BrightOffice

Unlocking Success Through On-Site Training: A Strategic Approach with BrightOffice

Wed, 20 Mar 2024 16:46:06 GMT

In today's dynamic business landscape, staying ahead of the curve requires more than just keeping pace with industry trends. It demands a workforce equipped with the latest skills and knowledge to drive efficiency, productivity, and innovation. As organisations strive to optimise their operations, the significance of tailored learning experiences cannot be overstated. Enter on-site training with BrightOffice - a game-changing solution tailored to the unique needs of your organisation.

Tailored learning for enhanced performance

One size fits all simply doesn't cut it in the modern business environment. That's where on-site training with BrightOffice shines. By customising sessions to meet your organisation's specific needs, we ensure that every participant gains relevant insights and skills directly applicable to their roles.

Practical application in real-world scenarios

With on-site training, participants benefit from hands-on, real-world experience right in their work environment. This practical approach not only enhances comprehension but also promotes immediate skill application, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Minimising disruption, maximising productivity

In the fast-paced world of business, time is money. On-site training eliminates the hassle of off-site seminars, reducing disruption to daily operations and minimising downtime. By bringing the training directly to your doorstep, we ensure that your team stays focused on what matters most - driving productivity and delivering results.

Building stronger teams through collaboration

Teamwork makes the dream work, and on-site training fosters exactly that. Group sessions provide a platform for team collaboration, enabling participants to exchange ideas, share insights, and develop a shared understanding of the training content. Together, they not only learn but also grow stronger as a cohesive unit.

Immediate impact for lasting results

On-site training assists employees in applying newly acquired skills right away, leading to quicker implementation of best practices. This immediate impact not only boosts morale but also sets the stage for long-term success.

Cost-effective solution for optimal ROI

Investing in employee development shouldn't break the bank. On-site training with BrightOffice offers a cost-effective solution, particularly for large groups, by eliminating individual travel expenses. With every dollar spent translating into tangible results, it's a strategic investment in your organisation's future.

Reviewing usage for continuous improvement

Change is the only constant in today's business landscape. On-site training provides the perfect opportunity to review existing business processes and implement new strategies to streamline the usage of BrightOffice. By staying agile and adaptable, your organisation can stay one step ahead of the competition.

On-site training with BrightOffice is not just a learning experience - it's a strategic investment in your organisation's success. By combining tailored learning, practical application, minimised disruption, team building, immediate impact, cost-effectiveness, and continuous improvement, we empower your team to unlock their full potential and drive sustainable growth in an ever-evolving marketplace.

From Loan System Maestro to BrightOffice BDM: How CRM Conquered My Lending Struggles

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 13:12:53 GMT

I've walked on both sides of the lending street. As an Operations Manager wielding the power of a loan management system valued at $1bn+ in a previous role, I felt the satisfaction of streamlined processes and efficient data.

But I also witnessed the frustrations lenders face daily – siloed information, clunky communication, and an ever-growing mountain of paperwork. Now, as a business development manager at BrightOffice , I'm armed with a solution that tackles these challenges head-on: our CRM, built specifically for lenders.

From My Operational Days: Struggles I Now Solve for Others

Let's delve into some of the common roadblocks I saw lenders hitting, and how BrightOffice CRM paves the way for smoother sailing:

Disjointed Data: Information scattered across spreadsheets, emails, and physical files? We've all been there. BrightOffice centralises everything – customer details, loan applications, communication threads – in one secure, accessible platform. No more hunting for data or duplicating efforts.

Communication Chaos: Juggling phone calls, emails, and in-person meetings can leave room for miscommunication and missed opportunities. BrightOffice CRM streamlines communication with built-in email, task management, and activity tracking. Everyone stays on the same page, from the first inquiry to deal completion.

The Paper Chase: Loan applications, contracts, and compliance documents – the paperwork never seems to end. BrightOffice automates document generation and approval workflows, eliminating manual tasks and ensuring accuracy. Plus, e-signatures make approvals a breeze.

Reporting Roadblocks: Generating reports often involved exporting data, wrangling spreadsheets, and hoping for the best. BrightOffice CRM boasts robust reporting features with customisable dashboards and real-time insights. Gain instant visibility into your sales pipeline, loan performance, and overall business health.

Beyond an “off-the-shelf” Loan Management System: BrightOffice's Winning Edge

BrightOffice goes beyond just solving common pain points. Here's what truly sets us apart:

Built for Lenders: Unlike generic CRMs of off-the-shelf loan management systems, ours is tailored to the specific needs of your industry and combines CRM with loan management in one place. We understand your workflows, regulations, and unique challenges.

Automation Magic: Automate repetitive tasks, from lead capture to follow-up emails, freeing up your team's time for what matters most – building relationships and closing deals.

Openness and Integrations: BrightOffice integrates seamlessly with your existing 3rd part software, ensuring a smooth data flow and eliminating data silos. It has powerful audit trails too!

My experience isn't just about the platform, it is about the people it empowered. BrightOffice CRM empowers lenders by giving them the tools they need to streamline operations, improve communication, and focus on what they do best – serving their clients and growing their businesses.

Adapting to Change: How Cases CRM Evolved from PPI to a Versatile Claims Management Solution

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 11:33:47 GMT

BrightOffice's Cases CRM system, once the 'go-to' solution during the peak of PPI (Payment Protection Insurance) claims, is making a significant comeback. This resurgence is largely due to the versatile and robust nature of the system which now supports a wide range of claim types beyond PPI, illustrating the adaptability and longevity of Cases CRM in the ever-evolving claims management landscape.

Initially, Cases CRM established its reputation as an indispensable tool for managing the flood of PPI claims that businesses faced. Its ability to handle thousands of open cases simultaneously, streamline customer interactions, and reduce administrative overhead made it a critical asset for businesses navigating the complexities of PPI claims.

However, the versatility of Cases CRM has truly shown through its adaptation to the changing claims management industry. As the PPI claims wave has subsided, businesses have shifted their focus to other areas of claims management, such as pension transfers, mis-sold mortgages, and other financial products. This shift required a system capable of evolving with the industry's needs, and Cases CRM has proven to be just that.

Customers who once relied on Cases CRM for PPI claims have found it equally effective for managing a broad spectrum of other claims. This adaptability has allowed them to seamlessly transition to new types of cases without the need for investing in different systems or undergoing extensive retraining. The system's all-in-one solution approach, featuring efficient case management, sales process automation, and comprehensive reporting, has enabled businesses to maintain high levels of efficiency and customer service.

The enduring relevance of Cases CRM in the claims management sector underscores a critical truth: there will always be claims to manage, and having a robust, adaptable system is key to navigating this dynamic landscape. BrightOffice's dedication to evolving Cases CRM in line with industry demands ensures that its users are always equipped with a top-tier tool for their case management needs, capable of processing thousands of cases at any given time with efficiency and precision.

As BrightOffice continues to innovate and adapt its Cases CRM to meet the changing needs of the claims management industry, it reinforces its commitment to providing customers with a reliable, scalable, and versatile system. This forward-thinking approach not only cements Cases CRM's position as a comeback solution but also as a future-proof platform for claims management.

Find out more about our Cases CRM system .

BrightOffice and Ordo: Empowering Seamless Payments in CRM

techops@clearcoursellp.com (Tech Ops) — Tue, 27 Jun 2023 14:39:42 GMT

We are thrilled to announce our partnership with Ordo, a UK-based Open Banking Payments as a Service fintech, to revolutionise payment integration in our CRM software. This collaboration allows our commercial and consumer lender CRM users to collect instant payments directly from customers' bank accounts, offering a secure, cost-effective, and efficient solution.

The Power of Ordo's Payments Platform:

Ordo's cloud-native Open Banking as a Service payments platform is a game-changer. It enables businesses to collect payments instantly from customers' bank accounts, eliminating traditional methods and providing a seamless experience. With this integration, our users can request single payments via Open Banking, simplifying the process within our CRM software.

Effortless Integration and Outstanding Support:

Integrating Ordo's solution into our CRM software was a breeze. The collaboration between our teams was seamless, with Ordo's experts providing comprehensive guidance and support. We're excited to continue working with Ordo on future projects, including the integration of Variable Recurring Payments (VRP) functionality.

Benefits for Businesses and Customers:

Our partnership with Ordo offers numerous benefits. By leveraging Open Banking, businesses can enjoy real-time payments, up-to-the-minute information via web hooks, and lower costs for payment collection and reconciliation. This integration sets our CRM apart by providing these advantages to our users. The partnership also empowers customers, offering them affordable credit options, personalized repayment plans, and complete control over their finances. In a time of rising living costs, this collaboration brings tailored payment solutions that foster financial well-being.

About Ordo:

Ordo 's "Payments-as-a-Service" solution delivers fully managed, white-labelled turnkey solutions for Open Banking payments. Their highly secure platform offers frictionless payment options and lower costs compared to traditional methods.

Read the full press release.

What does online course software do and for who?

techops@clearcoursellp.com (Tech Ops) — Tue, 03 Jan 2023 08:05:32 GMT

Our specialised training and skills CRM platform is available to make your work life easier. If you have internal teams who need regular training, whether it’s for health and safety purposes or something else; our platform enables you to stay on top of all admin tasks, as well as organisation and communications around the training courses.

Who uses the online course software?

Our BrightOffice Training Platform can be used by anyone within the Training and Skills industry, whether you’re a fortune 500 company or you’re a freelance training consultant. It can be integrated within your teams so that you can stay on top of courses that need implementing, as well as monitor course progress so you can see whether the recipients of the course are meeting particular goals or they’re slightly behind. This also enables you to be able to edit your courses to make them more efficient so they’re more productive.

What does the online course software do?

There are a lot of benefits to show for having this software within your business. Below is a list of just a few that could help your business be more efficient and grow:

The support team: Our support team is next to none, it’s Mon-Fri 8:30am – 5:30pm and it’s UK based. There’s no limit to how much you can contact them, they will help you as and when you may need it.
Integration: Our platform integrates with any other accounting platforms you may be using, such as Sage , Xero and QuickBooks , ensuring all of your data is all in one place.
Flexible pricing: Your platform will be cloud based with unlimited storage, so for the price, you’re getting a great deal. If you want anything extra or a breakdown as to what you’re paying for, our team will be happy to explain that to you.

For more information on the benefits and how we can integrate our online training software into your company, please click here or contact us .

How to manage your credit score

techops@clearcoursellp.com (Tech Ops) — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 07:55:43 GMT

A credit score is very important, and how you manage your credit contributes to this score and can affect a lot in the future. If you want to apply for a mortgage, credit card, loan, or car finance, just to name a few; you will be judged by your credit score.

What if I have a bad credit score?

There are a few things you can do to ensure your credit score improves. Here are 5 tips on how to manage and improve your credit score.

1) Pay off any debts

If you have credit card debts, or loans including student loans; sit down, write out what you owe and put them into a list of lowest to highest amounts. If there is something you can pay off as quickly as possible, prioritise this debt and get it paid off; it’s a quick win. We also have another blog about consolidating your debt here .

2) Only apply for credit once every 3 months

If you’ve been shopping for credit cards, or a mortgage then this actually gets recorded on to your credit history. If you search for credit more than 3 times a month, this may go against you; if you apply for credit more than once every 3 months, this definitely goes against you. The credit company will think you’re desperate for money and they will think you’re a higher risk to lend to. The less you search and apply, the more your credit score will stabilise and the more you’ll get approved.

3) Sort any late payments

If you’ve missed a couple of late payments on a credit card or you have defaults on your accounts, you can get rid of these. You would need to contact a credit score company such as Experian , and they will be able to contact the business you have late payments on and ask they be removed at the company’s discretion. It’s not certain that they will agree, but if they’re old enough and you haven’t had too many, they will most certainly consider it.

4) Stay out of your overdraft

We know that an overdraft is an easy access to extra money, but if you can, stay out of it. At the end of the day, it’s still a loan. Banks and credit lending companies want to see that you’re not already living in debt, so this will help your credit score improve and stay healthy.

How to manage paying off your debt

techops@clearcoursellp.com (Tech Ops) — Wed, 30 Nov 2022 17:26:04 GMT

Debt can be one of the most stressful issues in a person’s life. Which is why we want to help you manage paying off your debt. Here are 5 tips on how you can do this so you can have a less stressful time and finally get rid of those nasty monthly bills.

1) Consolidate your loans

You can read more about this in our other blog ; but if you have a lot of monthly outgoings and feel like you’re not getting anywhere with paying them off, then consolidating your monthly payments could be the answer. It will lower your monthly payments, as well as give you a lower interest rate, hopefully enabling you to start saving more money.

2) Budget

Monitor how much you earn and how much you spend each month. Create a spreadsheet so you can keep a closer eye on your spending and see where you can cut back on somethings. Do you need a Starbucks every day? Meal prep every week instead of making something different every day - groceries can become very expensive. Walk instead of drive if it isn’t too far - petrol prices will soon eat into your bank account. Also, check that you’re not paying for subscriptions you’re not using, you’ll be surprised how £10 here and there can go missing without you noticing.

3) Start a side hustle

Is there a hobby that you love doing and could make money from? You might like crafting, writing or even singing. Find something you enjoy and see if there’s a way you can make money from it. If you’re creative, make something and try selling it on eBay, or if you love to bake, set up a stall on a farmers’ market in your local village and save the money you make from it and pay off your debt with it. You never know, it could turn into a fully-fledged business in the future.

4) Cash back reward programmes

Sign up to reward programmes online or market research websites where you can spend time answering questionnaires about products and services and earn money from them. Cash back reward programmes can give you discounts as well as money when you pay for things through their referral websites. A popular one to use is TopCashback . Doing this will save you time and money so you have more free cash to pay off your loans.

5) Payment methods

Once you have budgeted what you can afford to pay off monthly, list your debts from smallest to largest. You want to be able to reduce your loans as quickly as possible. So, pay the smallest debt off as fast as possible, make sure you pay the minimum off all your other loans, then if you have money left over, pay the extra off the next largest debt. This way you will hopefully get through them quicker and only end up with the biggest lump sum of debt.

Why is it best to have a debt consolidation programme?

techops@clearcoursellp.com (Tech Ops) — Tue, 18 Oct 2022 16:12:32 GMT

What is a debt consolidation programme?

A debt consolidation programme is when you take out a single loan to pay off all your other loans. Hopefully once you have consolidated all your debt into one monthly payment, it will lower your interest rate and maybe even your monthly payments too. Now that you only have one payment, you’ll only have one interest rate rather than multiple, ultimately helping you to save money. There are two different types of programmes you can participate in: secured and unsecured.

What is the difference between a secured and unsecured loan?

Secured Loans

A secured loan is when the loan is backed by one of the borrower’s assets, such as a car or in some cases, their house. The house and/or car then acts as collateral for the loan in case you’re not able to pay it back.

Unsecured Loans

As you’ve probably guessed, these are the opposite to secured loans. They are not backed by anything and can be harder to obtain. Once they are obtained, they can have lower qualified amounts, higher monthly payments, or higher interest rates; sometimes both. But, having said that, the interest rates will still more than likely be lower than what they would be had you not consolidated your debt.

How to consolidate your debt

There are several ways you can do this. The one most people go for due to credit card debt is a balance transfer to a 0% interest credit card. However, this does depend on your credit rating. If you have a bad credit history, the chances of you being able to do this does decrease. You can check your credit score through companies such as Experian’s Credit Expert .

If you’re a homeowner, you can use home equity loans; or if you are or were a student and you have a student loan, the government offers programmes to consolidate this too; but private loans aren’t approved for this programme.

Summary

Consolidating your debt is a great way to save money in the short term, and to reduce monthly payments and interest rates. However, the more debt you have, the longer you’ll be paying it back, which in turn could mean you end up paying more back in the long run. Analyse the debt you have, work out how much you can comfortably pay off each month and that should tell you how long it will take you to pay the whole thing off.

Why use training tracker software?

techops@clearcoursellp.com (Tech Ops) — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 16:07:41 GMT

For some companies or departments that are on the larger side, it may be hard to keep track of where other areas of their business are lacking in training. If you were to use a training tracker software, you could keep up with your trainee’s progress, the efficiency of the people training the teams and how fast they’re reaching particular milestones.

Having this particular training tracker software, you are able to become more strategic around your training programmes; if you’ve been using the same programme for years on end without tracking the progress of the people doing it, you may be losing precious man hours. If this is the case, you can start by having check points of where your trainers should be within the programme by a particular time. If the trainers are not achieving these milestones then there may be a better way of being able to do that particular module within the training programme.

How can BrightOffice help you?

With our sector specialist cloud-based CRM for training and skill providers, we help you promote, sell, manage, and deliver your training from one easy to use platform. This isn’t a one size fits all CRM platform, it is specifically built for the Skills and Training industry.

Just some of the benefits of using our software are:

Learner Delegates Management: You can record all the qualifications and full training history of all of your staff, so when it comes to their training needing to be updated, it’s right there in front of you.

Training Course Management: You will have all of your courses to hand so you can quickly see all the details of any course coming up and their details.

Automatic Communication Triggers: This is a great element to have available, especially when you need to constantly set reminders about courses that are coming up, or any admin aspects you need to do for particular courses.

These are just a few examples of what BrightOffice’s Training Tracker Software has to offer; if this is something you feel your company would really benefit and grow from then find out more here , and contact us if you have any questions.

A CRM to support development

techops@clearcoursellp.com (Tech Ops) — Wed, 20 Jul 2022 17:25:00 GMT

CASE STUDY

UMi Debt Finance Scotland manages a £12 million loan fund under the Scottish Growth Scheme, fully funded and owned by Scottish Government, to help accelerate the growth of Scottish businesses.

Overview

UMi needed a CRM to manage their processes for a growing loan book from all aspects of the business, from building partner relationships to marketing.

The cloud-based system delivered the required software to produce loan documents and manage different parts of underwriting and stakeholder process.

Business Impact

BrightOffice provided a couple of initial demonstrations along with other providers to allow UMi to confirm the best choice of software, including a presentation delivered to several prominent staff members.

Thomas Brock, Fund Director: “BrightOffice was the clear choice for us: the bespoke CRM allowed us to streamline our processes significantly, allowing our team to focus on providing their expertise to their client base and prioritise finding new ways to provide financial sustainability to businesses in the local community.”

From submitting the order to training the team, UMi were ready to go within two months, including two days of on-site training delivered to various staff members within the business.

Since UMi’s set up, we are supporting the integration of the back office into accounts and currently in discussions regarding utilising our existing Microsoft Power BI integration to create some new unique dashboards for Umi’s internal reporting.

Patrick Burke, Investment Portfolio Executive: “We built a strong relationship with BrightOffice from the outset, with consistent communication, support and flexibility. We are constantly looking to develop the relationship further as BrightOffice continue to develop new integrations.”

Why a Training CRM?

techops@clearcoursellp.com (Tech Ops) — Wed, 22 Jun 2022 20:50:57 GMT

Good question!

As a company operating in the Training & Skills sector, we understand that to deliver the very best service to your learners there are multiple functions that all need to come together through a training CRM.

Imagine if you will, an orchestra; you have the strings, the woodwind, brass, and percussion all working harmoniously to deliver a beautiful piece of music for the audience. Along with all the different elements of an orchestra there is a conductor who pulls all this together; that’s exactly what a Training CRM does for your business! It pulls your sales, course admin & delivery all into one simple piece of software!

A training CRM is designed to make a business’s operations run smoothly allowing you to track and record interactions with your customers; to help manage the relationship and grow your business. BrightOffice’s Training CRM does just that and more for Training & Skills Providers as it is designed with you in mind.

Key features include:

Manage your client base and sales pipeline
Book and manage your training events
Integrations – With BrightOffice you can integrate your accounts system, online booking, VLE and more
Payment Gateway – Take payments us ing our own payment gateway www.clearaccept.com
Reporting and Business Intelligence integrated with Microsoft PowerBI
Automate processes and communications with your clients, such as confirmations, qualifications, refresher training etc

If you want to know more about how BrightOffice Training CRM can streamline and scale your business get in touch today for a free demo .

Salford Professional Development

techops@clearcoursellp.com (Tech Ops) — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 08:15:29 GMT

CASE STUDY

Leading by example

Salford Professional Development (SPD) was formed as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the University of Salford in 2012 and provides non-accredited learning and commercial focus to the University.

Overview

The company focuses on continuous professional development and similar training courses across a range of subjects, preferably but not exclusively, aligned with programmes offered by the University of Salford. It also delivers several large events and conferences and is building its international presence in conjunction with the University’s priorities.

A key operational requirement of SPD is to record all of its delegate, sponsorship and exhibition registrations against its training programmes or large scale conferences. Doing this manually would be time-consuming and antiquated – and certainly not in line with the organisation’s ethos.

“Everything we do needs to showcase how industry can benefit from working in innovative ways to meet the needs of the workforce of the future,” said Chris. “That extends to our internal technology systems. We need to lead by example.”

It’s for this reason that the SPD chose Bright Office. “We were looking for a smart customer relationship management (CRM) system with an array of features that could be leveraged by several business functions,” Chris said. “This included invoicing, product reports and financial reports.”

Chris’s team reviewed various leading CRM providers, but Bright Office stood out from the rest. “Bright Office had a really strong range of features that matched our business needs exactly,” Chris said. “In addition, the level of support and service on offer was really attractive. Team this with the fact that the product is incredibly cost-effective, and it became clear that it was a no-brainer.”

Today the whole company uses Bright Office on a daily basis. “We predominately use Bright Office as we intended – to record all of our client registrations against our training programmes and conferences,” Chris said. “To do that we use tools such as delegate lists, course attendance reports at a micro-level and sales reporting functions and overall attendee reporting at a macro level.”

This means that staff at SPD now have a comprehensive system of record for their delegates’ training and qualifications history. They also have a clear summary of all courses that the business is running. From there, they can easily access details such as course title, dates, times, delegates attending, venue, room and trainer costs.

And this is just the start. All inbound website enquiries also come through Bright Office. “Resulting tasks are assigned to staff members to respond to enquiries,” Chris said. “In addition, we use the system for invoicing and confirmation templates We can generate invoices, payments and refunds – and all from the same system.”

Chris and the team at SPD really appreciate the benefits that come from using Bright Office, particularly the fact that they now have a digital audit trail that they can analyse. As a result, they feel they are better equipped for the future.

“With Bright Office, everything we need is in one place,” Chris said. It’s a modern solution to reflect our forward-thinking approach, and that’s exactly what we set out to achieve with our CRM implementation. With these strong foundations, we look forward to even greater achievements in the future.”

2020 Training Ltd

techops@clearcoursellp.com (Tech Ops) — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 08:15:26 GMT

CASE STUDY

Success from the start

Natalie Laurs, Managing Director of Derbyshire-based startup company 2020 Training Ltd., wanted to give her employees access to the tools they needed to do their job effectively right from the word go. That’s why she chose Bright Office.

Overview

Almost two million people die from work-related causes each year, and the construction industry is responsible for a disproportionately high number of these deaths. In fact, construction is now deemed the most dangerous industry to work in.

Natalie Laurs knows this only too well. Having spent 20 years working in construction, six of which were focused on health and safety, she has seen the positive impact that appropriate training can have – and wanted to do more.

“I found myself more and more driven to make a difference,” Natalie said. “Doing my bit to make sure people go home safely to their family every night became a priority.”

That’s why Natalie decided to set up 2020 Training Ltd., a company focused on training not just construction businesses, but companies operating across a broad spectrum of industries, to operate more safely and effectively.

“I see training as an opportunity for many businesses, not only to invest in their people, but to grow,” Natalie said.

But Natalie didn’t want to offer run-of-the-mill training. She wanted to use the latest techniques and teaching mechanisms to ensure the service she provides is as effective as it can possibly be.

“Training has to hit home, it has to be made relevant to the individuals and to the task they need to undertake,” Natalie said. “Without achieving a shift in behaviour, nothing will change.”

To this end, Natalie recruited some of the best trainers in her area. Not only that, but she equipped them with industry-leading tools.

“I am extremely proud to be working with trainers who are not only passionate about what they do in the classroom, but have a wealth of industry experience to call on”

Business impact

From the very start, Natalie was clear she didn’t want her team to use spreadsheets. “From the minute I set up my business, I knew I wanted a customer relationship management (CRM) system,” she said. “I wanted the team to operate as cleanly and efficiently as possible, so that they had plenty of time to focus on what they do best – training. I’d used Bright Office in a previous role, so I knew what it could do for us.”

Specifically built with the skills and training industry in mind, Bright Office enables Natalie and her team at 2020 Training Ltd. to promote, sell, manage and deliver training, all from a single platform.

“Using Bright Office, we can monitor course numbers, plan events, log customers, automate manual admin work and more,” Natalie said. “It even pulls in live data from our website, which is really useful.”

The benefits of this are significant. “Not only are we saving hours every day, but we now have all of the day-to-day business information we need in one place,” Natalie said. “This makes us more efficient, reduces the chances of errors, and overall gives a really professional feel to clients and accrediting bodies who wish to check how I keep records.”

And this is just the start. Natalie is working on expanding her use of the platform in the months and years to come!

CRM allows growth

techops@clearcoursellp.com (Tech Ops) — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 04:04:36 GMT

Elysium Bridging is an independent lender in the alternative finance sector. Investment in the business meant the company needed the right CRM software to support growth.

Overview

The trend of traditional lenders pulling away from supporting property developers and traders has led to growth for independent lenders such as Elysium Bridging . Elysium’s team of highly experienced individuals aim to deliver exceptional funding solutions in the shortest possible time.

Investment in the business meant Elysium were working hard to improve their market share in alternative lending.

For Elysium, choosing the right CRM software to support the growth of the company was a priority. After much consideration and viewing a number of demos with various software providers, Elysium chose to work with BrightOffice.

Paul Gammond, CEO said: “We trusted and felt reassured that BrightOffice are a respected provider within our industry working with some major names known to us both locally and nationally.

“The BrightOffice team took a consultative approach from brief to completion, developing a version of their Lender cloud platform specific to us here at Elysium. We have been delighted with the results.”

BrightOffice were able to develop tailored lending case workflows for Elysium. They are used from fact-find to drawdown. The cloud-based system also makes it simple to provide statements to customers and investors via the integrated email ledgers.

Several days of on-site training was given to the Elysium team as part of the package, plus additional and ongoing training for new staff.

We had a record year for lending last year and are looking to build on that in 2018. Our software platform from BrightOffice is fundamental to that.

PAUL GAMMOND, CEO

Business impact

Paul commented: “The new cloud CRM has given us the ability to manage pipeline business with our introducers across the UK. The integrated workflows are flexible for when we have to change our process. We had a record year for lending last year and are looking to build on that. Our software platform from BrightOffice is fundamental to that.”

The BrightOffice team took a consultative approach from brief to completion, developing a version of their Lender cloud platform specific to us here at Elysium. We have been delighted with the results.

PAUL GAMMOND, CEO

VIEW LENDER CRM >

Supporting development

techops@clearcoursellp.com (Tech Ops) — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 04:19:16 GMT

UMi Debt Finance Scotland manages a £12 million loan fund under the Scottish Growth Scheme, fully funded and owned by Scottish Government, to help accelerate the growth of Scottish businesses.

Overview

UMi Debt Finance Scotland needed a CRM to manage their processes for a growing loan book from all aspects of the business, from building partner relationships to marketing.

The cloud-based system delivered the required software to produce loan documents and manage different parts of underwriting and stakeholder process.

BrightOffice was the clear choice for us: the bespoke CRM allowed us to streamline our processes significantly, allowing our team to focus on providing their expertise to their client base and prioritise finding new ways to provide financial sustainability to businesses in the local community.

THOMAS BROCK, FUND DIRECTOR

Business impact

From submitting the order to training the team, UMi were ready to go within two months, including two days of on-site training delivered to various staff members within the business.

We built a strong relationship with BrightOffice from the outset, with consistent communication, support and flexibility. We are constantly looking to develop the relationship further as BrightOffice continue to develop new integrations

PATRICK BURKE, INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO EXECUTIVE

Moving from Excel

techops@clearcoursellp.com (Tech Ops) — Sun, 28 Nov 2021 04:19:14 GMT

Simian has rapidly expanded to be the UK’s largest specialist provider of scaffolding training and consultancy services.

They needed a better solution than Excel to manage their training.

Overview

Simian was established in 2005 by a team of scaffolding industry experts and has rapidly expanded to be the UK’s largest specialist provider of scaffolding training and consultancy services. The business operates across a range of industries including construction, refurbishment, petrochemical, nuclear and pharmaceutical.

Simian’s core aim is to assist clients to improve and maintain standards across all operations when working at height, particularly for those with responsibilities during the lifecycle of scaffolding activity.

Historically, Simian had always used Microsoft Excel to manage data, including financial matters and customer bookings. Jackie Thomason, Financial Director of Simian knew that as the organisation rapidly expanded, Excel was no longer an adequate solution.

She said: “We were acutely aware of the need for a robust training management system and CRM, not only to facilitate a more simple and secure means for managing and processing data, but also to manage customer bookings through our website.”

Jackie continued: “Business growth and expansion into other geographical areas meant we could no longer afford to continue with a manual approach. Introduction of the BrightOffice system has significantly streamlined all of our back-office processes and this means staff can dedicate more time to sales and other business critical activities.

BrightOffice’s Training CRM was the solution. This cloud-based package offered everything Simian needed to run a successful and complex training operation.

Jackie commented: “The BrightOffice team took a consultative approach from brief to completion, developing a version of their Cloud TrainingCRM platform specific to our needs. We have been delighted with the results.”

Introduction of the BrightOffice system has significantly streamlined all of our back-office processes and this means staff can dedicate more time to sales and other business critical activities.

JACKIE THOMASON, FINANCIAL DIRECTOR

Business impact

Our cloud-based Training CRM was tailored and configured for Simian. They use it for everything including sales management, course management, invoicing and statements. The CRM also integrates with emails. Two days of on-site training was included as part of the package, as well as ongoing support.

Jackie ended by saying: “The BrightOffice Training CRM has given us the ability to manage training courses, invoicing, sales enquiries and day to day communications with both our B2B and B2C customers. Admin time has been significantly reduced, particularly in terms of booking confirmation, reminder emails and the production of individual certificates. When it comes to support, BrightOffice have a great team that are always happy to help.”

Admin time has been significantly reduced, particularly in terms of booking confirmation, reminder emails and the production of certificates. When it comes to support, BrightOffice have a great team that are always happy to help.

JACKIE THOMASON, FINANCIAL DIRECTOR

If you are a training and skills provider, get in touch to find out how we can support the growth of your business with an effective, cloud-based CRM.

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BrightOffice joins ClearCourse

techops@clearcoursellp.com (Tech Ops) — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 00:52:52 GMT

We’re delighted to let you know that we’ve been acquired by the ClearCourse Group.

A press release has today been issued and can be seen across the media. It reads as follows:

Cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) firm BrightOffice has been acquired by ClearCourse Partnership LLP for an undisclosed amount.

The Skelmersdale firm has become the 14th acquisition for London-based ClearCourse, a group of technology companies providing digital services, work-flow solutions and payments capabilities, since October 2018.

BrightOffice is the 14th acquisition for London-based ClearCourse, a group of technology companies providing digital services, work-flow solutions and payments capabilities, since October 2018.

BrightOffice, which serves public and private businesses across a number of sectors, will receive strategic and operational guidance and financial resources to support further product development and market growth, ClearCourse said.The company will gain access to technologies from the group, including payments processing capabilities and best in class data validation, it added.

Paul Groome, founder of BrightOffice, said joining ClearCourse provided it with an “opportunity to build upon its successes”, by developing further products, creating more value for clients and accelerating business growth.

He said: “Over the past 15 years, the team at BrightOffice has worked tirelessly to earn our market-leading position as a trusted partner to a wide range of companies across multiple sectors, from financial services to renewable energy.”

Should a no.1 ranking be your main SEO goal?

techops@clearcoursellp.com (Tech Ops) — Wed, 06 Oct 2021 00:52:30 GMT

The right people in place. A number one search ranking doesn’t hold the value that it used to.

On the most basic level, search engine optimisation (SEO) is a battle for visibility. Companies compete for the highest rankings so they can grab the attention of search engine users. When users visit their website, they will hopefully gain new business. (We’ll cover the importance of having a website which effectively converts those visitors into leads in a future blog post!)

However, a new era of SEO might be challenging these assumptions. Is the first spot on a search engine results page still the most important aim? And will that coveted no. 1 spot help your business turn visitors into customers?

Keyword optimisation no longer has the biggest impact on SEO success. In the past, if you could find keywords with high traffic and low competition, your could rely on remaining at the top of a search. Keywords still matter, but how they matter has changed.

Thanks to semantic search, the relationship between keywords, phrases, and search rankings is now less clear. Google tries to match queries with the most relevant content – not necessarily the closest text match. This means that marketers need to think about how the keywords they want to rank for are used by potential patients, both in type and as spoken queries.

Good content is more important than ever. Google’s semantic search algorithm now focuses on the quality of your content as well as keywords. This development may make things seem more complicated, but in fact, it makes things easier for marketers in many ways.

Explainer : the word “semantic” refers to the meaning or essence of something. “Semantic search” aims to not only find keywords, but to determine the intent and contextual meaning of those keywords.

Think about how you can produce quality content about your products or services and encourage other websites to link to that content. High quality links into your website increase your authority, while a large amount of high quality content aligns well with semantic search.

By creating excellent content, you’ll find that you naturally rank for lots of relevant keywords and phrases, without necessarily having to specifically target them.

Ranking first for a given search term is a great way to make potential patients aware of your clinic, but there’s no guarantee that they’ll click through to your site. Of course it’s correct that a higher ranking can lead to a higher click-through rate (CTR), but you need to think about more than that to gain a significant increase in clicks.

Optimise your website to ensure that your business is the most attractive listing on a search results page. Make sure that your page titles and descriptions are appealing and that you control how your snippets appear in a search listing.

Don’t be fooled by the numbers and remember that not all traffic is of equal quality. If you increase your traffic through search rankings, but your bounce rate increases to an unacceptable level, you’ve achieved very little.

Explainer : “bounce rate” is defined as the percentage of visitors that leave a web page without taking any action, such as clicking on a link to another page or filling out a form.

In summary, you need to consider more than just trying to achieve a no. 1 ranking. You must also optimise your website for lead conversions, maintain consistent branding across platforms, and prioritise the experience of your user. This will help you level the scales to a better balance between visitor quality and quantity.

As always, no single strategy will guarantee success, but taking a holistic view of your website with strong focus on visitor experience will always take you in the right direction.

Effective home-working

techops@clearcoursellp.com (Tech Ops) — Sat, 02 Oct 2021 05:10:19 GMT

Like much of the UK, the BrightOffice team are all working from home due to the coronavirus crisis. We’ve put together some tips on how to do effective home working.

1. Dress like you mean business

Although it’s tempting to stay in pajamas all day and not shower until bedtime, experts recommend dressing like you mean business. This doesn’t mean you can’t relax your usual dress code – no one’s expecting you to don a suit and tie/tunic and name badge – but step away from the tracksuit and slippers and wear something the makes you feel good (even if it does have an elasticated waist). Stick to your normal makeup regime (assuming you have one) and show your creative flair with earrings, fancy tops and hair accessories, even if your lower half is more understated.

2. Give yourself time to switch on and off

Although few would claim to love their daily commute, travelling to the workplace each day helps you switch on and get into work-mode. Conversely, at the end of the day, you need some time to wind-down and switch off. Why not get your daily exercise by ‘walking to work’ – leaving the house, walking for a mile or so, then going into the ‘office’ to start the day. When it’s ‘home time’, take a wander round your garden as your commute home, and allow your brain and body to relax back into your free time.

3. Keep your work space separate

Ideally, you’ll have a separate room to work from, which is free from interruptions from family members. If this isn’t possible, make work space in the corner of the room or even section off part of the kitchen table. Make it clear to everyone else in the home the during work hours, this is your ‘office’ and must only be entered with permission.

If you and your spouse are both working from home with school age children, it’s a good idea to each have a dedicated block of time to concentrate on work, rather than trying to multitask.

4. Schedule regular breaks

It’s easy for the boundaries between home and work to blur, and many will put in more hours when working from home. Stopping to put a load of washing in, or grabbing food from the fridge and eating at your desk doesn’t count as a break. Be sure to take regular breaks and if you find it hard, set an alarm clock to go off every 2 or 3 hours and force yourself to step away from your screen and get some headspace. Equally, at the end of the day, pack up and stop working. Don’t be tempted to go back and do a bit more later, just because your work is there.

5. Be realistic about what you can achieve

Pressure from social media makes us feel that as well as keeping on top of our work, we should also be finding time for regular yoga sessions, clearing out cupboards and baking with the kids. Some people may have managed to carve out extra time for self-improvement, but for most of us, managing our workload is keeping us busy enough.

Technological challenges, interruptions from family members and increased anxiety may mean we’re less productive that we are in an office or clinic environment, so set reasonable targets and avoid judging yourself and others on what you can get done each day. Everyone is adjusting to the new normal, including your patients and your boss, so go easy on yourself.

BrightOffice

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Building stronger teams through collaboration

Immediate impact for lasting results

Cost-effective solution for optimal ROI

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4) Stay out of your overdraft

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1) Consolidate your loans

2) Budget

3) Start a side hustle

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Summary

Why use training tracker software?

How can BrightOffice help you?

A CRM to support development

Overview

Business Impact

Why a Training CRM?

Salford Professional Development

Leading by example

Overview

2020 Training Ltd

Success from the start

Overview

Business impact

CRM allows growth

Overview

Business impact

Supporting development

Overview

﻿

Business impact

Moving from Excel

Overview

Business impact

BrightOffice joins ClearCourse

Should a no.1 ranking be your main SEO goal?

Effective home-working

1. Dress like you mean business

2. Give yourself time to switch on and off

3. Keep your work space separate

4. Schedule regular breaks

5. Be realistic about what you can achieve