Are you among the organizations that maintain documentation only to comply with the regulations? Then you are doing it all wrong. You should try using a document control system from ETQ, and you’ll see fast results. Documentation should not be done for compliance purposes only. It is a critical process that organizations must streamline to ensure the transfer of authentic and accurate information among the teams. For organizations, information is power and can provide them with a competitive edge. Well-maintained documents can be transformed into valuable information and insights for people to make informed decisions. A document control system makes the management of files more efficient and enables organizations to comply with regulatory and quality management systems. Document control systems provide various benefits to organizations. These benefits demonstrate the value of document control for quality management businesses.
Time and Energy Saving
Workers within any organization spend considerable time searching for information, which takes up a lot of their time and energy. Considering this, the documentation should be organized and accessible to all stakeholders. The employees should not feel the need to spend hours digging through emails or downloading files. A document control system enables organizations to streamline documentation, making it easier for individuals to identify bottlenecks and issues.
Improve Quality Control
Every organization wants its employees to have the autonomy to make decisions. Therefore, organizations give their employees the flexibility to do whatever they want. On the other hand, organizations want quality and consistent results. Organizations expect employees to be productive and produce results regardless of the employees’ decisions. Therefore, there should be cohesion among the teams and shared goals to work towards achieving the organization’s goals. The document control system enables the employees to achieve the goals by maintaining reports that are accessible to team members.
Elimination of Redundant or Duplicate Work
It is not uncommon for a team begins to work on a project only to find out that another team has already completed it. This occurs primarily due to a lack of documentation. Organizations should document past projects and share this information with the stakeholders. It will save their precious time. Instead of working on the same tasks, the employees can learn from the previous projects and channel their efforts elsewhere.
Keeping Teams Aligned
Information is power. Knowledge and information enable the employees to be more productive. However, there is one thing that is even more powerful than knowledge shared knowledge. Organizations can achieve success if information passes through the organization freely. Shared knowledge and expertise can help the departments or teams within the organization to be on the same page. This can happen through the document control system.
Conclusion
Organizations need to streamline their documentation not only to meet the regulatory or compliance requirements but to share information and knowledge among the organization. Therefore, a document control system has a positive impact on quality management. ETQ has made documentation easier and accessible by offering organizations a smarter document control system.
The manner in which your small business will recruit and keep the best staff has changed forever and the main aspects of such changes are discussed herein. Whether you are a small business or a multinational concern, or even just someone looking for the right job, the advice and suggestions herein will help you understand how the recruitment process has changed.
Technology
The technology that we now have access to for the recruitment process is amazing and has changed the entire recruitment process in just a few short years. Applications can be submitted online and from mobile phones, all communication is then electronic, and the actual initial meetings and first interview will all likely be online and done virtually. The shortlisting process can all be performed using artificial intelligence in the recruitment process and various software packages exist to be able to professionally manage the recruitment process.
Longer recruitment process
Regardless of the technology now being used, the recruitment process as a whole now takes a lot longer than ever before as recruiters realize that it is critical to hire the right personnel. You may hear back from the recruiter or employer almost immediately via email, but the actual hiring process has been extended and the fact that most of it is done remotely or virtually, means that it has been lengthened somewhat. The aim is to get the absolute right person for the job or role and as such the recruitment process has been improved with more stages included to either test or screen the available candidates virtually, before they are called to attend the interview process, which could entail a number of separate interviews and tests.
New and improved templates
What prospective employees submit may never be printed out and as such the way that you present yourself online and how you structure your resume has become a key means of showing that you are in touch with the tech and also show some individuality. There are numerous resume formats being used and depending on the role you’re looking to fill, you can request a shortened or abridged resume, to highlight only specific aspects of work and experience. If your business is hiring it is vital to be clear as to what will be accepted and try to make all submissions uniform, so that it is straightforward to compare these and rate the applicants accordingly.
Remote
As aforementioned the entire recruitment process is now generally done remotely. Unless you make it to the last stage of recruitment there will likely be no need to travel or to get suited and booted to make an actual first impression. Those hiring need to be aware of this and will need to prepare accordingly.
Recruitment has changed forever, and a great deal of the entire process will be done online and remotely. It is however still important to ensure that the person hired fits in with the existing staff team and as such whether virtual or in office, it has become essential to have a joint meeting, gathering before making the final offer. Understanding the changes as noted in this article will also allow you to improve and streamline your recruitment.
The disruption in the business world is underpinned by the prevailing mainstream adoption of modern technologies. Cloud platforms, big data, and mobile are now standard fixtures that enable consumers and organizations to operate and interact in ways no one could have imagined in the past. For enterprises to keep pace with the change, they need to be aware of the nascent technological solutions that will disrupt their respective industries and how they can be utilized to enhance their operations, attract and engage prospects, and generate more sales.
In today’s uncertain environment, business leaders must urgently try to understand emerging trends, especially tech companies that have to innovate. For this reason, more and more enterprises are adopting strategic scouting software to drive growth opportunities. And so should you.
Quickly incorporate emerging technologies
Through strategic scouting, tech businesses can monitor the development of technology at the local and global levels, allowing them to incorporate and implement these advances to serve their existing customers while drawing in new ones. In doing so, not only can they get ahead or maintain their competitive advantage, but they’ll also put themselves in a favorable position and give themselves more opportunities to generate revenue.
Frees resources and cuts costs
The identification and implementation of relevant technologies take more time and money than some might think. After all, the rapid pace at which technology continues to develop can make it challenging for businesses to monitor all relevant trends. However, through strategic scouting, organizations can make the process more straightforward and allow companies to choose the technologies that best fit their long and short-term innovation goals while freeing up time and opening up resources for the business’s priorities.
Make informed decisions
In business, every decision counts. While it may not always be apparent, your decisions will have consequences. And the less information you have to work with, the better your chances of making potentially costly mistakes that could set your company back. However, by monitoring developments and trends continuously, you’ll be able to gain valuable data and actionable insight that will enable strategic planning in the long term.
Improves preparedness
Identifying technological trends earlier can considerably impact market leadership and corporate innovation. Moreover, it allows an organization to adopt relevant tech that improves their preparedness, from seizing new business models to assessing potential partnerships and acquisitions.
Conclusion
There’s no denying that identifying trends that align best with innovation goals and objectives without a data-driven and system approach can be difficult, if not impossible to do. And with so many businesses working in nearly every niche, how do you find emerging trends and technologies? Traditionally, organizations used to depend on industry-specific trade shows and conferences or their professional networks. However, this approach is no longer feasible in this day and age.
Because of this, most businesses are turning to more dedicated intelligence platforms and solutions that accelerate and support their goals for innovation. Through a data-driven scouting solution, companies can more accurately pick up tech opportunities in their industry without spending too much money or time in the process.
Commercial real estate is a popular alternative investment strategy, especially with investors familiar with the evolving market. But choosing the right property is just part of the equation.
A commercial property that features both retail and office space may be a prime pick in today’s changing business environment.
Commercial property loans are mortgages specifically assigned to purchasers of commercial real estate properties. While there are some similarities to residential purchase loans, there are additional options for CRE investors. Depending on the current economy, rising rates may affect commercial real estate (CRE) investors’ profitability.
If you’re new to CRE investing, this article will provide you with several strategies for managing CRE loans when interest rates are rising. First, let’s review the basics of commercial real estate investments. Then, we’ll move on to management strategies in an inflationary economic environment.
CRE Investing Basics
If this is your first foray into CRE investing, these rules will apply to most of your future transactions.
A property is considered commercial if they produce income within a business scenario. Commercial real estate can be a retail space, office space or a building containing several of these spaces.
While investors may qualify for more than one CRE financing program, they should always be prepared to guarantee the mortgage with collateral.
Generally, CRE loan terms are for 5 to 20 years, with a separate amortization period that is longer than the loan’s duration.
In addition, CRE loans have some similarities to residential mortgages, although there are some major differences.
Understanding and staying familiar with these basics will form a solid foundation for your decision-making.
Commercial vs. Residential Loans
As a homeowner, you might be thinking that a commercial loan process will be similar to a residential mortgage. While some loan guidelines are similar, there are major differences.
CRE loans are designed to finance income-producing properties that rent space to businesses. For this reason, individuals rarely qualify for these loans.
Commercial loans are usually granted to business entities. Developers, trusts, funds, and corporations tend to be the most common recipients of these loans.
While credit worthiness is required for both residential and CRE loans, commercial lenders’ underwriters will examine the property’s potential income production when deciding whether to approve a loan request.
Now that we’ve covered the basics of CRE loans, it’s time to focus on how rising interest rates may affect these investments.
Commercial real estate buildings that offer open-plan options are increasingly popular with companies planning to bring remote workers back to the office.
Rates, Inflation, and Commercial Real Estate Investments
Even though inflation is typically painful for consumers — with the prices of just about everything rising faster than wages — these pain points don’t always transfer to CRE investors. However, you may be nervous about 2022 inflation figures and the possibility of a future recession, especially if you remember the lingering 1980s recession.
But there are major differences between today’s and yesterday’s high interest rate environments and some good news for today’s CRE investors.
Even though inflation rose rapidly during the first half of 2022, unemployment numbers remained at near-historic lows. During the 1980s recession, unemployment topped 10%.
2022’s economic climate is distorted by supply chain disruptions and increased energy and labor costs. However, these were created by the COVID pandemic, which is slowing due to improved vaccines and milder variants.
Rising labor costs and supply chain issues are limiting new construction development, which benefits owners of CRE properties.
Low unemployment and building material shortages are two reasons CRE investments thrive in rising interest rate environments. Here’s one more.
Locating Real Estate for Today’s Workforce
Recent research has found that, although there has been a major shift towards home offices and remote workers, the demand for commercial office space is strong.
As more companies summon workers back to the office and new office lease agreements are being signed, their property managers are being tasked to find not just any office: they need offices that reward and retain staff.
Recent research supports the need for modern, collaborative workspace, with 90% of today’s professionals putting more value on their work experience than their compensation.
Your task? Focus on finding real estate that offers, or is ready for, your new tenants to add amenities and technology that will create the ideal work environments.
Open floor plans, standing desk options and plenty of sunlight can help create the work environments in demand by today’s young professionals.
In addition to making the right CRE investment choices based on your future tenants, there are other ways to minimize reductions to profitability due to rising interest rates.
Minimizing Costs Before and After Purchase
While CRE investments offer a hedge against rising rates, owners and managers still need to follow these guidelines to retain acceptable profit margins.
Before compiling a shortlist of possible purchases, have each one inspected by an inspector and/or engineer you choose and hire.
While your lender will probably have the building appraised for underwriting purposes, it’s essential that you know exactly what you’re buying. If an inspection turns up any problems, negotiate repairs before signing on the dotted line.
Opt for shorter-term leases. Here’s why: even though inflation rarely rises as quickly as in the first half of 2022, there is constantly a chance rates could rise faster than your tenants’ lease periods.
Do your research, stay diligent, and happy investing.
Everywhere you turn around it seems you are bumping into an ATM. Not to mention, you can find them in some of the most unlikely places. We’re talking about those drive-thru ATMs at fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and even on college campuses. And, of course, you can find a kiosk providing ATM services in just about every bank lobby.
Financial institutions, retailers, and other businesses need machines that dispense cash for customers and employees. What does this mean for entrepreneurs? Well, one important thing this means is that business is booming, leading to plenty of opportunities in the ATM franchise industry.
So, if you’re looking for a business opportunity that can be both profitable and recession-proof, then an ATM business could be the perfect fit. This article discusses the different types of ATM Franchises available, how much it costs to start, and more. We will also answer the big question “how profitable are ATM machines?”
What is an ATM Franchise?
First things first, let’s talk about what a franchise is. A franchise is a business model in which a company (the franchisor) licenses its trademarks, trade secrets, know-how, and other intellectual property to other third parties (the franchisees) who agree to open and operate a location following the franchisor’s methods and procedures.
An automated teller franchise is a fairly new type of venture that allows you to own and operate your own automated teller machine. As a franchisee, the ATM franchise providing services you offer will include things such as cash withdrawals, money orders, balance inquiries, and credit card advances. These types of franchises offer a great way to earn extra income, as people are always needing cash for various purposes.
Why You Should Consider an ATM Franchise Opportunity
There are many reasons why businesses owners should consider ATM franchise opportunities, including:
Labor costs are low: You won’t need to hire any employees or deal with payroll while earning residual income. Therefore, labor costs with ATM franchises are very low.
Scalability: You can start part-time with this type of franchise business, and it won’t cut into your primary income. Then, you can scale up as your finances and availability allow.
Flexibility: Many of these franchises offer flexible plan options, such as cancel-at-any-time and short-term leasing contracts.
Low overhead and high ROI: With a relatively low investment, you can see a high return on your investment.
Low amount of hours: You only need to work a few hours a week to make long-term residual earnings.
You can cut down on credit card fees: Businesses that have automated teller machines inside of them receive more cash transactions than those that don’t. When owners choose to have one inside their establishment, you can cut down on credit card fees.
Excellent revenue opportunity: With an automated teller machine franchise, you earn a commission on each transaction, including those from customers coming into your place of business for the first time.
The convenience factor: Customers appreciate the advantage of having an easy way to get cash, meaning they are more likely to visit your kiosk location again in the future.
Top ATM Franchise Business Options
If you’re thinking of being an entrepreneur in 2022, these excellent ATM franchise opportunities will inspire you to take the next step.
1. ACFN
ACFN is North America’s largest automated teller machine franchise, providing services to hotels and other travel and entertainment-based businesses since 1999. They offer a turn-key solution that includes everything you need to get your own ATM private network started, from site selection and lease negotiation to equipment and signage. The initial investment is $60,000 minimum, the franchise fee is $25,000, and the royalty fee is 1%. Also, Franchise Direct points out that “the franchisor may offer franchisees financing of their initial franchise fee through a promissory note with ACFN.”
Fidelity ATM offers complete packages that start at $31,495. Their standard package includes 3,5,7 and 10 automated teller machines with secure cash dispensing units, an in-depth training program, all-day everyday network connections, and maintenance and service contracts. Their premium package offers that plus additional streams of income like check cashing, money transfer, loyalty card programs, and movie tickets.
Bitcoin business opportunities in the automated teller industry are fairly new. That doesn’t mean these franchises aren’t profitable, though. Bitcash USA offers a convenient way to get into the bitcoin ATM business. Their two-way cryptocurrency kiosks operate in much the same way as conventional automated teller machines, except transactions, are not conducted through a bank account. Instead, patrons are connected directly to a crypto kiosk owner’s P2P Crypto Wallet for a convenient method of buying Bitcoin in person. You initially invest $13,500-$250,000 for a Bitcash automated teller machine, and there are no royalty or franchise fees.
Number four on the list is a full-service automated teller machine company, and they pride themselves on the strong technical support they provide as part of their franchise program. You can get in on this business opportunity for very little cost since the initial investment starts at $2,100 and there are no royalty or franchise fees. Plus, each new placement of an ATM machine lets you earn 100% of the transaction income as long as it stays in that location.
Empire is the only mobile ATM franchise in the nation, meaning business opportunities for expansion and growth are huge. You have the option to start out part-time with a single machine until you learn the ropes, and then you can gradually expand your enterprise by adding more machines. The company also offers the training and support necessary to succeed in business to its franchisees.
If you want to be your own boss and also offer your customers more than just regular ATM machine services, consider being your own boss with Mr. Payroll. The company, which consists of a nationwide network of franchised check-cashing facilities in convenience marts and other neighborhood service centers offers a slew of services such as bill pay, money order issuance, check cashing, money transfers, and more. You’ll need a higher investment than some of the business opportunities on this list but extra services also mean extra income.
Bitbox is a bitcoin-only ATM one-stop shop. Their machines are simple to operate and they provide full training and support to their franchisees. And while dealing with cryptocurrency might sound as if it is only for the tech-savvy, Bitbox makes it easy for anyone to get involved in this rapidly growing industry. They have three franchising packages for their 2-way Bitbox machines that start at $42,799 with no future ongoing royalties.
Aspire Payments is a full-service automated teller machine provider that offers both traditional ATM and bitcoin franchise opportunities. In addition, they have one of the largest selections of machines in the industry to choose from—and they provide support and training to their franchisees. They have an entire suite of services in the kiosk portfolio, and you can use anything from check cashing to issuing prepaid debit cards to bump up your transactional income. Their franchise fee is $25,000 to start with one machine.
Post pandemic, one of the biggest problems that credit unions and banks have is staffing. Outsourcing their automated teller kiosks alleviates some of that issue, along with also taking this equipment off of financial ledgers. Moreover, Citizen’s Bank and CNB have outsourced their ATM services in the past and said they were all the better for it. There are other financial institutions that are opting to outsource theirs as a go-to solution, and they typically have very low start-up costs. The ongoing fees are also very reasonable, and you can often negotiate a lower rate if you commit to a longer-term contract.
How to Choose the Best Franchise to Set Up Your ATM Business
When considering being an ATM franchise owner, there are a few factors that you should keep in mind during the selection process, including:
The initial investment required: You want to make sure that you have the financial resources necessary to get your enterprise up and running.
The ongoing fees associated with the franchise: You’ll want to be sure that you can afford the monthly or yearly royalties or marketing fees.
The training and support that is offered by the franchisor: You’ll want to make sure that you have access to the resources you need to run your company successfully.
The location of the franchise: You’ll want to choose a location that will be convenient for your customers and that has high foot traffic. Also, take into consideration the fact that some ATM franchises won’t put their machines in bars or other high-volume locations that might be considered “high risk” for vandalism.
The market potential for the franchise: You’ll want to be sure that there is a demand for the services that you will be offering.
How Much Does an ATM Money Machine Franchise Cost?
The cost of an ATM machine franchise can vary depending on the franchisor, the location, and the number and type of machine you choose. That being said, initial investments typically range from $25,000 to $100,000, and the ongoing fees can range from $50 to $500 per month. Per ACFN, the estimated total cost, assuming the operation of one to three automated teller machines ranges from $39,234 to $63,817.
Before you invest, bear in mind that you’ll also need cash to go in your kiosk that is separate from your initial investment. Also, busier locations with several machines will require a good deal of this cash. Also, take note of the financial requirements of the franchises you are considering. For instance, Aspire states that franchisees need around $200K in liquid capital before an ATM franchise is granted.
Are ATM Machines Profitable?
By now, being an automated teller machine service provider probably sound like a good part-time franchise that can blossom into a full-time retirement idea. However, are they really all profitable or is it just hype?
The truth is, providing ATM franchises can be an extremely profitable business venture if you have enough foot traffic. That means it’s paramount to choose the right location. Once you’ve done that, the fees associated with each transaction can add up, especially if you have a high volume of transactions.
As mentioned, you can also increase the profits of your ATM franchise business by offering additional services, such as check cashing or prepaid debit cards. Simply put, there is virtually no limit to the revenue you can make when you start scaling up your business with more automated teller machines. To sum it up, with the right franchisor and the right conditions, you can have a successful and profitable ATM franchise business.
Recently, Small Business Trends Executive Editor Shawn Hessinger spoke with Brent Leary, Managing Partner at CRM Essentials, about his visit to Atlanta’s Amazon delivery station and the importance that small businesses play in the company’s last-mile service.
What is Amazon’s Last Mile Delivery?
First, let’s define what last mile delivery services mean for any readers who may not be aware of what it means.
The term refers to one of the last parts of the delivery process. It is when a package is transported from a transportation hub to its final destination, or in the case of the entity it is being delivered to, the consignee. The consignee is typically a retail store or a consumer’s personal residence.
So, Amazon manages the upstream process of this network until it reaches the node, which is their transportation hub. Small businesses will enter this part of the network to load and transport the goods on this last part of the journey or “last mile” to the consignee.
Amazon’s Delivery Station Reveals
Shawn Hessinger: So, Brent, tell us a bit about kind of what you did and how you wound up following packages around at Amazon.
Brent Leary: I was always fascinated with what they do. I gave them my attention, and they invited me to get an opportunity to look locally and see a behind-the-scenes view of the last mile here locally in the Atlanta metro area.
There, I got a chance to do a tour of what they call a delivery station, which is one of the facilities along the route of getting your stuff to you, which, you know, goes from fulfillment center to sorting facility to what I went to, which is a delivery station.
And they take those packages and basically prepare them for that last mile delivery by a delivery truck, which is performed by delivery service partners. These partners aren’t Amazon employees; they’re small businesses that Amazon works with to deliver your package.
How Small Businesses are Critical to the End of the Delivery Process
Shawn Hessinger: So many people talk about Amazon like it’s just this big corporation. But as we know, there are a lot of third-party sellers. You talked about how you saw in this ecosystem that small businesses are part of this whole process.
Brent Leary: The Atlanta delivery station facility I got a chance to peek behind the curtain at was 250,000 square feet! While there, I saw there are different components to the process:
First, there’s “Under the Roof” where the packages are taken off the trucks and brought underneath the facility for processing.
Once that processing is done, there is packing, which they call inducting–putting things in packages to ship, putting them in a sorting bin and getting them ready for the delivery service partners to come in and take the packages.
Finally, the partners put them on their trucks and take them out for delivery.
Now, before all that takes place, they have fulfillment centers. Selling partners doing fulfillment by Amazon have stuff they sell that go into those facilities.
And then once somebody hits the buy button, it goes from a fulfillment center to a sorting facility. Once it goes from there, it gets delivered to any number of delivery stations. The delivery station processes it to the point where it’s ready to get put on a truck. And the truck, at least in the instance where I was, has seven delivery service partners with which Amazon and this facility work.
Each one of those partners has multiple drivers who go to the business. So, every morning, which I think is 9:50 am to like 11:30 am, a set of those delivery service partners come in. For 20 minutes, they have an opportunity to load up all their stuff and hit the road. Then, another delivery service partner brings all their trucks in and goes through the same process. And once it gets on the truck, it’s out there and it’s getting delivered.
Small Businesses are also Important at the Beginning of the Fulfillment Process
Shawn Hessinger: It sounds like you are saying small businesses are at the beginning of the process because they’re selling and have stuff queued up in Amazon warehouses—and that they are also at the end of the process when it comes to delivering goods to customers.
Brent Leary: Yes, I think you’re right about that. You think about sellers that…not only are they selling on the platform… but they’re having a certain number of them also using the fulfillment by Amazon service. Therefore, their inventory is sitting at one of these fulfillment centers, so it’s easier and more efficient to go from somebody buying it to bam! now, it’s already in an Amazon facility.
So, it kind of streamlines the process of getting that product out to the customer. But those delivery service partners there are small businesses. I think it’s a service in a relationship that Amazon invested in…I think, going back to 2018. And so, I think there’s about 3000 or so, where maybe just the U.S. portion is these delivery service partners.
And, you know, me personally, my experience last week, this one delivery station in Atlanta, and there are multiple delivery stations throughout the state. But I went to one of them, and then each one of those stations has a set of delivery service partners that it works with. So–once that package gets processed, it comes in from fulfillment and sorting and goes into the delivery station gets processed, and then it’s ready to go out.
Once it comes out, it’s being handled by a delivery service partner, which is a non-Amazon employee. So, there are seven that this particular facility works with…seven small businesses that are delivery service partners.
And each one of those has multiple drivers. So, they bring them all in at once. The delivery service partner 1 comes in at 9:50–seven or eight of those are trucks that belong to that delivery service. But they all come in and they can be all sizes…could be vans…could be big trucks, but they have 20 minutes to load each one of those vehicles for that particular service partner so that they can hit the road and get out there delivering stuff.
Interviews with Amazon’s Operational Management
Shawn Hessinger: You did some interviews while there, which is great. Can you set up the first interview we have here, who we’re talking to and kind of what they’re talking about?
Brent Leary: On this tour, I had two tour guides. The first of which I’m going to call her by her nickname “YoYo Johnson” because that’s what everybody called her. She’s the Operational Manager for that facility. She did a great job taking me through what was happening on the inside.
Shawn Hessinger: Let’s watch that video now. Then we’ll come back and talk about the next interview you did.
YoYo Johnson (transcript from the video):
We are currently on our launch pad. We do operate two different launchpads simultaneously here at DGT-8 and on the launch pad is where the magic happens.
We have our delivery service partners. They have their drivers pulling up onto the launch pad in their vehicles. And once they get on to the launch pad, we have an entire process that we go through to make sure we’re maintaining safety at all times on the pad. So to my right, you will see our queuing location before drivers actually get onto the launch pad. And then they’re released to come on to the launch pad by a traffic controller.
That person will, quite literally, control the flow of traffic coming onto the launch pad and make sure that no drivers exit the vehicle until we have the all-clear, every single vehicle is stopped. There are no people or products on the launch pad, and we make sure everything is clear to go. Once we have that all clear, our drivers have 20 minutes from the time that they get onto the launch pad to load their entire vehicle with their full route and exit the launch pad to start their dispatch process for delivering packages.
Amazon’s Last Mile Service in Action
Shawn Hessinger: Next, we hear from Ross Kirkpatrick, Operations Manager at Amazon Logistics, about the process by which Amazon delivery partners load packages for the last mile of their journey to the customer’s front door.
Ross Kirkpatrick (transcript from the video):
It’s pretty interesting the way the staging works. Our Under the Roof Team actually stages the packages to where you’ll see our totes. What we call a tote it’s going to be a bin with multiple packages within those totes. They will load those first in a specific order.
So, we under the roof, take that route backwards, so that it’s more efficient for the drivers to deliver forwards on road. So, basically working the system backwards to drive more efficiency on road. So, as you’ll see, drivers will first put that cart by their van and then they’ll load in a specific order which their flex app actually shows in real-time. So it gives them step-by-step, hey, this will be, for example, your first tote will be 457 blue like this first driver has in the first route. So [it’s] very important that we can drive efficiency.
Shawn Hessinger: And Brent, set up this last clip for us.
Brent Leary: This is one that caught my interest as I was talking to Ross. He mentioned that if you’re if you are using the Amazon app, you can actually find out all sorts of notifications, such as getting notified when you are the next up in line to get delivered.
Ross Kirkpatrick (transcript from the video):
We try to give our customers that 360-degree view…consistent updates throughout the life of the package, so they understand when they’re going to be receiving their package, right? So, there’s actually updates those customers will receive on their Amazon app, as well, if they had the notifications turned on for updates for their delivery process. They’ll even be updated for when the package leaves the fulfillment center, and when it’s heading to our delivery station.
So, it updates that delivery time. And then also if a driver has that delivery next, it will notify the customer: you are next for the next stop of that driver’s route to basically proactively, proactively allow that customer to prepare for that delivery, to receive that package from that customer, and then also safely be able to retrieve that package at the time of that delivery.
The Takeaways
Looking at the example we have here about last mile service, one business tip we can suggest is that you consider partnering with a larger business when starting out. That will give you reach and resources you might never have had otherwise have been to grow your business faster than you ever thought possible.
If you enjoyed learning about how small businesses can provide last mile services, you may enjoy reading Small Biz Trend’s post How to Start an Amazon DSP Business. It takes you through everything you want to know about how to start and run your own package delivery business.
Home builders’ sentiment shows little optimism about the anticipated traffic from prospective new home buyers for the next six months. In fact, their confidence level in their business is at its lowest in 8 years.
According to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, only 31% of new home builders feel confident about interacting with prospective home buyers during that time period.
“Builder sentiment has declined every month in 2022, and the housing recession shows no signs of abating as builders continue to grapple with elevated construction costs and an aggressive monetary policy from the Federal Reserve that helped pushed mortgage rates above 6% last week, the highest level since 2008,” said NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz. “In this soft market, more than half of the builders in our survey reported using incentives to bolster sales, including mortgage rate buydowns, free amenities and price reductions.”
Home Builders Confidence Lowest Since 2014
Overall, the Housing Market Index stands at 46%, its lowest point in a year, its lowest point since 2014 (except for May 2020). The overall HMI is an average of the anticipated traffic of new buyers, present single family home sales, and prospective single family home sales in the next six months.
The latest report is based on a survey of NAHB members in August. The members gave single-family home sales at the present a 46% rating and gave single-family home sales over the next six months a 54% rating.
Taken with the 31% “traffic of prospective buyers” rating, the overall HMI stands at 46%. For the report released in August, the overall HMI was 49%. The HMI has steadily declined for the past year.
NAHB Chairman Jerry Konter attributed the steady decrease in the HMI to elevated interest rates, supply chain problems and cost of new homes due to increased prices for materials.
HMI, by US Region
By region, the HMI rates those same three components (prospective single family home sales at present, single family home sales for the next six months, and traffic of prospective buyers for the next six months) and separates the responses by region.
By region, the South leads the US with an HMI of 52%, although that is the lowest rating in a year.
Printable gift tags add a personalized touch to beautifully-wrapped birthday presents. Instead of a generic, forgettable wrapping job with a standard sticker denoting to: and from: details, a colorful custom gift tag can add some needed pizzazz and personality to the gift bag or package.
Whether you’re wrapping gifts for personal use or for your small business, including printable happy birthday tags is a great way to ensure your gift is a memorable one.
What Are Happy Birthday Gift Tags?
Gift tags add the perfect finishing touch to a birthday gift. Gift tags are a small card or label that is attached to a gift package or gift bag, often containing details about the giver and recipient of the present. Many colorful birthday gift tags are printed in bright colors and beautiful designs to enhance the wrapped gift’s design and appearance. Modern birthday gift tags are often customized with a computer and printed from a digital template.
Why Should Your Small Business Send Birthday Gifts?
A small business doesn’t have to throw a birthday party to acknowledge an employee’s, client’s, or customer’s special day. A wrapped gift with a custom gift tag can work wonders in expressing gratitude and well wishes, much as a similar gift might affect a family member. Even a small token of appreciation can make employees feel important on their birthdays, while also making clients feel valued and customers feel appreciated.
15 Amazing Printable Gift Tags for Birthday Wishes
You don’t have to spend your holiday budget on fancy happy birthday tags for employees, clients and customers. A plethora of printable gift tags are available in different styles from popular websites like Etsy, including the following:
1. Birthday Candle Gift Tags
Whether you’re attending a birthday party or sending birthday gifts on behalf of your small business, these happy birthday gift tags are perfect for kids or adults. The digital download includes four files in pdf format, featuring small and large-sized gift tags.
2. Happy Birthday Cake Printable Gift Tags
This printable happy birthday gift tag adds a cute and fun finishing touch to a birthday present for any recipient. Just print the tags and attach them to a birthday present with ribbon or tape. You even can save money by saving the digital templates to print and reuse later.
3. Unicorn Birthday Gift Tag
If you search for an adorable birthday gift tag with a unicorn design, look no further than this fun printable gift tag to download. Attach it to a gift for a unicorn-loving colleague or take it to a unicorn-themed birthday party.
4. Personalized Birthday Gift Tags
Looking for a printable pdf file to use for happy birthday tags? You can bring any ordinary birthday present to life with this customizable birthday gift tag printable. Including a cute and fun design, users can personalize a happy birthday message before printing.
5. Editable Happy Birthday Printable Gift Tags
Also available as a digital download, this vivid birthday gift tag features a rainbow-colored happy birthday message surrounded by hearts. The editable gift tag can be customized with a personal name or birthday greeting.
6. Colorful Custom Birthday Gift Tags
This colorful birthday gift tag is the perfect way to convey hope and good tidings with a birthday gift. Not only does the printable birthday gift tag feature a bold happy birthday greeting, but the digital download is editable, so a customized message can be added.
7. Watercolor Candles Birthday Gift Tag Printables
Featuring a beautiful watercolor design, this happy birthday gift tag also can be personalized with the gift giver’s name. Perfect for colleagues, friends or even your mom, birthday gift tags like this one create best results no matter your choice of gift wrap.
8. Printable Birthday Gift Tags Bundle
Printables like these happy birthday gift tags add variety to a gift wrapping experience. Whether you’re wrapping birthday gifts for family, friends or professional colleagues, adding one of these colorful and festive birthday gift tag printables is sure garner a positive comment and appreciation.
More Printable Birthday Tags for Gifts
Printable birthday gift tags help you express all your wishes for important birthdays. All you need is an inexpensive digital download, a printer and either paper or white cardstock. The following printable birthday gift tags are sure to impress any recipient:
9. Birthday Confetti Gift Tags Package
This fun bundle of printable birthday gift tags features both square and round tags in a variety of striped and confetti designs. The colorful gift tags can be attached to a gift with a hole punch, or wrapped with a cookie. Since the text is editable, the messages can be personalized for the perfect birthday greeting.
10. Editable Cake Birthday Gift Tags
This attractive birthday gift tag features an engaging image of a birthday cake adorned with colorful candles. The printable gift tag is editabe, so the birthday message can be customized for a more personal greetings and gifter details.
11. Happy Birthday Gift Labels in Two Colors
Just download and print these engaging birthday gift tags to create an eye-catching birthday present. Can’t decide between bold, primary colors, or attractive pastel hues? This set of printable gift tags features both, ensuring they will match any gift wrapping color scheme.
12. Sweet Birthday Printable Gift Tags
Planning on showing your appreciation to clients or colleagues by offering a sweet sort of birthday gift? This printable birthday tag is perfect for adorning the gift of candy. Just print the colorful gift tag and attach to any sort of sweet treat.
13. Monochrome Printable Birthday Gift Tags
Planning on giving a classy birthday present wrapped in striking, black-and-white paper? These attractive printable gift tags bear a happy birthday message in a monochromatic color palette. They are also ideal for those seeking printable gift tags who don’t have a color printer.
14. Multicolored Happy Birthday Gift Tag Printables
Attaching these colorful birthday gift tags to presents is sure to result in positive follow-up comments. The printable gift tags boast a happy birthday message surrounded by multicolored stars. Just purchase, download and print the gift tags to add a colorful greeting to a birthday gift.
15. Floral Happy Birthday Printble Tags
Create a classic birthday gift by attaching these floral gift tags to the package or gift bag. The printable happy birthday gift tags are sold as an instant download that immediately can be printed on white or colored card stock and used.
How Do You Print Your Own Gift Tag?
Printing your own gift tag is simple. Just purchase a digital download gift tag from a website like Etsy. Once you receive the pdf file or another image format via email, just open the printable gift tag and made any desired edits using appropriate software. Finally, print the gift tag on either paper or card stock.
If you need to tie the gift tag to wrapping paper, you might use a punch hole to create the necessary hole. Many printable gift tag purchases include instructions for best results.
Are Printable Birthday Gift Tags Free?
Looking for a free printable birthday gift tag? While some amazing options are available for $2 or less, you also can find free printable gift tags. Just check on a website like Etsy or even do an online search for “free printable gift tags.”
If you work outdoors or in a cold environment, base layer clothing items can help keep you warm. A good base layer insulates without adding bulk, can wick away sweat, and fit the way you want.
There are a lot of base layer options out there – tops, bottoms and suits, lined or unlined, regular or compression, etc. Here are some popular types of base layers:
Compression– Compression garments provide warmth and also compress the muscles, reducing the build-up of lactic acid while regulating body temperature. These types are popular among athletes and people who do physical labor.
Base Layer – The “standard” base layer is meant to fit like a second skin. It provides a layer of warmth and moisture resistance without adding bulk.
Lined – Some base layers are lined with fleece, merino wool, or other materials for extra warmth.
One Piece– Like our top pick, you can get base layers that are all one piece. This is ideal for those who don’t want to wear two different clothing items.
To help you find the optimal base layer items for your work conditions, take a look at our picks for the best base layer options for men and women below
Carhartt Base Force Classic Thermal Base Layer Union Suit
Top Pick: Our number one pick is this one-piece suit by Carhartt. Carhartt is known for its quality, and durable work wear, and this base layer set is no exception. Made from anti-odor, moisture-wicking waffle knit, this suit is designed to keep you warm from top to bottom without having to wear two different garments.
The rib knit cuffs retain warmth and the fly and back opening feature button closures for convenience.
Under Armour Women’s ColdGear Authentics Compression Mock
Runner Up: Second place goes to Under Armour’s ColdGear compression mock long-sleeved base layer shirt. The 4-way construction promises perfect movement ability, while the updated brushback knit fabric maximizes comfort, and breathability & maintains warmth.
This compression shirt is available in several colors and sizes.
Best Value: Our pick for the best value is this set from Convallaria. It includes both a long-sleeved shirt and full-length bottoms. The set is fleece-lined and medium-weight, providing warmth without bulkiness. The flatlock stitching prevents abrasion and chafing.
This set also features a tagless design, moisture-wicking fabric, and great breathability.
Terramar uses 100% silk to craft its base layer garments. This long-sleeved crew shirt is lightweight and made with ClimaSense treatment to neutralize odors, regulate body temperature, and wick away sweat.
The fabric of this shirt is built to stretch to avoid bunching and adding bulk. They are available in sizes S – XXL.
Another full set, Thermajohn’s fleece-lined base layers are sure to keep you warm and dry, even in the coldest conditions. They are made from a breathable fabric that wicks away moisture and sweat.
The Thermajohn fleece-lined base layer set has 4 way stretch for movement, ultra soft lining, tagless design, and built-in fly.
Kari Traa Silja Women’s Long Sleeve Base Layer Top
Merino wool is the secret to Kari Traa’s base layer top’s comfortable warmth. This top is designed specifically to fit the female body and is meant to be worn next to the skin. The merino wool provides excellent insulation while retaining a slim profile so it won’t feel bulky.
Kari Traa is an Olympic medal-winning skier who designs her garments with insulation and comfort in mind. The Nordic style print makes this base layer extra stylish.
Made in the USA with 100% Merino wool, the Smartwool base layer bottoms are extremely popular. They are designed for minimal chafing and maximum warmth and movement. They are temperature regulating and odor resisting, have a convenient snap closure and are machine washable. Smartwool makes both men’s and women’s base layers.
These pants are made with Helly Hansen’s 2-layer system for all-season warmth and comfort. LIFA, a proprietary material, provides warmth and insulation, while naturally wicking moisture away.
The fit on these pants is described as neither slim nor oversized and can be comfortably worn under other layers of clothing.
One of the most popular makers of base layer clothing, Under Armour’s HeatGear leggings have thousands of positive reviews. They are praised for their ability to provide warmth and ventilation while being comfortably slim.
Quick drying, moisture-wicking material as well as the ergonomic design and durable construction make these leggings among the best selling in the world.
More than 30,000 reviewers praise this women’s base layer set for its slim profile and warmth. The fleece is designed to be super soft and feels good against the skin, and the moisture-wicking material keeps the wearer dry all day.
This set is available in a variety of colors and in sizes XXS – 3XL.
Fit– The most important factor in any clothing choice is fit. If it doesn’t fit the way you want, you won’t be comfortable. Since just about every clothing maker has different sizing, be sure to check the specific size guide for the base layer you intend to buy.
Warmth Level – You don’t want to get more warmth than you need – or not enough. Most manufacturers provide a warmth guide to assist you with your choice.
Top, Bottom, or Both – Like with the warmth level, there’s no point getting more than you need. If you’re a person whose legs are always cold, stick with just bottoms, etc.
Price – Some base layer options can be expensive, but think of it as an investment. The best base layers will help you perform your job, keeping you comfortable and dry, and will last for years if properly cared for. The right base layer can be a game-changer for those who have to face cold conditions on the job.
