Corrections or additions?
This article by Michael Schumacher was prepared for the September
20, 2000 edition of U.S. 1 Newspaper.
All rights reserved.
Automating Business: No Small Feat
By now most of us have adapted, reluctantly perhaps,
to processes such as retrieving our money from automatic teller
machines or making purchases from Internet based companies. Yet for
many small business owners, the need to automate their operations can
generate both confusion and trepidation. That’s because most believe
that the
cost is simply too prohibitive for businesses their size, or that
the process to automate is too complex.
David Sands, principal of a promotional items company Partners
In Promotions Inc. on Marigold Court in Princeton (732-274-2100),
has already bit the automation bullet and today realizes that most
of the anxieties are unfounded. Even though the two-employee
home-based
operation has sent out fewer catalogs to potential clients, it is
experiencing a boom year. That’s because more than 100,000 of Sand’s
products — pens, mugs, golf shirts, service awards — are now
available on his website (www.partnersinpromotions.com) where visitors
can peruse his inventory quickly and easily and at their leisure.
“Now when clients call,” says Sands, “they often already
have an idea of what they want.”
Those less audacious than Sands have an opportunity to learn more
about automating their business by attending the free seminar “The
ABCs of Automating a Small Business,” set for Thursday, October
5, at 2 p.m. as part of Trenton Small Business Week. The seminar,
presented by Anna Maria Mitchell and Eric Fitch, both
of Adams McClendon Consulting Firm LLC, will take place at Fleet
Bank’s
Trenton office at 200 East State Street in the second floor conference
room. Preregistration is required; call 609-396-7246 (or go to
for other free seminars and events taking place during Trenton Small
Business Week.
“Those businesses that haven’t yet taken the automation
plunge,”
says Sands, “are missing out.”
The good news is that Mitchell and Fitch are convinced that every
company regardless of its sales size and line of business can benefit
from taking even small steps in automating its operation.
“Companies
that have processes that are automated,” says Mitchell,
“gain
an edge because of the accessibility to more information for decision
making, faster turnaround time for customer service, and more
efficient
operations.”
Though the pair has seen this happen with numerous organizations,
some entrepreneurs are reluctant. “Some businesses do not have
the internal resources at their disposal and may feel it is too
expensive
to acquire the services of an outside firm. Others are not aware of
the processes that can be automated,” says Mitchell.
Mitchell holds a bachelor’s in administrative management
from the College of New Jersey and a master’s in public administration
from Rutgers. She is also a certified government financial manager
and a member of the Association of Government Accountants. Her
Princeton-based
firm provides information technology and management assistance to
both businesses and non-profit organizations.
Fitch received his bachelor’s degree in computer science from Trenton
State in 1994 and is an MBA candidate in information technology at
Fairleigh Dickinson University. He is also currently employed at
Bristol-Myers
Squibb in Princeton.
The session is intended to evaluate a business’s automation needs,
identify processes that present the opportunity for automation,
present
the pros and cons of automation, and identify resources. While
Mitchell
will focus on the general aspects of automating a business, Fitch
will be handling the evaluation and technology implementation.
Areas that can be automated. “Specific areas,”says Mitchell, “will depend on each business, but some of themore common areas include accounting, word processing, record keeping,customer and prospects lists, payroll, and inventory.”Tools that will be discussed include process-oriented software, datasharing, and production applications.Benefits to a business. “Labor intensive tasks andduties are costly,” Mitchell says, “and those expenses arepassed on to the customer. But in the long run, during this 21stcentury,it will hurt the business more than the customer. Customers willrequestbusiness where they can obtain a better quality service and a quickresponse time.”Cost of automating. Two types of costs must be considered:the actual setup cost (creating a database or Internet site) and thecost of not automating a business (its effect on company image andcustomer retention).”There’s always a cost of doing business and automating has becomeone of those costs. There are up-front costs associated in automating,but in the long term the benefits will outweigh those costs,”says Mitchell.Seminar attendees will receive a step-by-step guide andself-evaluationquestionnaire to help determine what is most appropriate for theirbusiness. “Making the right automation selection,” saysMitchell,”is key.”To merely call any customer service department for information andfind that the information is readily available — that is arealisticscenario, says Mitchell. “Before automation, that timeframe wasnot possible. Response and processing time is now instantaneous. Let’sface it, our time is valuable.”— U. Michael SchumacherTop Of PageTrenton Week: Connect & GrowThe theme for the Seventh Annual Trenton Small BusinessWeek, which runs from Monday to Friday, October 2 to 6, is”Explore,Connect, Partner, Grow.” The nearly two-dozen events at variouslocations offer business to business networking, hands-on learningseminars, and one-on-one consulting. For instance, business ownerscan sign up for one-hour consulting sessions at the Trenton Businessand Technology Center at 36 South Broad Street. These sessionscontinueall week long, but reservations need to be made by Friday, September29.For reservations for any event, go to www.smallbizweek.com orcall the hotline at 609-396-7246. The phone numbers listed with eachevent are for information only.Top Of PageThe Line-UpKick-Off networking breakfast, hosted by Carol Royal,Trenton Waste Exchange, 609-921-3393. $10, free with reservation.NJN TV, 25 South Stockton Street, Monday, October 2, 8 a.m.Managing E-Commerce, Bernadette Tiernan, New Jersey SmallBusiness Development Center, Rutgers Technical Management AssistanceProgram. Call Nat Bender at 800-432-1565. MCCC’s James Kerney Campus,North Broad and Academy, Monday, October 2, 10:30 a.m.One on one financial consulting on small businessfinancing,to 5 p.m. Free. Call Vivian Pepe, business mentor. 609-396-8271.TrentonBusiness Assistance Corporation, 36 South Broad, Monday, October2, 1 p.m.Effective Use of the Internet, four hours, $20. CallDeborahAguiar-Velez, 609-392-29200, extension 104. Sistematica, 225 EastState Street, Monday, October 2, 1:30 p.m.Networking reception & workshop with Latino Chamber ofCommerce and City of Trenton. Free. Call Harry Luna, 609-695-5600.Malaga Restaurant, 511 Lalor Street, Monday, October 2, 5 p.m.Marketing for Government & Corporate Contract BidOpportunities,Patrick J. Guidotti and Lorraine Allen of the New JerseyCommerce/Officeof Small Business and Madeline Britman, New Jersey Small BusinessDevelopment Centers. Free. Call 609-984-3408. Roebling Building, 20West State, Second Floor, Tuesday, October 3, 9 a.m.One on one financial consulting on small businessfinancing,to 5 p.m. Free. Call Vivian Pepe, business mentor. 609-396-8271.TrentonBusiness Assistance Corporation, 36 South Broad, Tuesday, October3, 1 p.m.New Jersey Department of Labor business services seminar— website presentation and panel. Free. Call Kathy Wierzbicki,609-777-4647. Labor Department, 13th Floor, John Fitch Plaza,Tuesday,October 3, 1 p.m.Business Law for Business Owners, Audrey Winograd,attorneyand director of MCCC SBDC. Free. Call 609-586-4800, extension 3469.Trenton Business & Technology Center, 36 South Broad, Tuesday,October 3, 5:30 p.m.Heritage Tourism & You, Beverly Richardson of MCCC. Free.Call 609-586-4800, extension 6661. Old Barracks, Barrack Street,Tuesday,October 3, 6 p.m.New Jersey Economic Development Authority businessfinancingand entrepreneurial training workshop, Caren Franzini, NJEDA executivedirector, Steven Szmutko. NJEDA, Marion Zajac of EntrepreneurialTrainingInstitute Program, and Roland Pott, owner, Urban Word Cafe. Free.Call 609-292-0359. NJEDA, 36 West State Street, Wednesday, October4, 9 a.m.Exploring new opportunities for economic development,Douglas H. Palmer, mayor, City of Trenton. $30. Call Beth Scannella.Lunch by Ann Merlino of Merlino’s Waterfront. Trenton War Memorial,Wednesday, October 4, 11:30 a.m.International Business — Opportunities and Pitfalls,Keld Hansen, Mercer County Community College’s Center for GlobalBusiness,free. Call 609-586-4800, extension 3602. MCCC James Kerney Campus,North Broad and Academy streets, Wednesday, October 4, 2 p.m.Networking reception hosted by Metropolitan TrentonAfricanAmerican Chamber of Commerce (MTAAC) to 8 p.m. Free. For informationcall Linda Hollingshead, 609-393-5933. Maxine’s, 120 South WarrenStreet, Wednesday, October 4, 5:30 p.m.Are You an Entrepreneur? NJAWBO workshop, Freda Howardof Howard Lane Gift Baskets, also tour of business reference section,free. Lawrence Library, Darrah Lane and Route 1 South, Wednesday,October 4, 7 p.m.The Voice of Small Business in the Legislature,AssemblymanGuy Gregg. Free. Contact person: Beth Scannella, Greater Mercer CountyChamber of Commerce, 609-393-4143. New Jersey State House, West StateStreet, Thursday, October 5, 9 a.m.Construction Management, Eugene Marsh. $25 materials fee.Lunch break. Call 609-730-0239. Fleet Bank, 200 East State Street,Second Floor, Thursday, October 5, 11 a.m.ABCs of Automating a Small Business, Anna Maria Mitchelland Eric Fitch, Adams McClendon. Free. Call 609-890-6177. Fleet Bank,200 East State Street, Second Floor, Thursday, October 5, 2 p.m.Celebration and awards ceremony. Free. Maxine’s, 120 SouthWarren Street, Thursday, October 5, 5:30 p.m.Contacts for Contracts, Mercer County Small BusinessForum.Call Don Addison, county office of economic opportunity, 609-989-6418.Free. Sovereign Bank Arena, 550 South Broad Street, Friday, October6, 8 a.m.Guerrilla Marketing in the Arts, also”Responsibilities and Solutions for Artist,” and”Portfolio Development and Promotion.” Susan Schear ofArtIsIn, Gail Cohen of Trenton Arts Connection, and Barbara Swanda ofArtworks. Free, cash lunch. Registration required. Call 609-396-7246.Urban Word Cafe, 449 South Broad Street, Saturday, October 7, 9 a.m.to 4 p.m.Previous StoryCorrections or additions?This page is published by PrincetonInfo.com— the web site for U.S. 1 Newspaper in Princeton, New Jersey.
