It doesn’t matter what type of business you are in, there is going to be a very high chance that you’re going to have some needed supplies. Supplies that don’t involve digital tools. Whether you are a candle maker, consultant, writer, photographer, basically, anything you’re going to need to be supplied. Just like there is a high urgency for business owners to keep their lives organized, there is also the expectation for them to have this physical work spaced nicely organized as well.
The more organized you are, the less stressed you’re going to be usually. With that said, how exactly can you jumpstart your journey to getting your workspace more organized? How can you properly organize your work supplies? What about your inventory, how exactly can you get that organized too? These are all the tips that you’re going to need!
Begin with the inventory
This could include items you created or even just general supplies you use for your business. If you sell on an eCommerce platform, you can usually mark how much inventory of that specific item you have. This makes it easier but of course, you should record this information somewhere else whether it’s an old fashion notebook (not recommended), Excel spreadsheet, or even some type of software that is tied into your eCommerce.
But even if it’s just your supplies, you’re still going to want to regularly keep that inventory updated too. It drastically helps in knowing what exactly you are running low on what. Plus, inventory shows a pattern of usage. A pattern of usage for the supplies that you use or a pattern of usage for items that tend to sell quickly.
Find the right tools to help with organization
This can include computer programs such as good old Microsoft Excel, your standard office supplies from pencil holders to folders, but this can even go as far as a good shelf such as http://www.biltindustries.com/klip-bilt-ii/ . In general, you’re going to want to invest in good items, some good items that make organizing your supplies much easier. Almost any office store will have your standard office supplies. You obviously can never go wrong with those. But taking it a step further through industrial shelves, baskets, trays, and labelers just makes it all the better.
Keep on decluttering
When it comes to keeping your work supplied and inventory more organized, you’ll need to declutter. All spaces need this. Clutter not only causes stress but also creates a lack of efficiency too. By all means, you’re going to want to look into ways to avoid clutter. Add some interior design methods to your workspace. Declutter definitely has a psychological effect on your work performance and how you feel in general.
Don’t be afraid to just get rid of things that you haven’t touched in more than two years. If you went that long without using them then chances are, you simply didn’t need them in the first place. Also, if you have anything broken, outdated, or incompatible technology, just get rid of it. Recycle it, donate it, do something with it. It’s just going to make your workspace all the more difficult to navigate. This doesn’t mean that you have to go the minimalistic approach if you’re wanting to keep your supplied and inventory more organized, but taking out what isn’t necessary is bound to help you out a lot.
Streamline
After you went through the entire decluttering process, it’s now time to streamline. It’s best if you can look into making various zones. Think of these zones as mini departments (or full-fledged departments if you have the workspace and team). For example, if you have a printer, you’re going to want to have this printer in a particular area of your workspace. You’re also going to want to ensure that you have all the proper items needed for the printer itself fairly close by.
This can include putting all the printer paper and printer supplied on the shelf right underneath the printer. You should also consider making all of your items easily accessible to you too. Ideally, all of the supplies that you use on a regular basis should be easily reachable, preferably within an arm’s length of a reach.
Consider automation
The future is now, and technology is going to be your biggest partner as a business owner! You should definitely look into automation. Since you’ll need to track your supplies anyways, using automation tools can help. This tool will immediately detect that you’re running low on something and will immediately order more for you. This can save you both time and money! Certain tools, such as printers can already do this.
