Category: Business Errand

These days, temporary lodging for jet-setting employees is in high demand. Each year, Arizona welcomes thousands of business travelers working in industries like health care, government, technology, tourism, and more. As these business sectors continue to grow in places like Avondale, Peoria, and other West Valley cities, so does the need for comfortable, cost-efficient corporate housing for its various business travelers.

But what are the benefits of corporate housing as opposed to, say, a nice hotel room? The answer lies in the amenities, services, and next-level comfort that is catered specifically for business travel.

1. First Rate Corporate Housing Options

Perhaps the biggest perk of corporate housing is the multitude of options available. Corporate housing options are as versatile and diverse as the business travelers they accommodate. You’ll find everything from corporate apartments in the city to single-family homes in the suburbs and everything in between.  Business travelers can narrow down their choices even further based on amenities and services.

Need a one-bedroom place with easy parking, recreational facilities, and housekeeping service?  Check out some of the valley’s fully furnished apartments.

Temporarily relocating with the family?  Discover spacious condos within close proximity to local parks. Whether you’re traveling solo or relocating with a group, the diversity of corporate housing makes it easy to find the right place to stay.

2. Customer Service from Corporate Housing Providers

If you’re searching for the perfect temporary accommodation, corporate housing providers can point you in the right direction. The term “corporate housing” refers to both a product and a service. Companies that specialize in corporate housing not only help you find the right product, ( ie, corporate apartment, house, etc.) but also provide services as part of the housing package.

This includes amenities like 24/7 customer service, handling maintenance issues, and more. Corporate housing providers like PrimeNest Arizona work with companies as well as individual employees to find the best corporate housing at reasonable prices. We’ll match any business traveler with the perfect housing package based on their preferred location, property type, amenities, and more!

3. Cost-Efficiency

Corporate housing is a more cost-efficient solution than hotels and can yield substantial savings for business travelers planning an extended stay. With competitive monthly rates for fully furnished properties, corporate housing companies are able to provide the housing package that suits your needs as well as your budget.

Things like utilities and all-inclusive amenities mean you only pay one flat fee, unlike hotels, which have the potential for additional, unforeseen costs. Some of those hotel costs include eating out and laundry service – all of which a traveler can do at home with no additional money spent.

4. More than a Traditional Hotel

As a sunny vacation destination, Arizona has no shortage of resort and hotel room options. Business travelers on short business trips will be perfectly comfortable in a typical hotel room that comes with amenities like room service and a business center.  However, employees traveling for long periods of time or temporarily relocating for work need lodging that offers the comforts of home as well as superior business services.

Corporate housing does just that. Guaranteed high-speed internet access, on-site laundry facilities, and overall more space are just some of the convenient amenities that help business travelers not only feel at home for an extended period of time but also enhance their ability to get the job done.

5. Fully Furnished Accommodations

Corporate housing properties are fully furnished and equipped to anticipate the business traveler’s every need. Even the simplest type of housing, such as a corporate apartment or condo, will be fully stocked and ready the moment guests arrive. Newer furniture, a fully equipped kitchen, as well as interior design, and business-friendly staging are all standard corporate housing perks designed to make any extended stay more comfortable.

Business travelers can expect to find kitchen utensils and cookware, towels and linens, televisions with cable, high-quality furniture, and more. The idea is to give business travelers their own space with all the necessities they need to feel at home.

 6. Valuable Perks for Potential Talent

When pursuing new talent for your company, corporate housing can be a powerful bargaining chip, especially if the job includes travel. Potential employees take into account the type of housing an employer is willing to pay for and it can be a huge factor in their decision. Young executives today are interested in corporate housing not just for their own comfort, but also because they know it can be a huge factor in the overall morale of the company.

7. Enhanced Company Morale

If you’re a company looking for corporate housing providers, you’ve taken the first step towards developing a positive company environment. If employees are required to be away from home during lengthy business trips, hotel stays can make them feel like they are living out of a suitcase. The comfort, convenience, and privacy corporate housing provides can do wonders when it comes to keeping your best talent happy and willing to go the extra mile.

6 Steps to Optimize the Move Management Process

If a constant shuffling of desks in your workplace seems like it’s become the new norm, you’re not alone.

Managing office moves and tracking the supply and demand of space is critical for reacting to business demands quickly and efficiently. Reporting on multiple dimensions of the workplace—vacancy, occupancy ratios, space efficiency, etc. is impacted by maintaining accurate data within a space management system.

With data as a driving force for decision making in today’s workplace, corporate real estate and facilities professionals are expected to be able to add data-driven insights to questions such as:

• What is the current supply and demand of space?
• How can we use space more efficiently?
• How can we improve departmental collaboration?
• Which spaces are most sought after by employees?

A byproduct of desk churn is its impact on data integrity within space and move management systems. Office seating plans and occupancy data can quickly become out of date.

Data is stale in a week, that’s how it goes in space planning: It needs to be immediate.”

— Vice President of Corporate Real Estate, Banking and Financial Services Firm

Understanding desk churn in the workplace

Desk churn measures the number of times somebody is reassigned from one seat to another—also known as box moves. Box moves are often in response to a business need such as reorganizations, growth or reduction in staff, and transfers.

For many organizations, desk churn may simply be a result of necessary departmental and desk moves to accommodate changing headcounts and occupancy needs, but there is a growing trend of strategic desk churn in which high desk churn isn’t necessarily a negative thing.

Some organizations intentionally have upwards of 400% desk churn or more by scheduling quarterly all-employee desk moves. Some benefits of this include:

• Encouraging new connections by changing the proximity between different departments and employees.
• Infusing creativity with a change of scenery or association with new collaborators.
• Instilling fairness in the seating assignments, such as rotating who gets coveted window seating.
• Aligning teams differently based on project assignments.

Another culprit of desk churn is the “midnight move,” when occupants move into a new station without telling anyone. If you’ve ever been a victim of this, you’ve experienced how quickly seating plans become obsolete and data integrity within a space management software becomes dated.

The value of maintaining accurate occupancy data

“When accurate data is available, invitations to the decision-making table increase. This proactive approach can move a business into strategy and action more quickly.”

— Christi Van Maanen, Senior Associate, Errandables

It all starts with a thoughtful move management process and occupancy tracking. By maintaining accurate data, you’ll be able to:

• Provide hard, irrefutable data to support a workplace strategy and/or test a hypothesis about occupancy.
• Verify current standards/benchmarks and space allocation metrics in the early stages of programming.
• Optimize a space to better suit the needs of the users.
• Determine departments for mobile readiness and consider the implementation of seat sharing as part of a mobility strategy.
• Identify opportunities to save space by consolidating leases.
• Publish accurate wayfinding maps of your workplace.

6 Simple Steps to Optimize Your Move Management Process and Increase Data Integrity In Your Space Management Software.

Improving office seating plans and occupancy data begins and ends with streamlined move, add, change management. Our tried and true steps will help you implement a streamlined MAC process that will add value to organizations of any size.

These are the same steps that we work through with our clients on when implementing Errandables, and now you can apply them to your organization. Whether a workplace portfolio is 30,000 or 30 million square-feet, these industry best practices can be right-sized for any organization, resulting in accurate and insightful data.

Move, Add, Change (MAC) Definition

Also know as MAC or move management, these general terms are used when an occupant is reassigned from one workspace to another to another, or when a new hire is onboarded and assigned.

1. Understand the current move management process

Start this process as an investigation. Find out as much as you can about how the process is taking place today. Grab a pen and paper and physically map this out with your team.

• Map out who the key people are, how they are involved, and what information is being transferred.
• Identify what is working well and what isn’t.
• Don’t fix something that isn’t broken.

2. Define the ideal move management process

This is all about working smarter, not harder. In this step you’ll outline the entire ideal move management process and identify ways to eliminate redundancies, such as duplicate data entry, and establish consistency.

• Are there redundant activities that multiple people are doing?
• Is there a standard process for communication?
• Is there documentation or a move management form?
• Is there a clear communication hierarchy and path?

3. Assign key roles to the move, add, change process

Once you’ve explored the current process, identified areas for improvement and mapped out the ideal future state, it’s time to assign key roles and responsibilities. There are three roles that we recommend for keeping data current, although in some organizations only the Requester and Completer may be needed.

Requester
These are people closest to the need for a move request to occur. They may be a department coordinator, department admin, or supervisor.

• • The requester starts the process by identifying a need.
  • Documentation, such as an office move request form, should be completed.
  • There should be one requester within each line of business.

Approver
Depending on the process, there may be someone reviewing the move, add, change request form prior to it moving forward. This role is typically a supervisor or manager.

• • This is an optional role.
  • They have the ability to deny the request.

Completer
Typically, this role oversees all governance of the process and helps enforce that it is carried out correctly. There could be one completer per building, or one per several buildings, depending on size. This role is typically filled by facilities or a site coordinator who is responsible for:

• • Ensuring that the space is available and ready for someone to move into.
  • Typically they are the ones that help coordinate the physical move.
  • Recording the change accurately in the move management software.

Tip: Some organizations find it works best for them to have only two roles:

Requester and Completer

4. Automate with move management software

There are many tools available to automate tedious manual tasks and move forms, such as, space management software and office move management software. In Errandables, the change request system automates communication between teams as requests move through the workflow.

When your process has been outlined, consider automating these tasks:

• Data exchanges, including an automated daily occupant data import or location information. This keeps data current in your system.
• E-mail notifications can be triggered to streamline communications.
• Move sheets can be generated outlining the details of each occupant that is moving.

“With more and more millennials entering the workforce, this is perfect time to roll out automation. If there is a chance to remove paper forms and automate, they are all for it.”

– Shawn Biven, Senior Property Manager at ADP

5. Train participants and prepare to manage the change

When introducing new roles in the move, add, change process, there is sometimes fear of information getting “messed up” by opening the system to more users.

On the contrary, we’ve found that opening the system to others helps keep data more accurate. By empowering people on the ground to make requests, data remains updated as churn occurs.

As you begin to train others on the new process, keep in mind these change management tips to encourage adherence to the new process:

• Recognize and reward success.
• Enforce positive incentives, not penalties.
• Provide praise and spotlighting from leaders.
• Stay positive and hold the line.

6. Rollout the new move management process

When the process is finalized, it’s time to test it and create a rollout plan to streamline it across all locations with these recommended steps:

1. Start with a pilot.
2. Fine tune.
3. Use a phased rollout approach.
4. Conduct post-launch follow-up.

Ongoing: Track and improve over time

With the new process rolled out and the right tools implemented, you’ll have access to the data and information you need at all phases of the real estate life cycle. But the work doesn’t stop. The process needs ongoing ownership, attention, enforcement, and nurturing.

In organizations with multiple locations, it is especially important to determine a cadence for ongoing communication between the teams on the ground.

For one client, consistency and accountability is achieved through monthly standing calls that keep key contributors in close communication to discuss challenges and solutions.

Client Story: An improved process leads to data integrity

One Errandables client was experiencing a 62% churn desk rate. With a global portfolio of approximately 160 buildings, over seven million square feet, and 40,000+ occupants, it was a struggle to maintain accurate occupancy data. All of the internal movement totaled 25,000 opportunities for data to become outdated as occupants moved desks within the company.

Midnight moves were a frequent occurrence and manual move forms couldn’t keep up. Walk audits were frequently needed to verify seating assignments. Each site was operating independently, resulting in inconsistent processes and unreliable data in the space management software.

To improve the process, we worked with the real estate and facilities team to first understand the current workflow. Roles were then identified to support their portfolio structure—this included an admin as the “requester” and the site coordinator as the “completer”.

With the new process outlined, tools for automation were then introduced. Using the Space Request Utility, admins submit requests, and the site coordinators review and approve the requests. With moves in the queue, a move sheet can simply be exported and provided to the move team.

After a move is complete, the site coordinator completes the request within Errandables, thus maintaining a current inventory of people and space data.

The improved process and interactive tools have ensured that the appropriate roles have the ability to submit requests. It has eliminated the need for dual entry of move requests, and communications have been streamlined with automatic e-mail notifications and move sheets—saving significant time.

Most importantly, it is a proactive approach to keeping the data accurate.

Streamlining the office move management process is an opportunity to bring awareness to the importance of occupancy data and create transparency into the processes which can support data governance, strengthen communication and add value through accurate real estate metrics.

If you’re challenged with the following questions, it may be time to makeover your move management process.

• What is the current supply and demand of space?
• How can we use space more efficiently?
• How can we improve departmental collaboration?
• Which spaces are most sought after by employees?
• How do we align communication across departments?
• How do we streamline our processes in all offices?
• How can I keep up as our portfolio grows?

Our team can help consult on this process, and it’s part of our standard implementation process. Schedule a demo to learn more about how Errandables can support your space and move management goals.

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Introduction  

Ever wonder what event management means? Well, it’s simpler than you think. At its core, event management involves planning in-person, virtual, or a mix of both events. It’s about coordinating every detail to ensure the event runs smoothly – just like ensuring all the pieces fit perfectly together in a puzzle.   

Now, what is the importance of event management? Imagine throwing a party without any planning – it’d be chaos! From planning schedules to overseeing budgets, event management ensures everything runs well. There are event management institutes dedicated to teaching all about this exciting field. These institutes offer courses and programs to help aspiring event planners refine their skills and make their mark in the industry. 

What is Event Management? 

Event management is the process of planning and executing various types of events to achieve specific goals. These events can include personal celebrations like weddings and birthdays. It also includes larger gatherings such as corporate conferences, trade shows, sporting events, and cultural festivals.  

In event management, everything is organised and coordinated to ensure that every aspect of the event runs smoothly. This involves selecting the venue, arranging catering, managing logistics, and overseeing the event’s timeline. The importance of event management lies in creating meaningful experiences while achieving desired objectives. Effective event management is crucial for uniting people in celebrations or fostering valuable professional discussions and connections. This ensures the success of any event.

Importance of Event Management 

The importance of event management must be considered in today’s world. It’s vital to many industries and occasions, ensuring that events run smoothly and leave a lasting impression. Let’s break down why event management matters:  

• Meeting Clear Objectives  

Events are often set up with specific aims like advertising a product, raising funds, or spreading information. Effective event management plays a crucial role in ensuring that the goals of an event are achieved efficiently. 

• Mitigating risks 

Events can face various risks, from technical issues to security concerns. Event management involves identifying and planning for these risks to keep the event running smoothly.  

• Networking opportunities  

Many events enable participants to network with other professionals in their chosen field. Event management makes these linkages possible in large part.  

• Community engagement  

Festivals and community events unite people and promote a sense of community. Event planning ensures these get-togethers are well-planned and fosters a sense of community.  

• Enhancing reputation  

A successful event may boost the reputation of an individual, a business, or a brand. Event management helps protect and enhance this reputation by ensuring everything goes well. 

How Does Event Management Work? 

Event management requires teamwork between the management team and the hosting company. Here’s how it typically operates:  

• Planning the Event: The event planner creates an event management plan (EMP) with the hosting company. This plan outlines all the event details and meets the company’s requirements. 

• Following a Timeline: The EMP includes a timeline that guides the planning process from start to finish. This ensures tasks from pre-planning arrangements to post-event evaluations are completed on schedule. 

• Learning from Experience: The EMP isn’t just for one-time use. It serves as a valuable reference for future events, helping to prevent the same mistakes from happening again.  

• Empowering Employees: With a well-documented EMP in place, even employees who are new to event planning can easily organise events such as annual launches. 

Benefits of Event Management 

Event management offers many advantages that benefit individuals, organisations, and communities alike. Let’s explore these benefits in detail:  

• Professionalism: Event managers manage every event they oversee with high professionalism. Their expertise and experience ensure that everything runs smoothly, enhancing the credibility and reputation of the host or organisation.  

• Efficiency: Planning an event can be chaotic, but event managers are excellent at keeping things orderly. Their logistics, resource management, and time allocation skills result in more efficient resource use, which saves clients and organisers time and money.  

• Measurable Success: Event management continues after the event itself. Post-event evaluation and analysis are integral parts of the process. Event managers gather valuable data on the event’s success, including attendee feedback, to measure its impact and identify areas for improvement in future events.  

• Creativity: Event managers bring their imagination to events, transforming concepts into life-changing experiences. Their innovative ideas and attention to detail ensure that events stand out and leave a lasting impression on attendees.  

• Economic Impact: Events significantly affect the local economy in the cities and surrounding areas. They support local companies, attract tourists, and bring in funds, all of which help the economy expand and flourish. 

Reasons to Select Errandables for Event Management 

Individuals can receive comprehensive training and professional development in event management through event management institutes. Here are several reasons why selecting errandables for event management education stands as a wise choice: 

• Various Workshops and Guest Lectures  

Errandables offers diverse workshops and guest lectures, providing students with practical insights and networking opportunities. 

• Exposure in the Industry  

Students get a lot of experience in event management, preparing them for actual challenges. 

• Varied Curriculum  

At errandables, the event management institute, the curriculum covers everything students need to know and learn valuable skills.

• Certification  

Graduates receive certifications that boost their job prospects in event management.

• Real-world-based Learning  

Real-world learning emphasises applying theory to practical scenarios. This approach deepens students’ understanding of event management.

• Flexible Learning  

errandables offers flexible learning to fit student schedules and preferences for the best experience. 

Conclusion 

Understanding the importance of event management is fundamental for individuals aspiring to thrive in this dynamic field. Choosing the right institute for event management is crucial, and Errandables VA is a top choice. Its curriculum and hands-on experiences prepare students well for event planning and execution. Errandables strongly emphasises practical skills and creativity when preparing its graduates. Offering flexible learning options equips them to organise successful events and make a meaningful impact in the industry.  

Virginia, the Bayou City, is a dynamic metropolis that thrives on commerce and industry. But behind the scenes, another crucial sector keeps the wheels of justice turning: the legal system. At the heart of this system lies a network of professionals ensuring the seamless flow of documents – legal Virginia couriers services.

The Importance of Legal Courier Services

In the fast-paced world of litigation, timely delivery of legal documents is essential. Meeting deadlines for filings, court appearances, and critical exchanges of information is paramount to the success of any legal case. This is where legal courier services specializing in same day delivery and couriers step in, acting as a reliable and efficient bridge between attorneys, courts, and other legal entities.

• Legal Industry in Virginia: Virginia is one of the largest cities in the United States with a significant concentration of law firms, corporate legal departments, and courts, including federal, state, and local jurisdictions. This high density of legal services increases the demand for specialized courier services that can handle legal documents efficiently and confidentially.
• Reliance on Timely Document Delivery: Legal proceedings often depend on strict deadlines. The timely and secure delivery of documents like court filings, contracts, and sensitive legal correspondence through same day delivery and couriers is crucial. Legal couriers specialize in these requirements, offering services that typical mail and delivery services might not provide, such as same-day delivery, rush services, and real-time tracking.
• Confidentiality and Security: Legal documents frequently contain sensitive information. Legal couriers in Virginia are expected to adhere to high standards of confidentiality and security to protect client information. This specialization helps in maintaining the integrity of the legal process.
• Technological Integration: Modern legal couriers integrate technology to enhance service delivery. This includes the use of advanced tracking systems, electronic delivery confirmations, and secure handling procedures. These technological advancements improve the efficiency and reliability of courier services, making them an integral part of the legal infrastructure.
• COVID-19 Impact: The pandemic has led to increased utilization of digital solutions for document management and virtual court proceedings. However, the need for physical document delivery remains significant, especially for executing official documents and where digital signatures are not permissible.

What Do Legal Courier Services Do?

Legal courier services specialize in the secure and time-sensitive transportation of legal documents. Their services encompass a wide range of tasks, including:

• Court Filings: Ensuring timely delivery of legal documents to courthouses, clerks’ offices, and judges.
• Document Retrieval: Retrieving vital documents from courts, government agencies, and other locations.
• Service of Process: Serving legal documents, such as subpoenas and summonses, to designated individuals.
• Rushed Delivery: Providing same day delivery and courier services for urgent legal documents that require immediate attention.
• Intra-City and Nationwide Delivery: Facilitating the secure transport of documents within Virginia and across the country.

Benefits of Using Legal Courier Services

Lawyers and legal professionals in Virginia benefit greatly from using legal courier services. Here’s how:

• Enhanced Efficiency: Legal couriers free up valuable time for attorneys and legal staff, allowing them to focus on core legal strategies and client service.
• Guaranteed Timeliness: Reliable couriers specializing in same day delivery and couriers ensure documents reach their destinations on time, eliminating the risk of missed deadlines and potential penalties.
• Improved Cost-Effectiveness: By outsourcing document delivery, law firms can save money on staff time and resources associated with in-house delivery efforts.
• Peace of Mind: Legal courier services provide peace of mind with secure document handling and chain-of-custody protocols, ensuring the integrity of sensitive legal materials.
• Specialized Expertise: Experienced legal couriers understand the intricacies of the legal system and court procedures, ensuring documents are delivered to the correct destination and individuals.

Choosing the Right Legal Courier Service in Virginia

With a multitude of legal courier services operating in Virginia, selecting the right partner is crucial. Here are some key factors to consider:

• Reputation and Reliability: Look for a company with a proven track record of dependability and positive client reviews.
• Experience: Choose a courier service with extensive experience in navigating the Virginia legal system and courthouse procedures.
• Security Measures: Ensure the company prioritizes document security with measures like background checks for couriers, encrypted tracking systems, and insurance coverage.
• Range of Services: Opt for a service that offers a comprehensive range of services to accommodate your diverse legal delivery needs.
• Competitive Pricing: Compare pricing structures to find a courier service that provides excellent value for your investment.

Legal courier services play an indispensable role in Virginia’s legal system. By ensuring the swift and secure delivery of legal documents, they contribute significantly to the efficient functioning of the courts and the success of legal proceedings. So next time you require the timely and reliable delivery of critical legal documents in Virginia, consider partnering with a reputable legal courier service for a smoother and more successful legal experience.

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Transforming Your Business Event With An Event Planner

Employing professional event planners can provide businesses with various advantages, such as specialized knowledge, time efficiency, resource availability, innovation, risk mitigation, professionalism, and stress alleviation for their corporate functions. Let’s start with stress reduction.

1. Less Stressful

Professional event planners love what they do, but planning and project managing a business event can be stressful, especially when unexpected issues arise.

Let’s face it: If you had staff capable of planning and running a large business event, they’re probably in the wrong job—unless your business runs a lot of events and your staff has really good project management skills.

Outsourcing your business events to professional event planners will relieve you and your staff of the burden of tasks like finding a suitable venue. However, this task is not as easy as it may appear. You need to know how to negotiate with venue vendors and manage the logistics. Your stress levels can go up dramatically before you’ve started on the event’s program and other tasks like designing the room.

Additionally, your staff will thank you for not overloading them with extracurricular duties. You can delegate tasks to the event planner while letting your staff focus on their jobs without distraction.

Your event management company will also devise an event plan tailored to your preferences, prioritizing smooth and transparent execution.

2. Saves Time and Time is Money

Planning an event by yourself (DIY) can be alluring initially, but it’s not wise. Time is money; without experience and expertise, doing it yourself with your staff will take longer.

Inexperience and a lack of event planning skills can contribute to confusion and disorganization. Additionally, limited access to necessary tools, a network, and manpower can hinder your efforts.

Professional event planners possess the skills to predict problems before they occur and prevent costly mistakes. Your event may experience logistical challenges, technical issues, and unforeseen emergencies. Event planners are trained to identify the difficulties and mitigate the risks so the event can proceed smoothly and without interruptions.
You can also delegate all the event details to them, which saves you time and effort. This way, you can focus on your core business activities while they oversee the event planning, ensuring that everything runs smoothly.

3. Planning And Management

Organizing an event can be challenging, even when you outsource the planning and management.

To ensure the success of your event’s success, clearly communicating your goals for the event is essential. Make sure the planner understands the purpose and desired outcomes for the event. Setting expectations with the event planner is crucial and should include:

• Budget – how much and how it can be allocated
• Theme – brand guidelines, entertainment, catering
• Timeline – planning meetings, logistical arrangements
• Audience – demographic
• Presentation tools – OVP, Internet

Organizing your event correctly is a skill that an event planner possesses. Hiring an event planner is the best way to handle all the details, such as venue, food, drinks, decoration, and entertainment.

Knowing all the details involved in planning a significant event is essential. You can’t afford to ignore a small detail, as it can easily break everything apart. All your efforts and budget could go down the drain in just one mistake.

Working with pro event planners will prevent those disastrous possibilities. They can pull together the pieces and create a production schedule. They also handle every aspect of the event, including the legalities and lawful requirements. You can rest easy knowing that the event is planned well.

Final Thoughts

Event planners often have a vast network of vendors, suppliers, and venues. They can leverage these connections to secure better deals, negotiate contracts, and access resources that may not be readily available. This can result in cost savings and higher-quality services for your event.

Professional event planners are skilled in creating unique and memorable experiences for attendees. They can bring fresh ideas, creative concepts, and innovative approaches to your business event, making it more engaging, impactful, and enjoyable for participants.

A well-executed business event reflects positively on your company’s professionalism and reputation. Hiring professional event planners demonstrates your commitment to delivering high-quality experiences for your clients, partners, and employees, enhancing your brand image and credibility.

When you partner with Errandables, you have so much more than access to trusted relocation services. You gain a team of experts who can help you demonstrate the value of mobility to your overall business, keep you up to date on industry trends, and in front of innovative approaches and the disruptive forces reshaping the way we do business.

From rapidly changing immigration rules and complex tax legislation, to global employment and demographic shifts, there is no shortage of information required to stay current and compliant. With Errandables by your side, you don’t have to worry about how you’ll manage that – we take care of it for you, keeping you and your team in the know and ahead of the curve.

Errandables provides comprehensive relocation services throughout Europe inclusive of:

• Pre-decision services
• Destination services
• Assignment management
• Visa & immigration services
• Move management
• Lump sum management
• Consulting and advisory services

Consulting Services

The Top 5 Benefits of Medical Couriers

It isn’t rocket science: the need for increased attention to a delivery increases in proportion to the item’s importance. That’s the entire reason that fragile stickers and insurance options exist for regular packages. When it comes to shipping goods as important as medical supplies, however, you’re getting into an entirely new league of care.

1) Medical Courier Specialists

If you’re transporting medical goods, it is essential that you work with a company that understands the need for convenience and safety and will be ready for any contingency. Here at Errandables, all of your medical supplies will be handled by our employees that have acquired Transportation of Dangerous Goods (TDG) certification. They can even handle Class 7 radioactive goods.

At Errandables, you can rest assured that we can handle specialized requirements for medical shipping, given that Public Health Toronto trusts the vital task of delivering Covid-19 test samples to our team of couriers. The requirement of such certifications in the transport of vaccines and test samples means that specialized medical couriers contribute directly to the fight against COVID-19 wherever vaccines are required.

2) Better Package Tracking

If you’re sending your uncle the electric razor he left at your place last Christmas, you might not have much need to know the exact status of your order. If you’re awaiting an organ replacement or a blood sample, the timing could be a factor in life or death.

Here at Errandables, we don’t just offer an advanced tracking method; we offer several lines of defence in ensuring our shipments arrive on schedule. These features include:

• GPS Enabled Trucks
• Fully Maintained Fleet of Vehicles
• Computerized Tracking System
• Dedicated Service Vehicle
• Professional Drivers

Because Errandables is the first in Canada to offer an ETA Board, you can also track your medical shipment online; this puts the ability to check the exact status of your shipment at any time, night or day, directly in your hands.

3) Opting for Contact-free Deliveries

While one of the leading concerns at the height of the recent pandemic was to limit the potential spreading of the virus, the regulations in place taught us all a little more about general medical safety. When it comes to medical courier services, there are plenty of occasions when a contact-free delivery is desirable, and that’s an option you can always find here at Errandables.

4) Security Transportation

It’s easy to understand why medical shipments require high levels of security. These might include personal medical history, expensive equipment or prescription drugs that would be dangerous in the wrong hands. In the case of a shipment on its way to a hospital to help someone who is sick, losing track of an item isn’t an option.

That’s why it is so essential to work with a company that uses regularly maintained and monitored vehicles, so that you can know your shipment will be safe.

5) Advanced Customer Service

When you’re shipping medical supplies or equipment that requires specialized care, you don’t want to run into a situation where you can’t get in touch with the company. Here at Errandables, you will never get a computerized answering service or an endless busy signal. We ensure that you can reach us in case any contingency comes up. It is that simple.

The most important shipments require a courier that knows how to handle those particular items. Get in touch with Errandables today to learn more about how we can help you with medical shipments.

Errand Service Business Secrets

As an errand runner, you love helping others. Errand runners do just that—run errands for other people, often senior citizens, who are unable to. It’s a great way to bring a smile to someone’s face while also getting paid. Errand runners do normal everyday things such as running to the bank, getting groceries, picking up dry cleaning, and more. Best of all, they get paid good money to do it. The national average is $25 an hour. So what are some secrets that could make your errand running service prosper?

1. Group orders

If you have several customers in the same area, consider grouping errands together to save time and be more efficient. For example, make Monday and Thursday grocery days and Wednesday the day you pick up prescriptions from the pharmacy.

2. Charge a cancellation/rush fee

It’s customary for a customer to give 24 hours notice before asking you to run an errand or if they need to cancel the errand. If they cancel within 24 hours, consider charging them a fee. Some errand runners charge the entire amount they would’ve been paid. When someone cancels last minute, it’s often too late for you to find another customer for that allotted time. That’s why this cancellation fee is appropriate.

Also, if a customer asks you to do “rush service,” a job that needs to be done within two to four hours, it’s also customary to add an additional charge to their fee, such as an additional $10 an hour. Be up front of them with them about this.

3. Reminders for payment

Senior citizens might forget that they haven’t paid you. We all know about the “senior moments” that can happen. Just provide a friendly reminder. If it’s a task you do for them often, your customer could pay up front or on a weekly or monthly basis, making it less likely they’ll forget. It’s important you keep very good records. This will help prevent mistakes when it comes to collecting payment.

4. Pay for orders separately

If you’re going to the grocery store for more than one customer, remember to pay for the orders separately. Each customer will want their own receipt. They won’t want to see another customer’s items on their receipt.

5. Keep orders separate

In addition to paying for things separately, be sure not to mix bags at the grocery store. Ask the bagger to keep certain items together and bring a felt tip pen to write on the bag the name of the customer that the bag is going to.

6. Repeat newspaper ads

If you choose to advertise in the newspaper, or local senior publications, run your ad every week for a while. After a few months people will recognize your ad and be more likely to call you when they need help.

These are just some of the secrets that can help you become an all-star errand runner. Try some out, find what works for you, and before you know it, your errand running business will be the one to call.

Do you ever wake up and already feel overwhelmed because you have a huge “to do” list and only so many hours in the day?

It’s getting harder to balance your time between home, family and your business. A Personal Errand Service is a combination of Personal Shopper,  Event Planner and Concierge and can help you achieve that balance.

An individual may use an Errand Running Service to pick up their medications at the pharmacy or pick up their groceries.  We can also purchase and gift wrap birthday or Christmas gifts, along with taking your packages to the post office or courier.  Do you need a gift basket or condolence card?  Or you’re planning a birthday party and just don’t have time to pick up the decorations or order the cake.

Perhaps you are experiencing mobility issues and you  don’t want to wait until your friends or family have extra time to help you out. And, when you hire a professional errand service, the chores will be done when it’s convenient for YOU, not your friends!

Maybe you are having work done on your home and are looking for various contractors. An Errand Service can source, contact and deal with the contractors so you don’t have to! We can also meet the contractors at your home and ensure the job is done to your specifications.

Do you have a big event coming up and need your favorite shoes and dress or suit ready?  An Errand Service can get your outfit to the dry cleaners and shoes to a reputable shoe repair and have everything back in plenty of time for your big night – with no stress for you!

There are so many instances where you could use an Errand Service. If there is something specific you need, just reach out and ask. We realize each client has specific needs and will do our best to accommodate you.

If you’ve ever considered hiring a Virtual Assistant but still need more reasons (we’ve provided a handful of convincing articles on the subject), we’ve compiled the ten biggest benefits of hiring a Virtual Assistant.

Because when you Google ‘reasons to hire a virtual assistant,’ you’ll be inundated with other people, industries, and businesses shouting their praises from the cyber rooftops.

The following four points may help advance the conversation around why it now makes good sense for many organizations to opt for a remote executive assistant. Considering that a general Google search for “virtual assistant jobs” produces 285,000 results, there is no time to waste in joining the ranks of many employers and job searchers that are already on board.

Why Hire a Remote Personal Assistant?

Hire Top Talent

When decision-makers open up to the idea of hiring a remote executive assistant, untapped potential to reach greater talent abounds.

No longer restricted by geography, businesses can mine talent from across the map. This can be an incredible value-add for businesses in smaller towns or lower-tier metropolitan areas, where the local candidate pool may be shallow or exhausted.

Companies that require specialized skills or capabilities also increase the odds of landing the highly-qualified help they need by casting a broader net.

For example, a business might never find an executive assistant with a background in business development, who has advanced Excel skills, solid visual editing chops, a knack for increasing operational efficiencies, and incredible accounting skills if they look only within a 30-mile radius.

However, the virtual option makes finding such professional “unicorns” all the more likely.

Engagement and Employee Happiness

Imagine what not having to deal with a commute does for a team member’s total work day and overall quality of life. The Washington Post reported in February 2016 that the average American commute has jumped by 20 percent since 1980, clocking in at 26 minutes.

In big cities and major metros with expansive and highly populated suburbs, it gets much worse. And more and more employees are dealing with the challenges of the “mega-commute,” driving 90 minutes or more to report for duty.

Add to this the convenience of wearing ultra-casual clothes, having healthy at-home snacking options just a few footsteps away, and enjoying the relative comfort of working from one’s own residence.

The health benefits of remote work can bring advantages to employers as well—again, with fewer sick days, more employee enthusiasm, a positive sensibility that reaches throughout the organization, and even the longer work hours that remote team members voluntarily contribute.

Additionally, research organization Gallup found that remote workers also feel more connected to their employers. In effect, they are empowered, sensing that their opinions matter and feel linked to the organization’s mission and purpose.

Get More Done – And Save Time

Working from home has a way of emphasizing what matters most—getting the job done. Research backs this.

A 2012-2013 study from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business revealed that call center workers who were allowed to work from home for nine months were 13 percent more productive. They took fewer breaks, had fewer sick days, and took more calls per minute.

Participants also reported higher levels of job satisfaction, and the company’s retention of workers improved.

Businesses that include remote executive assistants in their model can realize similar benefits. Sick days, turnover, disengagement, and other pitfalls associated with rigid work cultures have true business costs.

The virtual option can ease the burden, alleviate some risks, and introduce quickened pluses in performance.

Reduce Costs and Save More Money

Did you know that a new cubicle costs about $2,000? Used cubicles go for one-third to half that cost. More modern, better-constructed workstations and office partitions can go for much, much more.

But the money businesses save by hiring remote executive assistants extends beyond the initial outlay for a cube.

There are also other hard assets, like furniture and office supplies. Associated expenses for on-site employees—particularly for “best-in-class” employers, can include utilities (lighting, heat and air), parking, snacks, beverages, meals, on-site childcare, on-site work-life amenities (car detailing, dry clean services), and even on-site wellness and fitness amenities.

Other factors on the softer side of the equation can be more difficult to calculate. Increased productivity, tenured team members, and employee happiness produce innovation, consistent quali

ty work, and sincere client service that defy estimation.

If you’ve been on the fence about hiring new remote assistants or have been skeptical about allowing your existing team to test it out, maybe it’s time to think again. As these points show, at this stage in time, there can be much more to gain than lose by embracing the new possibilities remote workers bring.

The 10 Biggest Benefits of Hiring a Virtual Assistant

So if that wasn’t enough convincing you needed, here, we’ve rounded up some of the most compelling benefits of finally hiring a Virtual Assistant once and for all!

1. Get More Time Back in Your Day

The most valuable asset anyone has is – no, not money – time because once it’s gone, it’s gone. That’s why it’s mission-critical to hire people to whom you can delegate. Because solopreneurs that spend their days addressing low-level administrative tasks are destined to stall.

2. Have Someone Take on Those Administrative Tasks

From calendar management, to emails, to answering phones, a Virtual Assistant’s scope of work can almost vary as much as the industries that hire them, like marketing, web design, bookkeeping, and other services.

3. Begin to Grow Your Business to Scale

Virtual Assistants will allow you to scale operations – and with less risk. Since growth requires capital – and Virtual Assistants are a comparatively cost-effective alternative to IRL employees – you can substantially reduce your costs and instead invest your money back into your business.

4. Maintain a Consistent Online Presence

As a small business owner, there’s no escaping the reality that you should have an online presence by virtue of a website, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Pinterest and more. But managing them is a time-suck most solopreneurs can’t afford – but your Virtual Assistant can.

5. Generate Your Leads

Whether through inbound campaigns to your website, social media accounts, or website contact forms, lead generation is a very time-consuming – albeit invaluable – task. Your Virtual Assistant can sort through your leads, determine their value, and add those potential customers to your database.

6. Create and Produce Content

You want to be seen as an authority in your industry and by researching and creating content around your product or service, you’re adding value to the customer experience. Your Virtual Assistant can handle content creation – from market research to publishing – to drive more traffic to your site.

7. Manage Your Bookkeeping

This one often comes as a surprise to many small business owners but it’s true – yes, your Virtual Assistant can do your bookkeeping. From bills, to invoicing, to payroll, your financials will be timely, in order and handled.

8. Take Care of Customer Service

To best serve your customers, your Virtual Assistant can:

• • Respond to customer questions
  • Create email responses or Frequently Asked Questions
  • Follow-up on customers
  • Handle and respond to complaints or requests

9. Improve Process, Products & Services

A Virtual Assistant can shore up your processes and streamline your operations. Further, they can monitor your markets, listen for conversations on social media about your brand or industry, watch what competitors are doing and saying, and collate feedback from current clients.

10. Gain Peace of Mind

One word: PRICELESS. Having someone to whom you can faithfully delegate tasks is, ultimately, the cost of your sanity and peace of mind. As we’ve mentioned before, multitasking is often far less effective and efficient than monotasking, and a Virtual Assistant can help you focus on the important things.

But, the benefits of hiring a Virtual Assistant are limited only by your imagination. Contact us today to get paired up with the right Virtual Assistant for your business today!

You can also find all you need to know in our Ultimate Guide to Working With A Virtual Assistant — including specific costs, how to keep track of your VA’s time, how your VA will help you manage your time both personally and professionally, and the best ways to set yourself up for success with your VA.

Procurement as a service is an emerging procurement strategy transforming how organizations of all sizes purchase goods and services. In 2022, the global procurement as a service market was valued at USD 6.15 billion, with an estimated growth of 11.1% from 2023 to 2030.

Similar to the SaaS model, the idea behind procurement as a service is simple: instead of relying on in-house teams or traditional procurement models, organizations can outsource some, if not all, of their procurement needs to a provider that uses technology, people, and expertise.

By streamlining the procurement function, this model gives organizations greater control over their spending and better visibility of the entire process.

In this guide, we’ll cover the basics of the modern purchasing process, including procurement as a service, how it works, its benefits, and what to look for when selecting a provider.

Procurement as a Service Definition

At its core, procurement as a service is a comprehensive cloud-based procurement model that involves outsourcing a portion or the entire process to a company that provides access to procurement services and software on demand. Also called Platform as a Service (PaaS), it’s a great way to embrace digital transformation without incurring all of the costs.

Traditionally, procurement operations have been handled internally by a company’s employees or outsourced to a third-party provider (business process outsourcing). The former is often time-consuming and expensive, requiring a dedicated staff to source and manage vendors throughout the procurement lifecycle.

On the other hand, procurement outsourcing to managed services can be beneficial, but may not offer the same level of cost savings and control over procurement processes.

From sourcing and negotiating contracts to promoting the timely delivery of goods and services, the procurement service provider typically ensures all your procurement needs are met without investing in your own IT infrastructure or staff.

Procurement service providers offer a more efficient, cost-effective procurement solution for organizations by leveraging technology, automation, staff, and expertise.

By taking care of all or part of the procure-to-pay process, businesses can pare down the time and resources needed to manage the day-to-day activities associated with procurement (like contract management, risk management, supply chain management, and more), allowing them to better focus on income-generating tasks.

What Are the Types of Procurement?

Procurement is an integral part of any organization’s operation. It involves the acquisition of goods and services from external sources, typically through a competitive bidding process. The four types of procurement are:

• Direct procurement: Involves the purchase of goods and services that directly relate to the operations.
• Indirect procurement: Focuses on non-core items (indirect spend), such as office supplies or janitorial services.
• Material procurement: Tangible items purchased from a vendor, such as raw materials or software subscriptions.
• Services procurement: People-based services required for the operations, such as consulting or IT services.

What Is the Difference between Procurement and Purchasing?

Regarding procurement vs. purchasing, the two are often used interchangeably but refer to two different processes. In a nutshell, procurement is the broader process of acquiring goods and services for an organization. It involves research, negotiation, and evaluation, to ensure that the right products are purchased at the most cost-effective prices.

Some of the most common procurement activities are procurement data management, strategic sourcing, supplier relationship management, cost analysis, spend management, and risk mitigation.

In contrast, purchasing is just one element of the typical procurement process. It’s essentially ordering from a vendor or supplier after due diligence on pricing and quality. Other purchasing activities include supplier management, contract execution, and payment processing.

What Are the Benefits of Procurement as a Service?

Even though procurement as a service is still relatively new, most companies see the value and benefit of leveraging this best-in-class model. With procurement services, they can streamline their operations and reduce costs without sacrificing quality.

As with any business process, procurement is time-consuming and complex. By outsourcing some or all of this process to a service provider, businesses can free up valuable resources for more important tasks.

Here are some of the key benefits of using the procurement as a service model:

1. Cost savings opportunities

Tapping into the economies of scale provided by a service provider can help organizations save money on procurement functions, particularly for high-volume purchases. They often get access to better deals and discounts that businesses wouldn’t have been able to negotiate on their own.

In addition, you can save significantly on labor costs and other overhead expenses since the provider will take care of some or all the necessary tasks involved in sourcing and procurement.

2. Access to deep procurement expertise

Most procurement service providers have deep experience in the field, which allows them to leverage their expertise when selecting suppliers, negotiating contracts, and managing the overall process. They also provide valuable guidance on market trends and industry best practices, which helps businesses stay ahead of the competition.

This expertise is incredibly helpful for companies just starting their procurement strategy or looking for optimization of their existing processes.

3. Faster procurement process

With new technologies and automation, many of the manual and tedious tasks involved in procurement are eliminated or streamlined. As a result, the process can be completed in a fraction of the time it would take using traditional methods.

Necessary documents such as purchase orders, invoices, and contracts can be accurately generated in minutes, allowing organizations to reduce cycle times and make quick decisions to stay agile in a competitive market.

4. Better control and visibility

Since the provider is doing the bulk of the procurement work, organizations have more control over the procurement process and can keep better tabs on where their money is going.

With the help of technology, they can get real-time insights into their procurement activities, enabling them to make more informed decisions about what to purchase and when. They also get more visibility into their suppliers and vendors, allowing them to track performance metrics, such as on-time delivery or cost savings over time.

5. Improved compliance and value tracking

Rather than relying on manual processes and paper trails, procurement services use advanced automation tools to capture and track data, which ensures that everything is recorded accurately and compliant with internal policies and external regulations.

It makes it easier for organizations to track spending more closely, identify opportunities for savings, and demonstrate compliance with relevant regulations.

What to Look for When Selecting a Provider?

Getting started with procurement as a service is relatively simple, but selecting the right provider for your needs can be tricky.

When choosing a provider, organizations should look for one that offers flexibility and scalability in their offerings. It is also crucial to ensure that the provider can provide comprehensive support throughout the process, from category management to contract negotiation.

1. Identify your level of need

Start by auditing your current procurement processes to assess the strengths and weaknesses of your operations. This step will help identify areas needing improvement and the amount of support you need from a provider.

If you’re just starting, basic procurement services may be enough. But if your organization is more complex and has multiple departments, you should consider a provider that can provide end-to-end support.

2. Determine your provider’s level of involvement

The level of involvement you require from your provider will depend on the complexity of your procurement needs.

For instance, an intermediary may be enough if you just need help with vendor selection and negotiation. If you’re looking for a hands-off approach, you should look for a provider that can handle the entire process from start to finish. On the contrary, you may only need minimal help, in which purchasing software would suffice.

3. Consider offshore and onshore providers

Budget is often a major consideration when selecting a procurement service provider. Offshore providers may be more cost-effective but may not provide the same quality or guarantee results as onshore providers.

While onshore procurement can be more expensive, it offers greater control over the process. Onshore providers are also often better equipped to deal with specific local regulations and taxes.

4. Check the provider’s affiliations

Larger providers often have affiliations with professional organizations and industry-leading companies. These affiliations can give you an insight into their practices and provide additional assurance that the provider is reliable and trustworthy.

However, providers act as middlemen between sellers and buyers, so a little bias may be unavoidable, especially if they receive seller commissions.

Pick the Right Procurement Service Solution

Procurement as a service is quickly becoming the go-to solution for businesses looking to reduce costs and optimize efficiency in their supply chain operations.  If you plan to grow your business, look for an all-inclusive, comprehensive solution with custom controls.

Errandables offers a procurement solution that covers every aspect of the user experience, from simple intake management to advanced PO approvals, streamlined supplier management, real-time integrations, and much more. Companies also benefit from AP automation, multi-entity management, and other modules that make Errandables a one-stop solution for all of your modern accounting needs.

The right procurement solution will eliminate the need for in-house staff, allowing organizations to access the expertise of experienced procurement professionals without investing in costly infrastructure, staff, or training. With the right provider, organizations can benefit from cost savings, industry expertise, more efficient procurement processes, enhanced visibility, and improved compliance. Ready to get started on your procurement automation journey? Dive into Errandables Procurement to see if it’s a good fit for your business today.

With 81% of Americans planning to take a vacation this summer, the travel industry is currently booming. If you own a property that you don’t use year-round, allowing short-term rentals is a great way to get some additional income.

This may sound like a challenge, but a short-term rental management company can make it a breeze. Read on to learn how!

Better Tenants

Short-term rentals are typically only let out for a few days to a few weeks. Still, it’s important that you know exactly who will be living on your property at all times. This is especially true if they plan to stay for a month or two!

A vacation rental management company can quickly screen tenants for criminal backgrounds. They’ll make sure that you’re not getting anyone who’s likely to damage your property or steal things. This will let you rest easy knowing that your property’s safe with those renting it.

Guest Services for Short-Term Rental Management

Short-term property management professionals also make communication with guests easier. You won’t need to field calls from prospective tenants or talk directly with those living in the property. It can go through someone who’s trained in quality customer service.

Experts can also manage online reviews to ensure that only the highest-quality ones show up on your website. This will let you make a name for yourself more easily. Marketing your rental unit will also be easier with professionals who have a wide internal network to find you better bookings.

Maintenance and Repairs

Most people perform maintenance between tenants on short-term properties. This ensures that nothing bad happens while people are residing in the unit.

Repairs can be challenging whether you’re near the property or somewhere else. Property managers can help to connect you with maintenance professionals who will keep your building in top shape.

You won’t need to worry about finding contractors on your own or communicating about potential issues. This will happen naturally without you even needing to lift a finger. Your property will always be in awesome shape so you can reasonably rent it out at a higher rate.

Cleaner Rentals

Cleanliness makes people feel more comfortable. This is especially true when someone rents a property, even in the short term. Dirt and dust can make people worry that the space isn’t hygienic and can stop them from really settling into the space.

But cleaning is a huge hassle, whether you do it yourself or painstakingly find professional cleaners. Luckily, vacation property rental managers will do the heavy lifting and find you cleaning experts quickly.

Saved Time

As you can imagine, all of these things save you a lot of time. Finding third-party contractors, marketing your business, and communicating with temporary tenants are time-consuming chores. Since you’re probably not specially trained to do these tasks, they’re even worse.

Hiring a short-term property manager means saving this time. It also means less stress and anxiety on all fronts.

Businesses have become more competitive than ever and need to go extra miles, offer extra services to both their employees and customers.

Customer experience is the only way to win the Loyalty and customer retention. In this time of constant and consistent struggle to survive and thrive the competition, we are here to help you share your load and to complete some basic time consuming and boring chores so you may focus on your business.

• Business Deliveries
• Legal Document Filling
• Medical Courier
• Same Day Delivery
• Gifts Delivery
• Last Mile Delivery
• Documents Delivery
• Sample Delivery
• Stock Delivery