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8 Strategies for Getting the Most out of your PPP Funds

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The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) is one of the most aggressive government support packages for small and mid-sized business that we’ve ever seen. These funds, which are designed to enable companies to maintain their workforce and assist with rent, mortgage interest, or utilities during the Covid-19 crisis, may provide a cash cushion to support other business advantages as well.

We’ve summarized the ideas we collected to help more manufacturers continue on their path to Stage 4: Thrive. The 8 high-level business strategies include:

  1. Improve Health and Safety Policies
  2. Enhance Automation and Machine Technology
  3. Improve IT Value
  4. Hiring and Employee Benefits
  5. Enhance Sales and Marketing
  6. Smooth out Production Schedules
  7. Save on Capital Purchases
  8. Increase Cash Reserves

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Why your company needs Core Values and how they drive business value

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As a founder, CEO, or leader of a company, it is so important to discover the Core Values you want to your organization to aspire to. It can drive tremendous value to the business and help everyone – leaders, teammates, clients/customers, prospects and potential new hires – all be on the same page. Each knows exactly what is important to your company and what you stand for. After you discover the Core Values, write them down, share them, and find ways to make them an everyday part of your company culture.

Take a few minutes to watch our President and CEO, Ari Santiago, in the video playlist below as he discusses developing our company’s Core Values and talks about a few of them, specifically, and what they mean to us.

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How we do it

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I’ve spent some time lately looking at our company with an objective eye. That’s not always easy to do. Most of the time, you’re just busy getting through your task list, brainstorming new ideas, or putting out fires. But, after I spent some time recently getting out to our clients to see how they do things, it has forced me to come back an observe how we do things. You know what. We do things pretty darn well! Read more

Retrospectives are the key to improvement

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We just celebrated IT Direct’s 17th year in business…it’s an amazing achievement and we’ve learned a lot along the way. One of the keys to our success is our ability to continuously improve by thoroughly reviewing both our achievements and our mistakes. This is why the ‘retrospective’ meeting has become a mainstay of our processes. Read more

5 Ways Technology Can Improve Workforce Recruitment and Retention

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Advanced Manufacturers need new talent and must retain the talent they have. Technology may not be able to solve the problem, but it may be able to help. Take a look at the ideas below. Two focus on recruitment, the rest on retention. All are important to think about! Read more

When does 2+2=5?

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When does adding two things together equal more than the sum of their parts? When you can take a few pieces of information, put it together, and come to a conclusion that saves you tons of time or resources! This is one of our very favorite things to do for our clients!

How do we do it?
Sometimes multiple helpdesk calls come in and they seem unrelated and may even be assigned to different techs to solve. They may even be quick issues, like difficulty updating a password, or a pop-up that keeps occurring from time to time for low disk space on a user’s computer. To an outside eye, these issues may seem coincidental or completely unrelated. But, our POD teams get to know our clients so well that they pick up on these seemingly unrelated events and can make changes that save everyone time and energy.

Putting it together

One client’s Read more

2018 Spending Bill is good for CT Manufacturers

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Senator Chris Murphy at manufacturing plant in Cheshire

Omnibus Spending Bill has positive effects on CT Manufacturing

As a member of a legislative council on Manufacturing, Ari Santiago, President/CEO of IT Direct, recently received this update from Senator Chris Murphy’s office on some of the positive effects of the new spending bill on Manufacturing in Connecticut. We thought you might like to read it too!

Good morning,

You may have heard that Congress voted on a $1.3 trillion spending bill last week. Senator Murphy supported this bill and wanted me to update you on what this means for Connecticut’s manufacturers, please feel free to share with your respective groups. Read more

How to make IT strategy a key component of your business strategy

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How to make IT strategy a key component of your business strategy

Technology is a key component of your business. Are you doing enough to make sure that this key component is helping your company be more productive and efficient and prepare for the future? Chances are, if you don’t have someone dedicated to regularly looking at your technology with one eye on business strategy and the other on the future, the answer is probably no. Below we outline what this role can look like and then we use two recent examples from our clients to show how this role works in action. Read more

Follow the futuristic interior space station toward your business growth.

5 Business Growth Secrets from Emperor Palpatine

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Emperor Palpatine, the supreme ruler of the most powerful, tyrannical regime the galaxy has ever witnessed might seem a little brash, but he is nothing short of ambitious. Although Emperor Palpatine might lack in charisma, he is able to balance out his skills with candor. Palpatine’s directness led to his widespread appeal throughout the senate and granted him the ability to abolish the Imperial Senate. Emperor Palpatine has five business secrets that could help your business experience greater growth and success.

SURRENDER TO YOUR BUSINESS GROWTH

The power of the force is with you, if you choose the light or the dark side, give you whole heart to your business. In the words of Sheev Palpatine, “The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural.” Passion will keep you motivated as you go down the path of success and overall help you trust that you’re pursuing the right course of action.

PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE

One cannot conquer the force without practice. The sith’s hunger for conquest and control is learned through the teaching of legendary masters who have shaped the struggle between light and dark.

GET A GUIDE

Trust those you choose to become partners with. Allow them to help you build a plan of action that encompasses wise time management, money, and resource management. Business partners are meant to solidify customer and employee loyalty through recognition, appreciation, and can work together towards achieving long term business growth.

VISUALIZE THE BUSINESS GROWTH

Not everyone is trying to become a mastermind of an evil empire, but Palpatine clearly understands what it takes to achieve success. Visualize the end goals you wish to achieve as your business continues to make headway.

PLAY THE EDGE

Be ambitious. Although Darth Sidious (Emperor Palpatine) used his position to manipulate galactic events to his own manipulative design, don’t use your role for evil. Take his execution and transform it in a positive light. You can become more competitive by studying the ongoing transitions that are happening within your market.
If you have any questions on how to be successful with your business growth or implement IT support services – Contact Us Today.