Updated on by Hayley Brown
Organisational efficiency refers to examining how an organisation can increase its output using a specific amount of resources. Ultimately the higher the output, by using either the same or fewer resources, such as time and money, the more efficient the organisation is.
Therefore when looking to drive organisational efficiency areas of a business will be examined. For instance, the alignment between departments, processes currently used, software and systems, customer service, and employee development. In doing so organisations understand where new processes and procedures can be implemented to improve overall organisational efficiency.
Strategizing an organisation for increased efficiency
Setting out a clear strategy for an entire business can help increase efficiency and help employees achieve the overall aim. For instance, implementing philosophies such as DevOps. Described as a development strategy that bridges a gap between software development and IT operations.
Ultimately aiding an organisation’s efficiency through cross-departmental collaboration, with continuous communication. Resulting in a reduction of the software development life cycle. As well as the delivery of features, fixes and updates more frequently to customers.
Implementing DevOps is not only beneficial to organisational efficiency but can help with a business’s digital transformation. Digital transformation is the process of integrating digital technologies to transform a business or service. Fundamentally changing how an organisation operates and delivers value to customers.
Typically achieved by replacing manual tasks with digital processes, replacing older technology, and investing in the development and training of staff. Further developing employees’ skills in new technology, such as low-code and no-code tools can feed back into the business strategy. It can also remove backlog from developers as the introduction of a low code development platform can deal with integration requests.
Understanding an organisation’s metrics and/or data for optimal efficiency
The organisation’s data can indicate how efficient it is. Not just by the data itself but by how it is received through API types. It is useful to have an understanding of the API types that are requesting and responding to the data in use. As well as how the data is managed in the automated workflows.
REST API
SOAP API
GraphQL
Knowing which API type to use, and where, will influence how the data is interpreted. As well as what it will be used for. How it flows in an integration workflow, and how it informs other data in the workflow.
Removing barriers in data flows and aligning metrics with automated integrations can help with organisational efficiency. For instance, integrating different SaaS software in an organisation to help streamline processes. This could be a CRM software, HR system and email marketing platform.
An example could be integrating a CRM (Customer Relationship Manager) application with the sales and marketing platform. Designed for syncing new contact details between a CRM and marketing tool to make sure entries are up to date. Alternatively, an integration could be used to trigger messaging to users when a deal has reached a particular stage.
To utilise an HR system integrations could be built with payroll/finance applications. This keeps customer, employee and transactional data in one place. For example, an error message is triggered when the payroll has been attempted. It is however blocked for an employee whose details have either been entered incorrectly or expired.
An organisation’s email marketing is a vital part of communication with their customers about the product or service. Therefore integrating with the other SaaS software can help inform the type of content being sent. For example, integration between an email marketing application and a website platform. In particular when a customer has an item in their basket for a while, or if they have abandoned their cart. An email reminder can be triggered when a certain amount of time has passed.
Focus on customer service to build organisational efficiency
Using technology to aid customer service can help an organisation’s efficiency. For instance, creating a specific online community for a product or service. A communal place, such as a gated forum, for customers to share questions, answers, and tips about the product/service. This can help reduce tickets on a customer service desk as customers can search and consult the online community.
It can also serve as part of a customer onboarding process to seamlessly educate new customers on how to use the product. With the benefit and wealth of knowledge available from a customer success community.
As well as that, creating a knowledge base can serve a similar purpose. It is an online centralised storage space with information and data about a SaaS product. Again the knowledge base acts as an additional customer service. Providing customers with answers to their questions without having to contact customer support. Instead, they can search for their problem and learn from informative articles or tutorials, without waiting for delayed replies.
Ultimately providing resources, such as online communities and knowledge bases, directly to the hands of your customer. Reducing reliance on a helpdesk, improving customer experience, and saving the organisation time with a customer-focused strategy. Therefore becoming more efficient.
Automate procedures for organisational consistency and efficiency
There has been a shift in the use of digital software throughout industries. This is due to the rapid speed of platforms being built and the possibilities they present. Once manual, and mundane repetitive business tasks now have the potential to be automated, and streamlined.
This means an organisation can create consistent procedures with automation technology resulting in time and money saved, and increased efficiency. Automating repetitive business tasks also keeps a business competitive. It reduces costs and the focus can shift towards bringing core products and features to market faster.
Businesses have now formed a reliance on being constantly connected. This is in order to provide a consistent, high level of service to their customers. Therefore they need to be using essential business platforms. In order to be able to share information with integrations, and build automated workflows for essential business processes.
The types of platforms a SaaS business should be running are dependent on the size of the business, whether they are a start-up or an enterprise. Generally, they should include a CRM, HR system, sales and marketing platform, customer success and service applications, eCommerce platform, and billing software. Other essential platforms are email, point-of-sale, project management, and video conferencing.
The type of essential business SaaS software an organisation should be running are those that will support growth. Software as a service that is scalable, efficient and complete. Applications that won’t cause any hindrance to business goals. Overall the platforms should aid organisational efficiency and digital transformation goals.
Driving Organisational Efficiency
We have indicated four areas to focus on to drive and increase organisational efficiency. From business strategy, understanding data and metrics, focusing on customer service and automating essential business procedures. Each with links to further understand or implement each aspect mentioned. All in the hope to help with organisational efficiency.
