struggle. Judging from the number of solutions and innovations that have sprung up to target this specific problem, it appears that many of us are seeking help with managing operations.
The first step is to admit you need help.
Now that that’s out the way, let’s look at some of the software tools that can be a gamechanger in your business operations, and potentially even in your everyday life.
Monday.com
Frequent YouTube users will recognise this one, no doubt. The platform has been bombarding us with ads for this nifty project management tool. Monday.com allows you to easily plan and track project workflows and team tasks and output.
One of the biggest drawcards of this one is its ability to visually represent all the important data you’ll need to efficiently manage your operations. What’s more, workflows are fully customisable, so you can tailor them to your specific needs. If that sounds too complicated, they also provide over 200 workflow templates to choose from. It’s very competitively priced, and if you’re an individual working on your own, it’s free!
Trello
Before the internet and the handy operations management software it birthed, good ‘ol sticky notes and whiteboards were the modus operandi for keeping track of company projects. Trello has taken that concept and created a tool so intuitive and easy to use that it’s hard to believe the big impact it can make on your organisation.
Boards, lists, and cards are the basics of the app, and as your requirements grow, you’re able to expand to calendars, checklists, productivity metrics, and timelines. Trello also offers easy integration of existing tools you may be using, plus automation for those recurring tasks that often find themselves falling through the cracks.
Asana
Perhaps one of the more robust project management tools out there, Asana packs a punch for both individuals and large teams. While most project management tools are free to individuals and teams just starting out, Asana offers the most features, even on its free plan.
It boasts carefully considered workflow templates for various types of work teams, for example, marketing, engineering, event planning, design, IT, to name just a few. However, they are confident that whatever you do, Asana can help you manage your operations in the best way possible. Take them up on the challenge!
Good ‘ol human beings
So, you’ve tried out a few operations management software tools and you still don’t feel completely “taken care of”? Decided you’ve spent way too much time downloading and testing out apps, only to be underwhelmed with the results? Not to sound like a Luddite, but sometimes the best innovation in the world simply cannot make up for the inimitable value humans add. Perhaps that’s what you’re missing amidst all the algorithms and automation?
An online personal assistant may just be exactly what you need. Completely remote, but always available to tend to your business admin, personal tasks, and even family needs, an online personal assistant will take the weight of everyday organisation off your shoulders so you can focus on the bigger, more important tasks at hand.
You’d be surprised – though very pleasantly – at all the things they can do to help you out. From presentation prep, recruitment, calendar management, to email correspondence, travel scheduling, banking, and even remote filing. It’s the perfect solution in that you get the value of the human brain and its sensitivity, while still harnessing elements of technology to get the job done.
Considering you’ve been able to admit you need help with your day-to-day tasks, now it’s time to take the next step and try one of these solutions out. Happy organising!
