Prioritizing Innovation

Innovation doesn’t have to happen on a grand scale. Even the smallest innovations in the office and on the job site can help your business run more smoothly, quickly and efficiently.

“[Innovations] are important because they can save a small business person time and money, allowing them to service their customers better and help them attract new customers,” says Bill La Chapelle, president of National Small Business Association (NSBA).

Implement these innovations to your daily or weekly routine to save your company both time and money:

On-site
Construction Adhesive
John Wilder, a construction contractor based in Jacksonville, Fla., says one of the most valuable efficiencies he’s implemented is using construction adhesive such as PL 400 or Liquid Nails rather than hidden fasteners.

“People think screws are the best way,” he says. “It’s a common misconception with fasteners.”

When working on decks, Wilder applies construction adhesive and then tacks the boards in place with a finish nailer outfitted with stainless steel finish nails until the glue sets up. This method enables him to work 60 percent faster, which saves him time and money.

“The glue has a 400 lbs per sq inch holding power that screws can’t match,” he adds. “That is about 2800 lbs of holding power per joint that invisible fasteners can’t come close to. The glue is also cheaper than invisible fastener hardware.”

Another bonus, Wilder says, is the glue stays flexible during heating and cooling cycles, but the bond will not break. Once he tried to remove a deck board that was glued down, but all he did was break up the board.

“Once the adhesive is cured, the wood is literally welded,” he says. “You can’t take it apart.”

Trailer-mounted bucket lift
“Ladders are the number one cause of accidents in the workplace, according to OSHA,” says Wilder. “The bucket lift is so much safer because you can work from the safety of the inside of the bucket.”

In addition to the safety benefits, the bucket lift provides convenience because it frees up both hands (from not having to steady a ladder), making your work faster and safer. Wilder adds you also speed up your work because rather than having to climb up and down a ladder and repositioning it, you can simply hit the joystick to “move effortlessly.” Wilder says he painted a two-story house with a bucket lift, and he did the job start-to-finish in three days; with a ladder, it would have taken 10 days, he says.  

Jott.Com
Kip Gregory, principal of The Gregory Group, a marketing and technology coaching firm based in Washington, D.C., recommends jott.com, a voice-to-text transcription service, because it allows you to communicate better with employees who are working in other locations. The automated service recognition (ASR) software works so that you call a phone number, speak any notes, messages or updates, and it is then transcribed into text to be sent via e-mail, text message or Web update.

“It’s very sophisticated software,” says Gregory. “It allows communicating without having to sit down at a computer. It’s a fixed cost, and it gets better the more you work with it.”

In the office
Switching from paper to digital
Using less paper not only has green benefits, but it usually saves time as well. La Chapelle says when members ask him how they can improve staff communication, he recommends sending regular e-newsletters that can be delivered daily, weekly or monthly in order to keep everyone informed about company happenings. Rather than sending out regular e-mails, La Chapelle recommends going through a company such as Constant Contact, which supplies a template and also stores all data.

La Chapelle also mentions that accounting requires a lot of paperwork, but buying software rather than using traditional bookkeeping is more green, more efficient and relatively inexpensive. He recommends Microsoft Office Accounting Professional or Intuit Quickbooks Professional.

Utilizing social media for networking
Keeping up with industry trends and communicating with your fellow field professionals is essential for any business’ success, but many can’t afford to attend national and regional conferences. Luckily, social media provides unlimited opportunities for networking and gaining important industry knowledge.

“People are communicating back and forth with their ideas, sharing what they know and also asking questions to get information,” says La Chapelle.

Create accounts on social Web sites such as Facebook and Linked In. It’s easy and basic membership is free. La Chapelle also recommends following related businesses on Twitter to keep you updated about the latest developments in your field.