How Automation Tools Save Time and Boost Efficiency for Small Businesses
By The North Exchange Team | September 13th, 2024
Running a small business means wearing many hats — managing inventory, handling customer engagement, and keeping your finances in check. With so much to juggle, it's easy to get bogged down by tasks that take you away from focusing on your day to day operations.
That’s where automation tools come in. By integrating systems and automating processes, SMBs can reclaim valuable time and resources, allowing them to scale more efficiently. With North Exchange Marketplace, you can find powerful integrations to streamline your operations and focus on what truly matters — growing your business.
The Benefits of automation for SMBs.
Time-Saving
Automating repetitive tasks frees up time, allowing you to focus on higher-value activities. Take DAVO, for example — it automates tax filings by setting aside the correct amount of sales tax and filing it for you. No more manually calculating taxes every month. Similarly, QuickBooks integration by Chargezoom syncs sales and expenses automatically, reducing the need for manual bookkeeping.
Increased Accuracy
Automation also minimizes human error, especially when handling sensitive tasks like taxes, payroll, and inventory management. With tools like QuickBooks and Google Inventory, you don’t have to worry about mistakes — automation ensures your data is accurate and up to date.
Scalability
As your business grows, your needs evolve. Automation tools are designed to scale with you, seamlessly managing more complex processes without increasing manual workload. This allows your business to grow smoothly without bottlenecks in operations.
How automation boosts efficiency.
Inventory Management
Managing inventory across multiple sales channels is simplified with Local Inventory on Google. Retailers can automatically display their in-store products on Google Search, Google Maps, and the Shopping tab — at no cost. With minimal setup, Google handles product details, stock status, and images, ensuring local customers can find what they’re searching for in real time. This integration drives in-store visits by showing potential customers what's available before they visit, improving foot traffic and sales without the need for manual updates.
Financial Management
Financial reporting can be a time-consuming process, but the Chargezoom-powered QuickBooks integration simplifies this by automatically syncing your sales data, payments, and expenses. This not only saves you from the tedious task of manual bookkeeping but also ensures that your financial records are always accurate and up to date. This real-time data allows you to make better financial decisions and improve overall business performance.
Real-life scenario: Automating local product availability with Google.
Imagine a local, offline retailer who is constantly in competition with online retailers taking away foot traffic from their business. Trying to capture the attention of would-be customers locally is a challenge by itself, let alone turning that into something automated.
With Local Inventory on Google, available through North Exchange Marketplace, your in-store products automatically appear on Google Search, Google Maps, and the Google Shopping tab, allowing local customers to discover what’s in stock before they even visit your store. So while someone might be searching Google for the best leaf blower with the intent to purchase it online, suddenly, they’re shown the same model available just 2 miles away at your local business. What’s more compelling for that shopper? Waiting a few days plus the cost of shipping to get the item, or instant satisfaction of getting it the same day?
And if you’re worried about overselling, worry no more. Every time a product is sold, Local Inventory on Google ensures that stock is updated from your POS to prevent confusion about availability and to enhance customer trust.
This seamless integration helps retailers synchronize their inventory across channels, offering a better customer experience while improving operational efficiency. With real-time updates and increased visibility in local searches, retailers can avoid costly overstock or stockout issues, ensuring their shelves — and websites — are always optimized for sales.
Explore North Exchange Marketplace’s automation tools.
Automation is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity for SMBs looking to scale and optimize their operations. North Exchange Marketplace offers a range of automation tools, from tax filing solutions like DAVO to financial management through QuickBooks (powered by Chargezoom). These integrations work together to help you streamline your business processes, eliminate errors, and free up your time to focus on growth.
Ready to take your business to the next level? Explore North Exchange Marketplace today and discover how automation can transform the way you run your business.