Forum Moderators: LifeinAsia
I have many websites (15) where I sell both products and services. Some of these sites have enquiry forms, others are where people actually make payment and I receive a confirmation email.
Currently, all this data just piles into my email client (The Bat!). Yes, I filter the various emails into their corresponding folders but this is not entirely satisfactory. Whilst 3 weeks ago I was the one in charge of answering emails, now I have plans to delegate as much as possible.
Therefore, I need a system that will let me delegate certain email tasks while my part-time admin person is working with me. She is doing 16 hours per week yet my business runs 24-7. Therefore, I don't want the emails just syphoned off into her own email account as then I will have to use her PC when she is not there.
In a nutshell, I think I need to completely overhaul my business systems to a multi-employee environment. Only in that way can I delegate and still be able to use my trusty PC.
That is the generic email issue dealt with. But what about all that form data that piles into my Inbox? Seems to me that it should be collated into a database or something similar, so I can easily get stats, follow up and so on.
My head is full of ideas but this one is frustrating me. I have no experience in working in a larger organisation, having always been self-employed. Therefore, I cannot refer to examples from previous employment.
These must be common issues for small businesses. How about discussing how your setup runs or solutions that you would propose?
Thanks,
Jon
Basically I wrote an admin app. I log in, and there it is, all the pending work. You just click for trash, accept, forward, process,file and so on and the system takes care of that.
If you'Re into coding I recommend a MySQL database and PHP backend (although that's not what I use). Otherwise I highly recommend you hire somebody like me, i.e. a web developer (don't need a designer) to write it for you.
Good luck with stream lining your business.
SN
