Every business reaches a time when they’ve hit the glass ceiling, but want to keep growing. But they’re not always sure how to. How can you know if it is the right time? Of course every business is different, so will be ready at different times, but below I’ve outlined some areas to consider BEFORE you start to grow your startup. If these six areas are set up correctly before you begin to grow, you’ll have a smoother journey.

With businesses moving to the cloud, working from a smartphone is now a reality for many people. Faster internet speeds, and WiFi hotspots everywhere we go - even on the Tube! People are increasingly using their smartphones to get more work done, whether it is while commuting to and from work, or at home.

GDPR is the new data protection legislation coming into action on the 25th of May 2018. As well as any customer data you collect or process, your cloud phone calls are also going to be affected. You’ll soon need a legitimate reason for retaining phone numbers and recording calls, notifying and gaining permission from the user before you do so. Likewise with contacting old leads by phone. If you’re storing lead data, the user must be informed and give consent.

As a sole trader or the single employee of your business, the most important person in your business is you. It’s vital that you remain connected to your customers, suppliers and partners at all times. If you’re at a meeting or out of the office - which many business owners are - you still need to answer all your phone calls, wherever you are.

There is no doubt that cloud phones are paving the way for how businesses will be run in the future. But research shows that over half of small businesses in the UK still aren’t using the cloud.

It seems to be the season for Bank holidays, not just as we enter May in the UK, but in South Africa too! Today celebrates YOU. The worker, and we are certainly thankful for our employees in Cape Town and in the UK office alike.

Image source - Nelson Mandela’s Twitter feed, 2016.

Our South African team is today celebrating Freedom Day. This is an important milestone to remember in the history of the country and the end of racism in South Africa.

Nurturing relationships with your customers is a growing area for businesses to implement. In this age of automation and innovation, caring for your customers has never been more important! A happy customer will bring you many benefits, but how can you go about ensuring they’re pleased with your business? 

The introduction of GDPR has been described as the most important change in data privacy regulation for two decades! It is likely to hit all businesses hard, but small businesses are finding it hard to know where to start with the new legislation. So, how could it affect your small business?

Communication in business is an important area that is often overlooked when businesses are just starting up, or growing. In this blog, I’ve outlined four areas that businesses can use to quickly and easily improve communications - both internally and externally.