Thepositive economic news is buoying our spirits and causing businessleaders to shift their attention back to 2009 goals and year-to-dateresults. Shaking off fear and inertia, with fewexceptions there is still intense effort needed to reduce expenseswhile making forward-looking decisions.
Here are a few Quick Hits that will yield between 5 and 20% savings:
Software:1) Are you paying for maintenance on out-of-service software orsoftware that will be phased out sometime in the next two years? 2)Have you been conservative when buying seat licenses, avoiding the trapof future needs? 3) Are you paying for maintenance before the softwareis fully implemented and in production?
Mobile Devices: 1)Does your policy limit company link company-paid cell phonesappropriately with job needs? 2) Have you requested and audited 100% ofinvoices once a year to identify unusual costs or inappropriate use? 3)Do you require employees travelling on company business to carry aphone card issued by your land-line carrier who have much lower longdistance rates and no roaming charges?
Legal Services:1) Does your policy or are your relationships with Law Firms segregatedaccording to the type of work and risk? Mid-tier firms charge up to 25%less than the large, national firms 2) Do you negotiate fixedprofessional fees for routine work? 3) Do you negotiate and capadministrative and incidental rates and fees?
Administrative Costs:1) Reprogram all printers for two-sided printing 2) Negotiate deepdiscounts for frequently used Office Supplies, and a smaller discountfor off list items 3) Switch from new to remanufactured toner cartridges
Thesesimple projects are quick and relatively easy to implement, and willreduce your costs immediately, helping you to achieve this year’sgoals. For more ideas, please contact:
Linda Tuck Chapman, Ontala Performance Solutions www.ontala.com is an expert Advisor in Strategic Sourcing, Outsourcing, Offshoring and Risk Governance. She can be reached at 416-452-4635 or [email protected]
