Did you know researchers have concluded that warehouse professionals should expect to see a 76% increase in both the number of locations and expected volume over the next few years? Meanwhile, your day-to-day operations look identical to when you first started.

Are you prepared to meet this new demand?

Logistics and warehousing expert Ken Ackerman would like to challenge your assumptions that the old way is the best way. “We’ve always done it this way” thinking won’t help you expand to meet rising industry expectations. Instead, he suggests you start by taking a good, hard look at your current workflow.

But first, what is workflow really? Think of it like a map that outlines the order in which each task is completed and who is responsible for every step. The key is to optimize this process for maximum efficiency.

How can I improve workflow? Luckily for us, Ackerman provided some easy steps for evaluating and improving your workflow sequence in a way that will significantly impact operations. Simply conduct a diagnostic examination using these 5 questions:

• Who does this job?
• Where is this job done?
• How is the task performed?
• When is it performed?
• Why is it done that way?

Run each step of your workflow process through this evaluation and make changes where needed.

What are my next steps? Once you’ve established a new procedure, getting employees on the same page can be challenging. The best way to get the most out of this process is by using a dealership management software like ASPEN.

A business management system will help supply dealers set actions, monitor progress, and create unique workflows with sequential tasks.

When you log into ASPEN, you’ll be able to view assigned jobs as well as the areas they may be monitoring. No more lost sticky notes or buried emails to worry about.

Using the ASPEN Business Management System you’ll be able to help dealers create a more consistent process for competitive transactions and truly make the most out of day-to-day operations.

If you’d like to learn more about how ASPEN helps savvy business owners create efficient and cost-effective workflow systems, continue reading here.