If you’re starting out in a field based role, you’ll find to get the most out of your day, you need to work quite a bit differently. To work productively in a field based role, organisation should always be at the forefront of your mind. Working out and about means that your processes need to be slick and streamlined, and once you get the hang of it, your field based role could be your most productive one yet.

 

Take a look at our tips to get the most out of your day as a field based worker.

 

 

1. Preparing For Your Field Based Day

 

When you’re getting ready for the day ahead of you, make sure you’ve got everything planned down to the last detail, so that your to-do list can get ticked off as seamlessly as possible. Plan your schedule in advance so that you know exactly where you need to be and when during your field based day. It’s also worth deciding your routes and how you’re going to travel to each of your destinations, so you can keep your disruptions to a minimum and get the most out of your day.

 

It may take a bit of time to decide how you work best within your field based role. Perhaps you work well in coffee shops listening to some music, or you might find that you’re better suited to coworking spaces. Before setting out in your field based role, it’s a good idea to make a note of all of the different workspaces you could try, to help you figure out which ones work the best for you and your field based tasks.

 

The last thing to prepare is your belongings. Pack a bag filled with anything and everything you could need throughout your field based day. This should certainly include your laptop and a charger, but also consider a notebook, pens and even the little things like mints and tissues to keep your field based outings as comfortable and efficient as possible. One thing to make sure you’ve covered before every single day in the field is that all your electrical items are fully charged. There’s nothing worse than setting out in your field based role and realising first thing that you need to make a pit stop to charge your phone or your laptop. Making sure you’re ready to go will get you off to a productive start.

 

 

2. Working On The Go

 

There are plenty of tips and tricks to keep your productivity flowing in your field based role. The first is charge your devices at every opportunity. The beauty and the downfall of a field based job is that you never know when you’ll next be able to plug-in, so anytime there’s a plug, take full advantage and give yourself an extra few minutes of battery to work with.

 

As you get to know your field based role, you’ll start to make a list of your favourite working places; be they coffee shops, bars, libraries or coworking spaces. Keep all of your most productive places in mind when you’re planning out your day, so you know where you can stop off and get your head down. If you always know where you can set up office, that’s less time spent trying to find somewhere worker-friendly. The less time you spend worrying about where you’re going to work, the more efficient you’ll ultimately be within your field based role.

 

 

 

3. Staying Productive

 

A field based role allows you to work however you’re most productive, so it’s important to figure out what works for you and your job. First and foremost, make sure you have the right tools for the job. Making sure you’ve got all the equipment and software you need will make for a seamless process to your working day.

 

Communication is key for any field based role. Staying in touch with the rest of your team both out and about and back at the office is essential, so you know what needs to be done and when. Schedule regular calls and meetings with your team and your manager, so you can be sure you’re fulfilling your field based role to the best of your ability. Be sure of the tasks you need to complete, so you can plan out your days accordingly in order to achieve the most productive outcomes

 

 

4. Tools For The Job

 

There are many little things you may need throughout your field based day to make your working process more productive. Depending on how you work best, some noise-cancelling headphones may help you to get your head down, or perhaps you work better to a carefully constructed playlist. Keep yourself hydrated by carrying around a water bottle and take a reusable coffee cup so you can stay fueled up as you travel around.

 

The equipment you need to work at your best could be a fast-working laptop, a tablet to take to meetings, or even a good supply of battery power banks to keep you up and running at all times. However, the right tools for the job go beyond physical equipment; making sure you can stay connected to your files at all times is essential for a productive working day. Here at The Isobar, our Sage Hosting service lets you log on and access your desktop from wherever your day takes you; all you need is an Internet connection, and you’ll be able to really make the most out of your field based role.

 

It’s also becoming increasingly important within field based roles to protect your privacy. You can get privacy screens for your laptop to ward off prying eyes, but it’s also important to keep your data and applications secure as you hop from cafe to cafe. At The Isobar, we’ll connect you to the Cloud so you can store all of your documents safely, securely and out of reach of unwanted visitors, giving you the peace of mind to crack on with your day without a hitch.

 

To work at your best within your field based role, plan out your day, stay connected, keep up with your to-do list and kit yourself out with the equipment and software that’s going to make every day a productive one. Have a seat at The Isobar to securely keep your files at your fingertips, wherever your day takes you.

Power failure is the inconvenience that is rarely expected but never welcomed within business. When a power failure occurs it’s all hands on deck to try and get things up and running again, but there are several things you can put into place to keep your processes on track in the event of an outage.

 

A power failure is bad news for any business, but with these tools up your sleeve, you should be able to keep your operations running smoothly at all times.

 

How They Can Happen

A power failure can happen due to a number of different reasons; some are preventable and others are not, so it’s best to try and stay ahead of the game wherever you can. One of the main causes of energy-related power failure is old and poorly maintained equipment. This one can be managed by ensuring that you keep all of your equipment up-to-date, so that it doesn’t shut down unexpectedly and cause a power failure in your office. Spikes in voltage can also cause a power failure, but the risk of this can be mitigated with power surge protectors, which should help to diffuse any overwhelming power surges.

 

In terms of the power failures that can’t really be helped, these could be caused by things such as the weather disrupting power supply, animals who may chew through wires or vehicles accidentally damaging the equipment. Whilst these causes are tricky to prevent, there are plenty of ways your business can be prepared in the event of a power failure.

 

What It Means For Business

It’s essential to try and prevent every single power failure, as being out of power can have significant consequences for any business. The interruption itself will cause lows of productivity within your teams, and can even begin to demotivate them if it’s a frequent occurrence. 

 

When a power failure takes place, customers won’t be able to access your website and make enquiries or purchases. They won’t be inclined to hang about, so this means they’ll go elsewhere, resulting in a loss of custom and revenue for your business.

 

A power failure can also damage your company’s equipment due to the electrical surges that take place when the power is restored. These can cause your equipment to break or get damaged, which will ultimately cost your business even more money due to having to pay out for replacements.

 

Perhaps what causes the most inconvenience for business when a power failure happens is lost data. Because computers aren’t shut down properly, and work might not be saved, this can often result in irretrievable data. Here at The Isobar, we store all your business’s data on the Cloud. This means that even in the event of a power failure, you can rest safe in the knowledge that when the power comes back on, you and your team are going to be able to pick up exactly where you left off.

 

 

Be Prepared and Keep Moving

Putting a power failure plan into place could be what keeps your company in business during an outage, putting you leaps and bounds ahead of your competitors. The first thing you’ll need to do when you’re outlining a plan is to assess the risks within your workplace and highlight where your business might be most vulnerable. This allows you to focus on what’s most likely to go down, so you can best prepare for it.

 

Outline how you can deliver your products and services, even during a power failure, so the losses you see will be minimal. It’s also a good idea to educate your employees so they know what needs to happen when a power failure occurs. This emergency response training is the trick to getting everything back up and running in the blink of an eye. Your team will need to know what needs to be turned off during a power failure, and a dedicated member of staff should know how to reset the power, as well as whether it’s safe to do so. You could also ask someone in your team to sign up for outage alerts, so you can stay in the know if and when there will be any planned power cuts.

 

In terms of your equipment, make sure you’ve got a backup generator or an Uninterruptible Power Supply ready to go so you can be up and running again in seconds when a power failure kicks in. It’s also a good idea to have a backup battery for your computers or your mobile phones so that even if they can’t be plugged in to the mains, they can still keep running until the power comes back on. Having a mobile hotspot in place is also handy in case the WiFi goes down, as well as having a landline phone on hand if there’s a loss of signal.

 

One of the most effective ways to keep your business’s operations running smoothly at all times is by making the most of the Cloud. With automatic backup and recovery solutions, having the Cloud by your side will help to protect your important documents in the event of a power failure. It also means that even if your office is down, your team can get back to work on whichever devices are available to them. With the Cloud, all your data and applications are stored safely, so you can access them from any device, wherever you are; all you need is an Internet connection.

 

With Sage Hosting from The Isobar, we’ll safely and securely connect your business to the Cloud, so you can rest easy, knowing your team won’t be held back by a power failure. Grab a seat at The Isobar to prepare for power failures and keep your business smooth sailing at all times.

Operating costs are part and parcel of running a business, but they also go hand in hand with the amount of profit your business makes. This is why it’s important to stay ahead with your operating costs, so you can be sure that your outgoings don’t hinder your profit margins.

 

Operating costs are the expenses a business faces through maintenance, administration and any other day-to-day costs. Things like payroll, benefits, sales commissions and the cost of running the building all come under operating costs, so keeping these at an efficient level for your business will see your outgoings go down and your profitability go up.

 

Using Technology To Your Advantage

 

Believe it or not, having the most up-to-date technology can in fact help you to keep your operating costs down. Take a look at your processes and what you and your team have to spend a lot of time on. Once you’ve pinpointed these difficulties, use technology to streamline these systems and improve your business’s efficiency.

 

You could even consider switching over to the Cloud for all of your computing needs. This will mean that you no longer need to spend money on expensive on-site servers or their ongoing software upgrades. Connecting your business to the Cloud also means that you won’t be wasting money on your resources. Here at The Isobar, you can upgrade your package whenever you need extra servers, giving you the flexibility to only use what you need. This efficiency will save you money on your operating costs, as you won’t be shelling out for unused servers.

 

 

Negotiating Suppliers & Office Equipment

 

Take the first steps towards reducing your operating costs by shopping around for new suppliers or by striking up a new deal with your current ones. Take a look at your biggest outgoings so you can highlight where the inefficiencies are, and then all you’ll need to do is negotiate with your current suppliers or shop elsewhere for a better deal. After doing this for a few of your biggest outgoings, you’ll soon find your operating costs are reducing. Don’t be afraid to cancel anything that goes unused, such as staff benefits or subscriptions.

 

Perhaps quite surprisingly, outsourcing jobs could make your operating costs look healthier. Although hiring freelancers or agencies to help run your business can seem expensive, going to the experts will ensure you get a healthy return on investment, which, in the long run, will actually make your business money and make those operating costs a worthwhile investment. You could also start buying refurbished equipment for your office. This could be anything from work mobiles down to a new keyboard. Getting refurbished equipment doesn’t mean compromising on quality, it just means you’ll get kitted out with equipment that’s almost as good as new, but costs significantly less.

 

Another way to cut your operating costs is by going green. Simply by trying to print less or even going paperless, you’ll reduce your operating costs by not needing to buy as much paper, printer ink and printer maintenance. You can also save money on your bills by installing eco-friendly lightbulbs, insulation to keep the heat in, and even by opting to reduce your waste. Saving on energy costs will not only paint your business in a better light to potential clients, but will make your pockets happy too, taking your operating costs even lower.

 

Reducing Operating Costs With Productivity

 

Productivity is a big factor when it comes to your operating costs. It’s worth spending money on enabling your team to become more productive, as productivity means that your team will be working harder and essentially bringing more money into your business. You can start upping productivity by encouraging your employees to report any inefficiencies. Ask them how processes can be improved, and you could even offer a small reward for anyone who suggests a plan which is then put into practice. Another way to save money through productivity and efficiency is by paying your invoices early. Often, companies will offer a small discount when invoices are paid early, so make the most of this and you’ll soon see savings on your operating costs.

 

One of the most efficient ways to save on your operating costs is remote working. Not only will remote working allow your team to work more productively, but when your team work remotely, you’ll also save money on maintenance and equipment, as well as utilities and office supplies. You may even be able to downsize to a smaller office, which will knock a huge chunk off your operating costs. Over at The Isobar, our Sage Hosting service lets your employees work wherever their feet take them, so whether they’re out and about or just at home, they’ll be able to access their desktop, without using up space or supplies in your office.

 

Operating costs are the expenses needed to run your business, but there are plenty of ways you can shave off those pennies to start seeing smaller bills and higher profit margins. Here at The Isobar, our Sage Hosting service lets you and your team hop on and off your desktop whenever you need, so you can make significant savings in your office. We’ll always let you know if you’re running low on resources, so you can rest easy knowing you’ll never be wasting money on unused servers, letting inefficient operating costs be a thing of the past. Come and have a seat at The Isobar to see just how our savvy Sage specialists can boost efficiency and decrease operating costs in your business.

If you’ve decided to work from home, you can get ready to welcome productivity and flexibility into your working life. However, before you dive in, it’s best to set some ground rules so that you can work from home in the best way possible for you, your job and your schedule.

We’ve delved into some of the most effective ways to work from home so you or your team can start remote working in the most productive way to achieve positive outcomes for your business.

Creating a Home Office

If you’re starting to work from home, it’s important to still make it feel as though you’re at work, even if you are in your own front room. Create a workstation or office for yourself somewhere in your house so you can work from home whilst still being in the working mindset. Make one spot in your house where your mind can start switching to business-mode, encouraging you to remain productive as you work from home.

Declutter your space so you don’t see that stack of washing up or the ironing pile in the corner of your eye, distracting your mind and invading your to-do list. By creating a clear space away from any reminders of household chores, you can work from home in peace, staying focused on the tasks in hand.

When you work from home, it’s also important to establish some ground rules with anyone you share your house with. Tell your housemates what your schedule is, so they know when they can and cannot disturb you. Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you can act as though you’re at home, so just ensure the people you live with can understand and respect your working space.

 

Setting up a Routine

Remote working can take some time to establish and fine-tune, but it’s important to find a routine that fits into your schedule and helps you to continue working in the most productive way, even though you now work from home. Time management is one of the most important aspects of a routine when you work from home. Set aside a schedule so you know exactly when you should and should not be working. As you work from home, it’s easy to get carried away, but it’s also important to switch off and refresh, so make sure you establish break times and a definitive finish time to your working day. The great thing about remote working is that you can set your own schedule, so you can work from home at the times when you know you’re most productive.

Make sure you keep a to-do list when you work from home and include the tasks you need to complete each and every day, so you’re always aware of what you should be doing, helping you to avoid distraction. Set limits to how much time you can spend freely browsing the Internet and social media, and try to be mindful of keeping procrastination to a minimum so you can keep your focus on your to-do list.

If you’re just starting to work from home, you can try acting as though you’re going to work as you normally would. Keep your morning routine the same and once you’re dressed and ready to work, head over to your designated space to get your head down. Something as small as dressing for work will put you in the mindset for the job straight away, so you can enjoy a productive day of remote working.

Whether you work from home or not, it’s a really good idea to get up from your desk or workspace every hour or so to escape the screens and stretch your legs or get some fresh air. Keeping a clear head is even more important when you work from home, as it’s easy to get distracted by your personal life, but setting strict working hours and having regular breaks will certainly help you to master productive remote working. Try to leave the house each day, even if it’s just for a little walk on your lunch break. The beauty of remote working is that you can even up sticks and work from your local coffee shop for a few hours to break up your routine and enjoy a change of scenery. As long as they’ve got an internet connection, with Sage Hosting from The Isobar, you’ll be able to access your data and applications without a worry.

 

Kitting Yourself Out

When you work from home, you’ll find that your technology and your equipment become all the more essential. You’ll need to make sure you have the right chair and desk to sit at your computer throughout your working day, so it’s worth investing in these if you’re planning to work from home regularly.

Staying connected to the rest of your team is increasingly important when you work from home in order to keep your processes running as smoothly as possible, so ensure you make the most of technology such as instant messaging and video conferencing. Remote working will also mean you strive for the peace of mind that your data is safe as you move from the main office to your home office and beyond. Here at The Isobar, we pride ourselves on having a water-tight Sage Hosting service, so you can access your desktop safely, wherever you choose to work.

 

4 Tools to Help Your Team Work From Home

Zoom

Conferencing service Zoom has come out as one of the nation’s favourite remote work solution, with even the likes of politicians using the software. Zoom offers a range of communication tools to help you conduct meetings whilst out of the office. The platform allows up to 49 users to share HD videos of themselves and allows 1000 participants to join the stream and watch. Zoom provides users with transcription tools for easy minute taking and the ability to share screens. It is integrated with several email systems (such as Outlook), allowing you automatically post events to your teammate’s calendars. The software can also act as a phone system, allowing users to preview and log incoming calls. This feature can help users who work within customer service.

Additionally, regular webinar holders can benefit from using the service. With the ability to connect to a range of CRM systems, presenters can control stream subscriptions and can broadcast seamlessly to viewers. This feature can work well for product announcements, demos and thought leadership streams.

All in all, Zoom is a versatile option for staying in contact with customers and colleagues alike. Video chats let you exchange information visually, such as through body language, to communicate the right message whilst working from home.

 

Slack

If you’re looking for an instant messaging service to deliver quick updates to team members, Slack is a great option. With a straightforward screen layout, Slack will update your co-workers in real-time and is ideal for collaborative projects. It’s the quickest way to communicate whilst working from home.

Instant messages allow you to share and receive information faster than email correspondence. Slack works by flashing a small notification on the user’s screen which shows a preview of the latest message received. Teammates can then click onto the chat boards to read the message in full.

Chat logs can be organised via ‘channels’ which can be named by the users and customised with public or private settings. The platform also gives you the ability to share files with colleagues, including Word documents, spreadsheets, and image files.

The platform even comes with an app store for further customisation. Along with interactive apps such as polls, Slack can be connected to separate programs such as HubSpot, Monday and Dropbox.

Slack is a great way to improve communications amongst teams and enhance project management whilst businesses work from home. Its simple design makes it accessible to all users and provides teams with instant updates to help them stay coordinated.

 

The Isobar

Whilst taking your laptop home is simple, the same cannot be said for your office server. The Isobar eliminates the issue by hosting your software online.

Servers are pieces of hardware which connect your computer to your electronic office files. On-premise servers are limited by location, meaning that you can only access your files if you’re in the office. Cloud servers, however, store your data and software online so they can be accessed from any device.

The Isobar is a hosting and storage solution. It uses cloud-technology to host your software, making it accessible from any device. With several built-in layers of security, cloud servers keep your information and files secure. The Isobar uses features such as two-step authentication and dual-layer firewalls to keep confidential data protected.

The remote software creates regular backups to act as a safety net, making it possible to retrieve data if it is accidentally deleted. The Automatic Failover feature helps reduce office downtime by switching out faulty hardware, so work stored is not compromised. Cloud servers allow you to work remotely for the long-term. On top of this, The Isobar’s technical team can remotely log in to perform updates and resolve software issues.

The Isobar is suitable for businesses who use Sage 50 and can be a great asset to any team that decides to work from home.

 

Monday

If you often have multiple projects always running at once, you should consider a project management software, such as Monday. These platforms exist to provide insight into project progress and the workload of teammates.

Monday lets you see the status of tasks at a glance. With a user-friendly layout, you can see exactly what stage work is at and managers can make sure employees are on track for deadlines. The platform has a simple column structure where you can choose what kind of information you would like to be displayed. The columns types include text, timelines, dates, numbers, and ‘people’ for assigning tasks. Once you are happy with the arrangement, you can preview this information as a timeline, calendar, or Kanban board. You can separate each board you create using workspaces. This allows you to organise projects by department or work area, making it easy to find what you are looking for.

 

If you’ve enjoyed this blog, you can read more articles here. To start your free demo of The Isobar, leave an enquiry and we’ll get back to you shortly.

 

Cloud hosting is becoming more and more commonly used in workplaces all over the world. There are many advantages that your business could see when you take the plunge with Cloud hosting, not least the welcome opportunity to introduce remote working as a practice within your operations.

 

If Cloud hosting has piqued your interest, take a look at these benefits and start seeing improvement in your business’s operations.

 

Time, Money and Resource Saving

 

Cloud hosting naturally has a flexible pricing structure, meaning you’ll only ever pay for what your business actually needs. Simply put, when you require more resources, you can easily give us a call at The Isobar and we can increase your package at the touch of a button. This flexibility means that you don’t need to worry if you have additional data needs, as we’re always on hand to amend your package as you and your business need. Ultimately, the flexibility of Cloud hosting will save your business money. 

 

Not only does Cloud hosting save your resources, but it works towards a healthier environment too. By using fewer overall datacentres, and only the server resources your business really needs, your company will ultimately be building a lighter carbon footprint. This sustainable form of desktop hosting powers virtual services rather than physical products, encouraging a more environmentally-friendly workplace and putting your business in the green spotlight.

 

Business Efficiency

 

Your business also has the opportunity to become even more efficient with Cloud hosting. Thanks to multiple servers within the Cloud infrastructure, your business can reap the rewards of a high uptime rate. If one datacentre does go down, there’s always another one available to support your operations, letting you rest safe in the knowledge that downtime can become a thing of the past with Cloud hosting and its mirrored datacentres. Cloud hosting also means your business can enjoy the benefits of load balancing across these multiple servers. This ultimately means that there’ll be less strain on any one server, paving the way for a better user experience. With Cloud hosting by your side, you can also make the most of automatic software updates, saving you and your business both time and money.

 

Cloud hosting also makes way for the opportunity for your team to work remotely. They’ll be able to access their data whilst they’re on the go. This also gives your business scope to employ skilled freelancers who can work offsite. As well as remote and freelance working, Cloud hosting also encourages increased collaboration, as team members can view and share information amongst each other both easily and securely.

 

Cloud analytics comes hand in hand with Cloud hosting too. This means that you can easily analyse your business and its efficiency, allowing you to amend and increase productivity accordingly.

 

 

Safety and Security

 

After all these benefits of Cloud hosting, the icing on the cake is that it’s also an incredibly safe and secure place for your business to store your data and applications. All your company’s documents are stored in one place within the Cloud and in a single format, maintaining consistency within your data. This reduces the opportunity for human error and also ensures a clear record is kept of any revisions or updates in your data.

 

When it comes to your data, Cloud hosting ensures safety from any server hardware issues. By working within the Cloud, your data will be kept safely away from any physical server issues including hacking, hardware failure or system overload, thanks to being able to rely on those multiple servers who will always have your business’s back.

 

With Cloud hosting, you never need to worry that your data will go AWOL. All of your information that’s uploaded to the Cloud will remain safe and easily accessible. As long as your employees have got an Internet connection, they’ll be able to simply and securely access their data and applications, even if their usual computer is on the blink.

 

Cloud hosting is becoming more and more commonly used within businesses and it’s easy to see why. Cloud hosting with Sage from The Isobar means that your data will not only be kept away from the wrong eyes, but you can also rest safe in the knowledge that your team will be able to get to those all-important files, whenever they need to. Thanks to our Cloud hosting, hardware upgrades become quick and painless, and our Automatic Failover feature means that your business can make the most of uptime, all the time. These features essentially put your business on the cutting edge of technology, allowing your company to take the lead ahead of your competitors, with uninterrupted working days and maximum efficiency. Pull up a chair at The Isobar to start reaping the rewards of Cloud hosting with Sage for yourself.

When starting out with Sage 50, there are all sorts of invoicing tricks to get to grips with, but once you’ve started to master Sage 50, you’ll start to see just how streamlined your operations can be. Invoicing can be a tiresome task, but with Sage 50 up your sleeve, the trials and tribulations that invoicing brings will be a thing of the past.

 

Invoicing with Sage 50

 

Sage 50 makes invoicing as easy as pie. To create a sales invoice on Sage 50, all you have to do is click on Job Details, then Job Billing. Once you’ve selected that, simply go to Job Number, Finder Button, then select the required job and hit OK. Then, all you need to do is click New, then Invoice and you can complete the sales invoice there. Then once you’ve clicked OK, your sales invoice is complete!

 

Creating a credit note on Sage 50 is much the same, except for when you click the Finder Button, just select the required customer before hitting OK. Then click New, Credit Note and complete the sales credit note as you need it before completing it by clicking OK. 

 

If you’ve got an existing invoice and you need to create a credit note for it, Sage 50 makes it simple. Simply click Invoices and Credits and select the invoice you’d like to credit. Once you’ve selected the correct invoice, click Credit Invoice. All you need to do then is edit the credit note as required and just click Save.

 

When you’re entering invoices in your Sage 50 account, you can even leave the invoice number field blank, and Sage 50 will automatically assign invoice numbers when the invoices are printed, leaving you one less job to do!

 

When operating a company, it’s important that every document that goes out is branded to your business. Fortunately, Sage 50 is here to allow you to do exactly that. You can use Report Designer to customise your invoice and credit note layouts, so you can tailor them to your specific design requirements. Report Designer on Sage 50 allows you to add your company logo to your invoices, as well as your bank details. You can even create a completely bespoke design, setting your documents and your business ahead of the rest.

 

Sage 50 makes every stage of invoicing a lot easier, giving you the time to focus on other pressing tasks, and maybe even stop for a cup of tea. Here at The Isobar, we’ll integrate Sage 50 into your existing invoicing system, polishing the performance of your invoicing process, and giving you the confidence to control your credit notes.

 

 

Benefits and Features of Sage 50

 

Sage 50 will not only ease your invoicing operations, but will also offer you and your business a plethora of other benefits that will keep your company running at its most productive.

 

When starting out with Sage 50, you should find it easy to understand whether you’ve had accountancy experience or not. There are plenty of video demos to help you get to grips with invoicing on Sage 50, and you can even learn how to use it in Sage 50’s practice mode. Invoices need to be kept safe and secure at all times, and Sage 50 schedules regular, automatic backups, so you can have peace of mind that your invoices won’t go astray and your reputation is protected.

 

Managing customers is easy through Sage 50 too, making emailing invoices to your customers a breeze. Sage 50 allows you to receive and process card payments when your customers are keen to settle up, and you can also see who owes you money from the invoices you’ve sent out, as well as when the payment is due. Before you even commit to sending out an invoice, Sage 50 allows you to calculate the amount of profit you’ll make on quotes, so you can make an informed decision as to whether to take on the next job.

 

Sage 50 also allows you to manage your suppliers with ease. You can create credit notes from your invoices, and even see a cash flow forecast, meaning you can predict what the future might hold and making managing your finances a breeze with Sage 50. You can keep track of all the money going in and out of your business with Sage 50, so you can keep a close eye on all your invoices which are due.

 

You can also have two users at the same time with Sage 50, meaning more than one person can be working on your invoices every day, making the process even more swift and efficient. Sage 50 even allows you to record eBay transactions, so you can keep track of any sales outside of your own website too.

 

Invoicing with Sage 50 makes the process all the more streamlined and productive, allowing your employees to make the most of their time. Here at The Isobar, we can train your employees in Sage 50, allowing them to develop their learning and use Sage 50 to its full potential. Once you’re ready to take on Sage 50, we can also integrate it into your existing invoicing system, seamlessly letting you make the transfer over to Sage 50. Come and take a seat at The Isobar to start making steps towards improving your operations and enhancing your team’s efficiency with Sage 50.

Downtime consists of any unplanned event that means production or productivity comes to a halt. Downtime has the potential to cause a whole host of unwanted results such as customer dissatisfaction, reduced productivity, damage to the business’s reputation and an array of other problems that your business would need to quickly clean up after. In any business it’s a massive inconvenience, resulting in loss of capital and reduced sales, but in IT, downtime can also lead to cyber attacks, which no business ever wants.

 

We’ve put together some tips and tricks as to how you can help to keep downtime away from your business.

 

Why Does Downtime Happen?

Downtime can occur for any number of reasons. Servers don’t like being overloaded, so when there are two many users trying to get onto them, downtime can set in. If the technology isn’t monitored, problems can’t be foreseen, which can also result in downtime. Let’s not forget that network issues can also cause downtime. Security flaws and software bugs can all make problems arise which ultimately results in downtime for a business. Outdated hardware is also a problem when it comes to downtime, as when your technology isn’t running as it’s designed to be, it leaves gaps in security.

 

Less well-known reasons for downtime include natural disasters and human error. Unfortunately, it’s almost impossible to prevent these from happening, so downtime is never completely avoidable. That’s why it’s essential to have some procedures in place to limit the damage and interruptions caused when downtime sets in.

 

Downtime Damage Control

When downtime rears its ugly head, it’s important to be prepared for whatever it might throw at you. Having procedures in place to limit the effects of downtime not only means that your data will be kept safe, but can also mean that you’ll be back up and running sooner than you thought. Having backup systems in place will mean that whatever is lost during downtime can be found again once you’re back in business. Ensuring your data centres and IT teams have battery and generator backup systems may means that you can avoid downtime altogether in the event of a failure. You could also consider using a secondary data centre site to make sure there’s a safety net for disaster recovery if your primary one fails.

 

It’s essential to make sure your IT staff are qualified and trained to respond quickly and effectively to downtime. Having the skills on board to get your systems back up and running could save your business a lot of time, money and resources.

 

 

How Can We Prevent It?

Although downtime isn’t completely preventable in all cases, there are many scenarios where it can certainly be avoided. Keeping on top of the maintenance of your systems is essential. This lets you put your systems to the test, meaning you can identify and address any problems which are lurking in the shadows before they turn into the dreaded downtime. By also monitoring your servers and network, you can ensure they’re performing at their best. This way, if there is a problem, you can make sure you detect it early to nip it in the bud and forget about downtime entirely.

 

You could even automate some routine tasks to reduce the risk of human error. Even clicking on the wrong thing at the wrong time can result in downtime, so ensure your team know all about IT security and how they can do their bit to avoid downtime. Simple tricks such as not clicking on any links in emails from someone you don’t know can save a serious bout of downtime.

 

You should locate your systems in physically secure locations too, to ensure that nobody who shouldn’t have access can get to your data and applications, shutting down your systems and letting downtime take its course. Take the time to meticulously test any major upgrades so you and your team know what to expect and try and schedule them for a time when downtime won’t affect your team too badly.

 

Cloud-based hosting is also worth considering. This often means that downtime is significantly reduced, as you can simply hop on to another machine if yours fails. This kind of hosting also means that you don’t need to rely on an in-house data centre, meaning that there’s less technology that can fail you, and your data can be kept away from harm at all times.

 

Here at The Isobar, our Sage Hosting systems use Cloud-based hosting, ensuring that your data is safe and you can let business carry on without a hitch. Our Automatic Failover feature switches out any faulty or failing hardware, making absolutely sure that your Cloud server can continue working at its best, without a single hiccup. This means that a single-point of failure, such as an in-house server or a PC being inaccessible, is close to non-existent, and downtime becomes a worry of the past.

 

Hop over to The Isobar to let your business glide on with ease, without being interrupted by the effects of downtime.

Remote working is becoming ever-more popular in workplaces over the world. There are many advantages of remote working for the employees themselves, such as being able to wave farewell to tiresome commutes, feeling more comfortable and setting their own timetable. But what are the advantages for a business of letting your team take the plunge with remote working?

 

Remote Working Perks For Business

When it comes to remote working, there are all sorts of advantages. First off are the clear advantages for your employees; they save time in their commute, have a better work-life balance and are generally healthier and happier thanks to the added flexibility of their job, but how does this benefit your operations?

 

A reduced or eliminated commute for your employees means they’re arriving at work without having been stressed out by traffic. It also means you could promote yourself as a greener business, by discouraging the use of cars. Importantly, an improved work-life balance will help make sure morale is constantly on the up, which will actually boost their productivity. Furthermore, it’s a no-brainer that healthier and happier employees have greater job satisfaction, and so are more likely to go the extra mile.

 

Commonly found in people who enjoy the perks of remote working is the willingness to go above and beyond at work. Generally, they’re so thrilled to be able to work from home, that they’re incredibly grateful for and appreciative of their employers, and so they don’t mind putting in the extra time and effort. Plus, with the added bonus of many staff being more productive at home, you’ll find that your team actually get more done in the same amount of time, which is great news for you.

 

Direct advantages of remote working for businesses also include the obvious; saving money. Fewer employees in the office means less office space is needed as well as fewer facilities, which translates into considerable savings for the business. Everybody knows that illness can spread in an office, so remote working reduces the risk of staff sick days significantly, keeping productivity at a high. Even more importantly, when you introduce remote working to your business, you’ll find your staff retention rate may rise, enabling you to keep hold of your most valued employees, and you’ll also attract new ones too. Thanks to remote working, you’ll no longer be held back by location either, allowing you to recruit only the best minds for the job.

 

 

Making It Work

The key to making remote working viable for your business is communication. It’s vital to have consistent communication between you and your employees. This doesn’t mean constant communication, as this would provide continuous distractions which would certainly lower productivity, however, scheduling regular video meetings with your employees lets you keep track of where they’re at with their tasks, and allows them the opportunity to come to you with any problems or queries. During these calls, it’s important to give honest feedback so that everybody stays on the right track. Make sure your employees know what they need to be working on, what you think could work better and, perhaps most importantly, what you feel is working well. 

 

The key thing to bear in mind with remote working is that you need to trust your employees. One of the main advantages of remote working for employees is not having someone watching over you, so you need to know that’s not necessary in order for remote working to be a success in your business. To keep everyone connected, you could also invest in and install some chat programmes. These allow your remote working employees to discuss with their peers the projects they’re working on, as well as let them touch base back in the office and ask for help and advice easily when they need to.

 

Investing in technology will make sure that your remote working process is as seamless and effective as possible. When remote working becomes the norm for any of your employees, it’s essential that it’s safe. You need to be absolutely confident that your data and applications are completely secure in order to prevent a data breach or cyber attack.

 

To keep on top of security, you’ll need to ensure that your systems and hardware are always up-to-date to reduce the risk of downtime or cyber attacks. You’ll also need to ensure that no harm can come to any of your data or your applications, so your remote working employees can continue with their tasks without any unwanted interruptions and your reputation can remain intact.

 

Here at The Isobar, our Sage Hosting service connects you straight to the Cloud. Thanks to this efficient process, your remote working employees will only need an Internet connection to get access to their desktop. You can also be sure that your data won’t be compromised, as every one of our servers is kitted out with dual-layer configured firewalls. All software updates are carried out by us, so you can get any updates you need right away. We’ll also back up your documents off-site to ensure complete disaster proofing, making your transition to remote working quick and completely painless. 

 

Come and take a seat at The Isobar to make a start with remote working, and start seeing the benefits of a happy, committed and productive workforce.

Keeping on top of credit control is a vital part of any business; it lets you know that you’re being paid on time for the jobs you’re doing and helps your cash flow perform at its best. There are several credit control tips and tricks you could apply to your processes that’ll make invoicing run smoothly.

 

Here at The Isobar, we’ve developed our own credit control software, enabling you to get your head back into business, without stressing about late payments. Take a look at our ideas here to set up a credit control process without any hiccups.

 

The Importance of Credit Control

When you give credit to a customer or client for your products or services, you’ll more often than not need to be paid when the end of the month comes around, and that’s where credit control comes in. A credit control process is the strategy that’s implemented by a business to keep on top of the invoices that need to be paid by customers and clients. 

 

As is the nature of business, many customers will not pay their invoices until they are reminded to, so it’s important that your credit control process includes reminders sent out on the exact day invoices are due, if not even a few days before. Having good credit control will not only reduce the debts owed to your business, but will improve cash flow too, meaning there’ll be no need to pay interest on your overdrafts and your business will be less likely to go into debt itself.

 

Invoicing Insights

When implementing a credit control process, it’s important to think about how you’ll be chasing invoices from the get-go. To begin with, make sure you assess the risk of your existing and any new customers from day one. You could even consider researching your customers’ credit management to decide whether they’re even safe to do business with. This nips any potential problems in the bud, before they even have chance to blossom into something bigger.

 

It’s sensible to set out a clear credit control process for your business so your accounts team know exactly what they should be doing and when. This makes for a streamlined credit control operation that’ll keep your customers in line and in the know about when they’ll be required to pay.

 

When invoices need to be sent, make sure they’re on their way quickly and ensure that every one is accurate. An error-ridden invoice will not be paid and you may not even be made aware that there’s a mistake, so if you want to be paid on time, make sure your invoices are correct. Also ensure to address them to the relevant person to get the right eyes on your invoice swiftly.

 

Keep your terms and conditions as clear as day so there can be no misunderstanding when your customer or client receives your invoice. You should also make clear the steps that will be taken if an invoice is paid late, such as any additional charges. You could even consider encouraging early payment with small discounts if the invoice is paid before it’s due.

 

One of the most important aspects of credit control is maintaining a positive working relationship with all of your customers and clients. The nature of credit control means that sometimes uncomfortable conversations need to take place, so having a good relationship will make those phone calls that bit easier and even more effective.

 

 

When Late Payments Come Knocking

As part of your credit control process, there needs to be a plan in place when the due date passes by without a payment. When you’re waiting for late payments to come in, keep checking the business bank account so you can be made aware as soon as the payment does come in, so you’re not chasing an invoice that has actually been received.

 

In the terms and conditions of your credit control process, you may have mentioned that a late payment will incur additional charges. This could be late payment interest or compensation charges.

 

To keep on top of credit control, firstly, remind customers of the payment schedule when they place their order, so they are aware when they should have paid by. As soon as the invoice becomes overdue, send reminder letters, texts or emails out so your customer or client is aware that their invoice is now late and they may soon be subject to additional charges. Send subsequent emails, texts or letters every week from this date to encourage payment. Following these concise steps should mean that there’ll be no need to take further action, and you can continue running your business smoothly.

 

When you want a helping hand, Sage 50 helps you to manage your credit control and your outstanding debtors by enabling you to view transaction histories, so you can see when they last paid you. You can also record contacts for both customers and suppliers, so you know who you need to call when an invoice becomes overdue. Customer credit control from Sage 50 also allows you to make payments, dispute items, handle bad debts and even write off invoices if and when you need to.

 

Over at The Isobar, our experienced and savvy team of developers have created a credit control software specifically to support your business through the ins and outs of invoicing. Our software integrates with Sage, which automatically follows up your invoices via email, SMS or post, saving you heaps of time to realign your focus back to your business growth. Come and have a seat at The Isobar to switch over to a system which will keep your credit control running smoothly.

Data security is of the utmost importance in any business these days. No matter the shape or the size of your business, data is the lifeblood of any company, and keeping data security tight has never been so essential.

Having the right data security not only prevents the loss of any data through unauthorised access, but also protects sensitive data from corruption. Keeping on top of data security means your business can maintain your good reputation, safe in the knowledge that both your data and your customer’s data is being kept under lock and key.

Data security includes all manner of things, such as data encryption, tokenization and specific practices that ensure the protection of data across all applications and platforms used by the individual business. We’ve put together some data security measures that your business can undertake in order to keep up to scratch with keeping your data private.

 

What Technology Can Do

 

When it comes to data security, the first thing to do is to rely on the Cloud to store your data and schedule regular back-ups. To keep on top of data security, you should do a complete back-upevery week, but also back-up some of your files every single night before you leave work. Having the right data security protocols in place will mean that you can recover your data if the storage is damaged in any way.

Firewalls are amazing data security tools; working in the background to monitor and control the network traffic. These clever data security tricks can restrict access to certain files, preventing the spread of any malware that does manage to get onto the system.

Antivirus and anti-malware protection is also essential when it comes to your business’s security. These are the last defences should an attack make its way through to your network, tripping it up at the final hurdle and keeping your data away from harm.

You should also update all of your programs and software regularly, ensuring you can maintain their safety. By keeping on top of any updates, you can steer clear of any issues or holes in security that programmers have managed to fix, keeping you one step ahead of unwanted attacks.

Make sure you remember to secure your devices too. Laptops and mobile phones in particular are at risk, simply due to how portable they are, and how easily they can be lost or stolen. You can tighten your data security on your devices by encrypting them so that without the correct password, none of the data contained there can be read. You can even enable remote wiping so that, so that in case of loss or theft, all data can be wiped remotely from the device, just in time to keep it from prying eyes.

 

What You Can Do

 

With all the best technology in the world, there are still several steps you and your team can take to improve security in your workplace. Firstly, make sure you use strong passwords for all access needs and applications. Upper and lower-case letters, alongside numbers and symbols make for the strongest passwords, particularly when the password is 8-12 characters long. The important thing to teach your team is not to use any personal data as their passwords, such as names or birthdays. To remain on top of data security, change passwords every 90 days, and when it comes to access, make sure each user has their own username and password; never share passwords as this makes it easier for hackers or malware to figure out your data security measures and get past them.

This next part is simple; keep an eye on your data. You can even install data-leakage prevention software that looks out for suspicious patterns that might indicate a data breach. Monitoring your data security means that you can know the minute it looks like someone or something is trying to hack into your system.

When keeping track of your data safety, it’s also important to remember physical security. You could consider controlling access to certain buildings, rooms or cabinets within your office where data, computers, media or hardcopy materials are kept, so you can keep access to an absolute minimum.

One of the most important details of data security is to educate yourself and your team. Encourage safe online use and make sure everyone understands how important and sensitive your company’s data is. Ensure everyone in your workplace understands suspicious emails, warning them never to click on links from email addresses they don’t know, as it could spread malware onto their system. Keeping in the know around your online security means your business will run smoothly, and your data will be kept safe and sound.

 

What We Can Do

 

Here at The Isobar, every single piece of work is backed-up off-site with Microsoft Azure. This ensures complete disaster proofing, and comes as standard with all of our packages, so you can rest easy knowing your important files and applications aren’t going anywhere. Every one of our servers boasts dual-layer configured firewalls as well as strict active directory account policies, essentially ensuring that only the people you want to access your data can do so. All software updates are carried out by us, right here at The Isobar, so there’s no need to hang about if you need to make sure that your data security is on top form.

If you want to amp your data security up a gear, don’t delay. Come into The Isobar and our team will guide you through secure data policies that mean when you begin Sage Hosting with us, you can enjoy enhancing your operations knowing that your sensitive data and important applications aren’t going anywhere.