What's the Big Deal About Business Continuity?

Business is business. It's not personal. We're told that on an almost daily basis but, although in the past this may have been true, today businesses simply can't afford to have that mindset. Keeping business and personality separate is a good way to lose customers. It just goes to prove that the business owners are only interested in one thing, and that one thing is not the customer's experience.

So, in the modern age we know that it's the personal touch that wins business. It's the human element. The best businesses treat their customers like old friends (to a point, anyway - we all know, deep down, that money still needs to be made) and that means that the people within that business need to know about the customers. That makes sense.

And it's a great way to do things.

But the problem comes when the person who knows everything about a particular client goes on holiday, goes off sick, leaves for pastures new... What happens then? If it’s all 'up there' in that person's brain box, how are they ever going to pass that information, possibly years' worth of details, on to anyone else?

There is a solution, although it's a clunky one. Those people with the knowledge will simply (ha!) have to write everything down. That's it. Write it all down, keep it somewhere safe (because that always works out...) and pass it along to someone else when the time comes. Assuming they are able to. Or want to. Or can remember where they put that information in the first place. Or remember to keep the document up to date. Or that the physical document hasn't been lost or damaged in some way (fire, water, the hazards that come with life).

So perhaps not quite the catch all solution we first imagined.

Now what then? Do we just give up? Do we allow our best clients to be forgotten, left by the wayside as our employees go on to other places, no matter how temporary?

No, we do not. That's not the attitude, that's not the spirit.

And because there are such things as contract management systems in this world, we don't have to. All it needs is for those in the know to add the information to the system as they go. It's quick and easy, and much less fuss than putting pen to paper - make it part of the systems for your company and everyone will do it automatically, giving you a complete overview of what's happening and who's who.

Then, when you take on a new employee, or when someone leaves, you've got all the relevant information at your fingertips, and your clients will be treated to the same fantastic personal service that they've always had in the past. There will be a complete picture on your client in the contract management files and not only will this give everyone the ability to keep them happy (thus attracting more business - we've always got to think of that good old bottom line).

And what about when disaster strikes? Are you prepared to continue working if there's fire or flood at your office location. Most companies have a disaster recovery process, but does yours take into account customer and supplier interactions as well as the original contract documents and other important documents?

Having everything in your contract management system will keep things secure from anything untoward in the fire/flooding/theft department. Your contract management system can then form part of your disaster recovery plan.

intelligentcontract is a highly customisable solution that provides a hub to store all your important contract paperwork plus you get loads of useful tools that make your contract management process a breeze. We don't have a limit to either the size of documents of the total amount of storage - so you don't have to worry about extra bills if your central store of documents gets big.

Pricing starts at £9 per user, per month. For more information, to get a free trial or to organise a demo give us a call on 0333 344 3905 or visit www.intelligentcontract.com