How Small Businesses can use No-Code to Reduce Hiring Needs

In today’s U.S. economy’s downturn and labor market, small business owners and entrepreneurs are facing unprecedented challenges in staying afloat and remaining competitive. The COVID-19 pandemic further intensified these challenges, forcing small businesses to navigate a new normal of remote workforces, disrupted supply chains, and changing customer behaviors. Economists are working to advise small to medium-sized businesses on the best way to keep cash flow consistent, but many companies from startups to enterprises are turning to layoffs.

One way for small businesses to address these challenges is by leveraging no-code platforms. These platforms allow businesses to create custom applications and workflows without the need for coding expertise, reducing the need for additional personnel and streamlining business processes.

5 Ways Small Businesses Can Reduce Hiring Needs with No-Code

In this post, we’ll explore the ways in which a no-code platform can help small business owners reduce hiring employees unnecessarily. By automating repetitive tasks, leveraging pre-built templates and integrations, developing custom applications, streamlining workflows, and enabling remote workforces, small companies can operate more efficiently and effectively with leaner staff. As no-code platforms continue to evolve and improve, they will become an increasingly valuable tool for small businesses looking to maximize their productivity and minimize their hiring needs in the face of economic challenges.

So, let’s dive in and explore how a no-code platform can help small businesses in these trying times.

1) Automate Repetitive Tasks

Repetitive tasks can be a drain on small business resources, taking up valuable time and requiring dedicated full-time personnel. Tasks like data entry, document processing, and customer communications can be automated using a no-code platform. By setting up workflows that automate these tasks, small businesses can free up their staff to focus on more important initiatives, such as sales, customer service, and product development. The bottom line is that this will help small businesses reduce their hiring needs, as they can operate more efficiently with a leaner staff.

For example, a small business that receives a high volume of customer inquiries might use a no-code platform to create a workflow that automates the process of responding to these inquiries. The workflow might include steps like capturing customer information, routing the inquiry to the appropriate department, and sending a response to the customer. By automating this process, the small business can reduce the need for dedicated customer service staff, freeing up resources for other initiatives.

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2) Leverage Pre-Built Templates and Integrations

No-code platforms like Knack often provide pre-built templates and integrations that enable small businesses to quickly and easily set up and manage various business processes, such as inventory management,accounting, and project management. These templates and integrations can be customized to suit the specific needs of the business, reducing the need for additional personnel.

For example, a small business that needs to manage its inventory might use a no-code platform to set up an inventory management workflow using a pre-built template. The template might include steps like receiving and processing orders, tracking stock levels, and generating reports. By using the pre-built template, the small business can quickly set up an efficient inventory management system without the need for dedicated personnel.

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3) Develop Custom Applications

No-code platforms allow business owners and non-technical staff to develop and deploy their own custom applications without the need for coding expertise. This means that small businesses can create their own internal tools and workflows to automate tasks specific to their business needs, reducing the need to hire external developers or consultants.

For example, a small business might create a custom application to automate its lead generation process. The application might include features like capturing and tracking leads, sending automated follow-up emails, and generating reports. By creating this custom application in-house, the small business can reduce the need for dedicated sales personnel and operate more efficiently.

Because of Knack, CureTech – one of the nation’s largest and most trusted durable medical equipment (DME) suppliers – is now saving an estimated $250,000 per year or more just from headcount costs alone.

Choosing Knack gave CureTech an immediate advantage against its biggest competitor, who was running its company on an inefficient and outdated spreadsheet model. “That’s a terrible way to run a business. I wanted to make life so simple for our sales reps and administration team that everything just flows smoothly. And that’s what Knack allows. Everyone loves the portal. Everything is automated,” said JD Worley, CEO of CureTech. 

Read the full CureTech case study here >>

4) Streamline Workflows

No-code platforms can help small businesses streamline their workflows by providing a visual interface that allows users to drag and drop elements to create custom workflows. This can help businesses identify inefficiencies and bottlenecks in their existing workflows, and optimize them to reduce the need for additional staff.

For example, a small business might use a no-code platform to create a workflow that automates the onboarding process for new employees. The workflow might include steps like capturing employee information, setting up payroll and benefits, and assigning tasks to the employee’s manager. By automating this process, the small business can reduce the need for dedicated HR personnel and streamline the onboarding process for new employees.

5) Enable Remote Work

Finally, no-code platforms can enable small businesses to leverage remote workforces to reduce their hiring needs. By using a no-code platform to automate tasks and workflows, businesses can provide their remote workers with the tools they need to be productive and effective regardless of their location. This means that small businesses can tap into a wider talent pool without the need for hiring employees for in-person work.

For example, a small business might use a no-code platform to create a custom application that enables its remote workers to collaborate on projects, share files, and communicate with each other. By providing these tools, the small business can operate effectively with a remote workforce and reduce the need for additional personnel for on-site work. These types of tools also allow for better remote collaboration and overall company culture.

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Furthermore, remote work can aid in current employee retention, assuming employees want to work from home. According to SHRM’s 2016 Human Capital Benchmarking Report, the average cost per hire for a new employee is $4,129. This cost includes expenses such as job postings, subscribing to job boards, recruitment fees, staying active on LinkedIn, background checks, interviews, and orientation. However, this figure doesn’t include indirect costs, such as lost productivity during the hiring process and the learning curve that comes with a new hire.

In contrast, retaining an existing employee can be much more cost-effective. The same SHRM study found that the average cost of turnover can range from 50% to 200% of an employee’s annual salary, depending on the position. This includes expenses such as severance pay, unemployment insurance, exit interviews, and recruitment fees for a replacement.

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In conclusion, no-code platforms offer a range of benefits that can help small businesses reduce their hiring needs. By automating repetitive tasks, leveraging pre-built templates and integrations, developing custom applications, streamlining workflows, and enabling remote workforces, small businesses can operate more efficiently and effectively with leaner staff. As no-code platforms continue to evolve and improve, they will become an increasingly valuable tool for small businesses looking to maximize their productivity and minimize their hiring needs.

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