Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Office Management”
2016 — What a year! We’ve seen huge advances in technology (like that VR headset you got for Christmas). We lost some people we held dear (RIP Carrie Fisher). And someone finally revealed the secret to happiness (but you have be a mathematician to understand it). At The Receptionist, we devoted 2016 to developing new features based on customer feedback …
Are you concerned about office security? If you’re like most of the office managers, IT administrators, and executive assistants we talk to every day, you probably answered “Yes — very!” Because security is so important for every business today, we’re dedicating 2017 to developing security features to help you keep your office, employees, visitors, intellectual property, etc., safe. From a …
Extreme weather, bomb threats, combustible dust explosions — these all require manufacturing companies to switch into emergency gear. Since these situations invariably cause panic, the best way you handle them is by having a plan in place. This article outlines the 10 essential elements of an emergency evacuation plan. OSHA identified these elements, and we adapted them to include visitors as well …
You already have ERP software, inventory software, and supply chain management software. But what about the non-production aspects of your business? Do you still use handwritten logs and ledgers? Do your salespeople still keep lead and customer information in their heads? If so, it’s time to move your entire business into the present, so you can be ready for the future. Read …
A few weeks ago, we launched The Receptionist for iPad version 3.0. (Missed the announcement? Check it out here). But today is the BIG announcement! Today, we’re rolling out two huge new features to make your visitors’ check-in even more efficient: pre-registration of upcoming visitors and fast-track check-in for returning visitors. To update your app, go to the Apple App …
Your reception area is the first point of contact for office visitors. As such, it plays a vital role in making a positive impression and helping office traffic run smoothly. Many offices are shifting toward automated reception (more on that later!). But plenty of businesses still have a person sitting at the front desk at least part of the time. …
A clear visitor policy is vital to the security of your employees, clients, and workplace assets. It keeps your workers safe, your equipment secure, and your confidential information confidential. Of course, the nature of your visitor policy will depend on the type and size of your office. Guest procedures at a small law firm are likely to be far different from …
We all know that a visitor log is crucial for office security. But could a written log threaten the privacy of your customers? The answer is “yes”! Imagine this: You’ve been developing a breakthrough product in a competitive field. After months of R&D, you’re ready to apply for a patent on a working design. So, you go to your attorney’s …
When it comes to visitor experience, first impressions are everything. As soon as clients walk into your office, you want them to see who your company is and why they should want to work with you. In other words, your visitor experience can make—or break—your brand image. In a previous post, we touched on some ways technology can help build …
With developments in technology and an ever-evolving workforce, office management is constantly changing. Here are seven trends currently shaping office operations. The cloud More and more businesses are adopting cloud computing, and this trend is expected to keep growing. The cloud can improve and streamline all sorts of processes—from collaboration and project management to data organization and information backup. And, …
With the myriad options available, choosing office technology can seem like a daunting task. You can narrow your search by focusing on the technology that best supports your business strategy. Here are some ideas to get you started. Create a technology plan If you haven’t already, start by developing a strategic technology plan. This plan should be closely linked to your overall …
A small investment in automation can save you hundreds of hours in the long run. Automating common tasks reduces mistakes and frees up workers to focus on more important assignments. It also improves your bottom line. Here are some practical strategies to automate your workplace. Data back-up Automatically backing up your data ensures that you’ll always have access to complete, up-to-date files, even if something …
We sometimes hear comments like, “We already have a receptionist. Why do we need an iPad Receptionist?” That’s a great question. The answer is that despite the name “The iPad Receptionist,” we aren’t actually suggesting that this software can replace the hard-working person who sits at your front desk. It’s true that many companies today choose not to hire full-time …
Do you collect data about who visits your office? If not, you could be missing out on information that could help you understand what happens in your company on a daily basis. Here are 10 important questions you should try to answer. 1. Which company visits my office the most? Who are your partners and allies in business? Which clients are …
We hope you’ve found great resources on our site this year. Just in case you missed one, here are our five most popular posts of 2015. Did You Know Your iPad Could Do This? 11 iPad Features Most People Never Use Swipe between apps? Shake to undo typing? This article explains 11 iPad features you might not know about that …
Your front desk staff works hard. They’re your company’s front line for customer-facing communication in person, online, and over the phone — sometimes all at once. Here are three software tools that will help them work more efficiently in 2016. Data Entry and Contact Management If your front office is still using paper forms, try Canvas. Canvas turns forms — …
Is your company among the 40% that use paper sign-in sheets to track visitors? If so, your visitor sign-in sheet is probably the first thing people encounter when they enter your office, and maybe the last thing they see before they leave. This might not seem like a huge deal, but your sign-in/sign-out system actually says a lot about your …
We asked receptionists, office managers, and executive assistants a few questions about how their front offices work. See how their answers stack up to yours.
Everyone’s been there. The awkward holiday gift exchange where you get the box of balled-up newspaper or peanut shells. Your supervisor throws a feather boa around your neck and forces you to sing “Santa Baby.” Someone’s caught kissing behind the palm fronds, and the office won’t stop buzzing the next day. Instead of embarrassment this winter, here are 7 great …
So, you’ve gathered email addresses, signed up for an email service provider, and promised everyone in the office a weekly or monthly newsletter. The only question left is: What the heck are you going to write about? Here are 91 newsletter ideas to keep the content flowing. Letter from the President or CEO. A letter from someone at the top …
A digital newsletter is an excellent way to stay top of mind for your customers and prospects. Whether it’s a daily digest (think: news organizations), a weekly wrap-up (for sites and blogs that publish often), or a monthly update (most any other business), a newsletter facilitates engagement and communication with your audience. Here are 11 sites that have free email …
As coworking has become more popular, tech companies have started building software to help coworking spaces thrive. Here are five of the best applications available for managing coworking spaces. **Bonus tip – use this electronic receptionist app as a visitor management system. 1. Nexudus We featured Nexudus in a previous blog post about scheduling tools for coworking spaces, but the software can do …
“Scheduling is my favorite thing!” said no one, ever. Whether it’s for desks and rooms at your coworking space, meetings, or events, booking time and space is usually much more complicated than it needs to be. Here are 15 tools that take the pain out of scheduling. **Bonus tip– use a visitor management system to save time and modernize your …
Are budget leaks slamming your bottom line? Are you spending money on things you aren’t sure are valuable? No one likes to waste money, especially in business, where it can mean the difference between Christmas bonuses and Christmas layoffs. Here are seven costly mistakes your business is probably making. 1. Overbuilding your product You’ve heard the mantras of “minimum viable …
