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There is Always Room for Improvement

There is Always Room for Improvement

Living in the Information Age often makes finding the right solution a challenge. At times, you may find yourself trying things that don’t help; at other times, you might not even know where to begin your search. This week, I’m excited to share a recent discovery that has been beneficial for my business, along with an important lesson I learned along the way. Whether it’s the discovery itself or the accompanying lesson that resonates with you, there’s something valuable in store for you here this week!

THE PROBLEM
Once a week I access our QuickBooks to review and categorize transactions that are flagged as unknown by our bookkeeper. I call it accounting on Thursdays. It’s not a fun activity but has to be done. Printed receipts come in all different sizes, and invoices show up in the mail or get delivered to various email accounts. I need to track them down, get them organized, and categorized. Over the years I came up with ways to speed up and simplify this process but they all fell short. I was frustrated and decided to ask my peer group how they tackled this at our last meeting. To my surprise, I discovered some incredible tools that I had no idea existed!

THE SOLUTION
My peer group members recommended HubDoc and Dext for cataloging receipts. Initially unfamiliar with these apps, I was impressed upon closer examination. They allow you to forward email receipts to a dedicated address, capture photos of physical receipts with their smartphone app, or scan them. The apps automatically detect dates, vendor names, and invoice amounts, and offer features for taking notes or tagging transactions on each receipt. I chose HubDoc, and it’s been a game-changer. Managing any invoice or receipt takes just a few seconds. Moreover, my bookkeeper has direct access to the app, enabling him to quickly sync transactions into QuickBooks or simply retrieve information. I particularly appreciate the ease of searching invoices, including their automatic filing into vendor-named folders. If you don’t have a good way of filing invoices/receipts, you should take a look!

THE LESSON
As soon as I recognized HubDoc’s value, I wondered, ‘Why hadn’t I heard of this before?’ Frustration arose regarding my bookkeeper; perhaps he hadn’t mentioned these apps because he was unaware of them? However, after emailing him, I learned he was fully aware of both and offered his insights. My frustration deepened, wondering why he hadn’t brought them to my attention earlier. Reflecting for a few hours, I realized I had fallen into the same trap I advise our clients against. I hadn’t communicated my problem to my bookkeeper and even declined. This experience serves as a valuable reminder for both of us:

1- There’s an app for almost everything.
2- The best way to get help is simply to ask for it.
3- To foster your business’s growth, partner with skilled vendors you can trust.
4- Regularly check in with your vendors to make continual improvements in all business areas.
5- Never settle for inefficient, ineffective, or unproductive systems.


Ask yourself: What is one repetitive, time-wasting task in your workflow that could be streamlined?

– Burak Sarac, Team Lead

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