Where would we be without technology? We take it for granted, and the administration, communication and organisation of our businesses have become more streamlined (and use far less paper!). Technology has taken us along the path of expecting faster response times, speedier actioning of requests, and instant access to our business data.
Mobile phones have changed the way we do business and the technology we have become comfortable with in our offices is now closer to hand. We are no longer tied to our desks but free to roam and, especially in the equine industry, this has been particularly beneficial. We often find ourselves answering calls and queries in the middle of poo-picking or whilst waiting for the farrier or vet to finish their visit. Having our phones in our pockets means we can be responsive, which is critical in our workplace.
Not everyone who wants to work with horses wants to run a business, but livery yards often evolve from a personal passion for horses into a business that demands learning new skills, such as accounting, payroll, record-keeping, and staying on top of relevant and often changing legislation. Livery yards can be much like any other business in that there are clients, suppliers and relationships with other industry professionals. However, the similarities end here because of the complexities of a live animal environment. Safety of both horses and staff is ensured by having immediate access to a range of information such as emergency contact details, vet and farrier records, history of animal behaviour and a clear schedule of each days’ activities on the yard that is updated in real time. But safety is not the only area improved by more efficient communication – reliable, accurate billing together with monitoring stocks of hay and feed all help to ensure we account for all outgoings.
We see yards under increasing financial pressure country-wide and it’s imperative that we move with the times and use the technology that is available to monitor every area of our business, ensuring its long term stability and profitability. Costs must be accurately recorded and a system that allows your work tasks, additional services and stock levels to be tracked (and billed) rather than disappear into the aether is vital. If you can get comfortable with technology, we believe you will quickly see the difference in your business.
Top-tip take away: your livery yard is a business first and a passion second because, if the figures don’t stack up, it’s simply not sustainable. Use the technology now available, capture your costs and start billing for them – no more Mr Nice Guy!
