Business Efficiency

Working from home: Habits for a healthy mind, body and business

Health and productivity are inextricably linked. So how can you ensure you’re setting yourself and your staff up for success while working from home?

Finding balance: Outsourcing with David Whittaker of Manly Spirits Co.

Running a small business can be rewarding but with so many tasks vying for your attention, it can be difficult to find the time to focus on what’s really important: producing a...

Outsourcing: A Q&A with Tammy Barton, founder and director of MyBudget

If you run a business in the digital age, you’re probably aware of the importance of digital marketing. With the online space dominating more of our lives, grabbing an audience...

5 expert tips to work smarter, not harder

Happiness Concierge’s Fiona Heseltine shares her advice on striking the right balance between work commitments and time for yourself.

The biggest game-changing feature of 5G

Every new generation of mobile technology, from 1G to 4G, has heralded faster speeds and more functionality. Now we are headed towards 5G – the next-generation of wireless tech...

How you can get first access to 5G devices

Telstra's Chief Executive Officer Andrew Penn was recently in Las Vegas for world-leading electronics trade show CES. He writes in, with no shortage of excitement, to announce ...

5 apps your small business needs this holiday season

Looking to make the most of the busy season? Jeff Haden looks at five apps to make your life a little easier. Sure, Santa Claus is holly and jolly and merry, but in one way he ...

Business benefits of diversity

Big corporates often talk about the benefits of flexible working. Now, some of Australia’s most successful small and medium businesses are jumping on-board and finding that att...

How to hire a sales pro

Looking for new salespeople? It takes a good recruitment strategy to find a great sales pro.

How to multi-task and do what matters

As a busy business owner, it’s tempting to try juggling all the balls at once in order to get things done. But using the right technologies and processes – not constantly multi...

Make Christmas less stressful with top coping strategies

Are you worried there’ll be more bah humbug and less magic this Christmas? You’re not alone. Read on to see how to stress-proof the silly season.

Are business Christmas gifts going to waste?

Environmental conservation groups urge you to re-think your choice of business gifts this year. So, what options other than the stock standard promotional presents can you send...

Test your knowledge of electronic signatures

Electronic signatures (sometimes called eSignatures) provide a quick, inexpensive and easy way to sign and receive digital documents. Businesses have taken advantage of the man...

Smarter Action Plan: Your business app ecosystem

There's an app for everything these days, but to make the most of new technology, it's important for your business to develop an integrated app ecosystem. Blindly diving into n...

Why it's time to automate your cash flow

Every day, small business owners in Australia draw upon their unique knowledge, experience, intuition and creativity to make crucial business decisions. But there are ma...

Time is money: Productivity hacks for everyone

Time is money, and here are some great ways to squeeze more value from the working day. Many busy small business owners spend their lives rushing around working on so many proj...

Work less and earn more with the help of smarter file sharing

Forget the theory, here’s how file-sharing and storage services help make businesses more productive in real life. For most of us, file-sharing and storage services are an ea...

The Smarter debate: Paperless or paper less?

Can your office really go completely paperless, or should you just be aiming to use less paper? Two Smarter writers tackle the great paperless debate.

Smooth move: How technology takes the pain out of shifting offices

Let’s be honest – moving offices or expanding a workplace is a pain. But smart planning and clever cloud-based technology can take a lot of the headache out of the process. T...

Finding yourself: The art and science of digital file management

Here’s how to conquer your business data. Really! Improved storage technology means you can keep almost all the information you generate and receive nowadays. That’s great, but...

Tech resolutions that will stick for 2017

Make this year the one where you don’t just intend to use all those great apps, software and technology to streamline your small business’s operation, you actually do it!

Tech has your back this Christmas

Automating as many processes as you can will make your business more productive – and also give you the freedom to pull away and take a much-needed break over the holidays.

Disaster averted! How much is disaster recovery worth to your business?

Did you know…one in three Australian businesses has experienced a major disruption?

What does nbn mean for my business?

Four business owners let us inside their operations to show us what nbn™ has enabled them to do. Real people. Real businesses. Real benefits. Being a small business owner means...

Why Australian small and medium businesses need the nbn

As savvy consumers expect more from businesses when it comes to digital, fast internet is key. Did you know Australia ranks 56th in the world when it comes to internet download...

7 tech habits of highly successful people

What technology is best for work – and how do you stop it taking over every other aspect of your life? Technology infiltrates almost every part of our lives. It’s changed the w...

How to avoid procrastination

Procrastination can mean nothing ever gets your full attention and work that deserves more input goes neglected. In psychological terms, procrastination is a trade-off between ...

Is it time to spring clean your apps?

Don’t be a hoarder. Deleting unused apps and outdated accounts can assist in strengthening your digital security and may also help to save you money. If someone asked how many ...

How to cut costs with smarter IT

Office equipment can account for 15 to 30 per cent of the overall energy bill of your business and with the escalating use of computers, tablets and smartphones, it’s a no-brai...

How to cut faff and boost your billable hours

Small business owners tend to have one thing in common: a wish for more hours in the day. Business owners often struggle to find a good balance between work and life. Here are ...

4 business tips for the year ahead

We’ve pulled the figures on the stories hundreds of thousands of small businesses read last year. Here’s what you read last year and four business tips to get you ready for the...

4 digital resolutions you really need to keep

Less than one in 10 of us keep our New Year’s resolutions. Jeff Haden explores four that should be on your list, and are well worth keeping. New Year’s resolutions: easy to mak...

5 business tools you can buy on a post-Christmas budget

Sometimes it’s the small things that make a big difference. We’ve rounded up the best, budget-friendly business tools and tech that will streamline your business in 2016. We al...

Why 'minding your mojo' is crucial to success

To social entrepreneur and founder of Playground Ideas Marcus Veerman, we all have a ‘mojo-meter’ – an internal dial for us to assess our wellbeing and sense of purpose. But ho...

Be a leader of tomorrow: Create an 'uncorporate' culture

A business without leadership is like watching grass grow. Things happen, but at a very slow pace. Leaders fuel progress. They create a mental picture of what the future can lo...

The importance of visibility

It’s easy to identify inefficiency and risks when you’re a sole operator. But what happens when you're at the top of a 100+ person workforce? Identifying inefficiency in your b...

Shiny and bright: Interns invigorate business

Many businesses are discovering the value of employing interns and apprentices as a source of fresh and inexpensive young talent. So build a relationship with a local universit...

Stop, collaborate and listen

Collaboration is a buzzword used in boardrooms across the country, but understanding its implications can have big benefits for business. “There are more people willing to give...

Preparation key to taking stacks out of tax

For many of us, tax time means digging through shoeboxes and gloveboxes of receipts and paper invoices, if you’re not preparing for it all year round. Luckily, there’s an app f...

Going green: How your business can reduce waste and save money

It’s National Recycling Week. And from rebates to plans, there’s a lot businesses can be doing to cut down on waste. Every year, Aussie businesses throw out thousands of comput...

How Wonder Woman taught me resilience

For Penny Locaso, a cracked foot in her childhood is a perfect metaphor for finding her resilience. Here’s her advice for businesses looking to find theirs. I secretly always w...

Taking stock: overcoming wholesale challenges during peak periods

Christmas can be a demanding time of year for wholesalers. So how do you ensure your peak periods are your profitable ones? A MYOB whitepaper, Defining the challenges to a whol...

4 ways to work less and earn more

Working less and earning more is the dream for many business owners. Jason Cunningham looks at ways you can change the way you work. When it comes to owning a business, your re...

Is email dying?

With the growing backlash against one of the workplace's most used and abused communication tools, are we ready to abandon email in the pursuit of greater office productivity? ...

What your workspace says about your business

Where you work says a lot about what you do and why you do it. Ennis Cehic looks at why your space should reflect your brand. Regardless of your industry, your office space inf...

Top ways to get the best talent

At the heart of any small business is the staff. By applying some discipline and the right tools, you can give yourself the best chance of scoring the cream of the crop.

The downside to dedication

It’s fine to love your job, but drawing a line in the sand can make you a better boss and build your business’ brand. If a couple spent every minute of every day together, woul...

How to fit 48 hours into your work day

The best leaders know how to manage their time effectively. They know where their time is best placed and how to make things happen. Lisa Messenger breaks down how she does it ...

4 steps to understanding success

Looking back at the way your business has run is often done to find out what went wrong, not what went right. But understanding the importance of a project debrief is more valu...

Put it on plastic: Choose the right card

It could be argued that a credit card is one of the absolute-must have tools of trade for small businesses. But every card has different options and benefits and it’s important...

Which frequent flyer scheme should you join?

For business people on the go, getting the most out of the money you spend can be the difference between cattle class and the lap of luxury. So which frequent flyer program sui...

LinkedIn embraces training with Lynda

"Professional development" is a buzz phrase at the big end of town, but providing staff with training and development doesn’t need to be a challenge for small businesses.

Weird And Wonderful Business Tax Deductions You Probably Didn't Know About

From fridges to moisturiser, there are hundreds of surprising items that are tax deductible. CPA and Registered Tax Accountant at The Practice, Jason Cunningham, lets you know ...

How to save on costs when impressing clients

The lunch business meeting is a classic strategy for building client relationships, but is it possible to seal the deal without spending a fortune?

Why School Holidays Shouldn't Affect SMBs

During school holidays, running a small business and managing your kids (along with staff) can seem like you’re going non-stop on a hamster wheel.

App-ealing ways to streamline your business

End of financial year presents a prime opportunity to start thinking about how your business runs next financial year. We look at the ways you can work Smarter.

What Entrepreneurs Don't Realise About Being the Boss (Until They Are the Boss)

Everyone thinks they’d be a great boss. But Smarter spoke to Jim Whitehurst, President and CEO of Red Hat on what you don’t realise about being the boss, and what you can learn...

Inspiring Employees To Be Entrepreneurial (And How You Can Benefit)

On the surface, having entrepreneurs in your team would seem like a recipe for high staff turnover. But treating staff well can mean entrepreneurship doesn’t equate to resignat...

Is your organisation paying fairly?

Pay equity is still an issue, despite equal pay being introduced in Australia in 1969. But a recent Workplace Gender Equality Agency report has highlighted ways your small busi...

Redefining success: Why money might not matter

Many of us slave away in the pursuit of the almighty dollar. But should conventional measures of success be defining your business?

Should you hire freelancers?

A CareerGuide Australia survey has suggested nearly 30 per cent of Australians surveyed are doing some type of freelance work. That doesn’t mean those individuals are solely do...

4 skills you can't do without

Accessing a range of “new” skills – especially those focused on maximising digital engagement and marketing – can help you keep up with the big end of town in an ever-changing ...

Get on the best places to work list

Some very familiar names grace Glassdoor's 'Best Places to Work 2015' ranking. What makes them so popular with their employees?

The Business Benefits Of Sleep

A new study has found that one in every five employees is sleep deprived and more likely to experience stress in their job. Read our top tips to minimise stress in the workplac...

What I've Learned: Justine Curtis, Inspired Adventures

Philanthropist Justine Curtis started fundraising agency Inspired Adventures after a year travelling through India and Tibet.

Is it time to go back to school?

For small businesses, the decision to invest in education can be a difficult one. Smarter has compiled some upskilling, education and training options for small business.

The Aussie way: How 9 Australian businesses do it better, faster, smarter

Renowned internationally for our larrikin but hard-working habits, there are plenty of Australians punching above their weight in every arena from the sports field to the board...

Expert advice: Smarter energy measures

Have you ever experienced bill shock? Many businesses are concerned about their energy bills, but few ever add up how much they spend each year. When they do, it can come as a ...

6 New Year's resolutions to make you super productive in 2015

Want to make a resolution that’s worth sticking to all year? Here’s six that will help you make the most of your time in 2015.

What to focus on to win great talent

Job hunters are increasingly turning their attention to mobile devices to find work, a new global survey by professional social media platform provider LinkedIn has discovered.

Why Jelly Beans May Be Key To Your Future Workspace

With 2015 just around the corner it’s timely to think about workplace change. A new study purports that we are undergoing the biggest workplace changes since the industrial rev...

The 7 business behaviours that drive high performance

The seven secrets of driving high business performance have been revealed through ground-breaking research and published in a new book. Is there a secret recipe to sustainable ...

To buy or lease business equipment: That is the question

Smarter assess the pros and cons of leasing, hire purchase agreements and chattel mortgages, so you can work out which option is most beneficial to your bottom line. When you’r...

Get Buzzed: Productivity, Coffee, And The Perfect Machine For Your Workplace

Thinking about forking out for a fancy coffee machine at work? Investing in good coffee might just be the best way to create a happy, humming workplace.

Is your business owed money?

Ways to make sure debt collection doesn't slip!

Me and my mentor: Presentation skills

Lucy Karnani’s expertise in training corporate high flyers has helped her friend Fiona Trembath to hone her own business presentation skills, writes Emily Brayshaw.

Top 6 Apps To Train Your Brain

Want to master the chaos upstairs? Organise your brain with six of the best mind mapping apps available.

Smarter ways to get your customers to pay on time

Chasing payments isn't exciting — but it’s a top priority for any business. So how can you make it easier for customers to do their bit for your cash flow?

The benefits of a socially responsible small business

Corporate social responsibility is about doing your bit for your community. It can boost your business’s reputation and also change how you see yourself. We speak to some very ...

How to move contacts and calendars to your new smartphone

While the old days of being able to transfer your contacts using only your SIM card are well and truly gone, it has now become even easier to bring your contacts across to your...

Video Conferencing 101

Improved technology is bringing the power of video to small and medium businesses, and as Stuart Corner explains, not only is it easy to set up, it’s become remarkably affordab...

5G is set to change the world, and business, forever