{"id":68718,"date":"2020-06-26T14:09:10","date_gmt":"2020-06-26T12:09:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/?p=68718"},"modified":"2026-01-29T15:52:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T13:52:37","slug":"3-tips-to-make-life-easier-for-your-customers-and-your-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/3-tips-to-make-life-easier-for-your-customers-and-your-business\/","title":{"rendered":"3 tips to make life easier for your customers \u2013 and your business"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBusiness planning<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t3 tips to make life easier for your customers \u2013 and your business\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"Keir\t\t\t\tKeir Thomas-Bryant<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Suppose you went into a store. You <\/span>take <\/span>something from the shel<\/span>f. <\/span>But there\u2019s a problem. <\/span>There\u2019s no price label. Well, <\/span>okay<\/span>, maybe that doesn\u2019t matter. You can guess the price<\/span> and it shouldn\u2019t be too expensive<\/span>. But there\u2019s then another problem. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can\u2019t find the checkout. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You search <\/span>up and down the aisles. A<\/span>fter <\/span>a few minutes<\/span>, you find it<\/span> buried at the back of the store<\/span> in a dark corner<\/span>. <\/span>There\u2019s nobody manning <\/span>it<\/span> but<\/span>, as<\/span> you wait and tap your foot,<\/span> <\/span>a sullen staff member <\/span>shuffles<\/span> over. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wouldn\u2019t you know but <\/span>there\u2019s<\/span> then<\/span> another problem<\/span>! <\/span>Y<\/span>ou want to pay using your debit car<\/span>d<\/span>, y<\/span>ou say. The surly staff member slowly shakes his head and points to a sign behind him that you hadn\u2019t see<\/span>n until now<\/span> \u2013 CASH ONLY. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You dig around in your pockets. You dash out to the car and grab some loose coins. You\u2019ve just enough. You get back inside<\/span> and<\/span> hand <\/span>over <\/span>the <\/span>money<\/span>.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

T<\/span>he staff member <\/span>starts <\/span>shuffl<\/span>ing <\/span>away. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hey! What about a receipt? <\/span>The staff member <\/span>sighs<\/span>, <\/span>walks<\/span> back, <\/span>jabs at the <\/span>cash register, and hands one over. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Walking out, you realise that if you never stepped foot in that store again it would be too soon. <\/span>A <\/span>stop<\/span> for some groceries turned into a demanding, time-consuming <\/span>mini-<\/span>drama<\/span>. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what if your business was making life as hard as this for your customers or clients? <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than customer care<\/span> <\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most of us think about customer care only in terms of the selection<\/span>, <\/span>buying <\/span>and support <\/span>process. As for the invoicing and payment process, well, that\u2019s literally an afterthought. All that matters <\/span>is<\/span> getting the money<\/span> \u2013 right? <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yet making the customer experience here as good as possible is <\/span>also <\/span>vital. Your customers will be happy and more likely to use your business again<\/span> if they can settle their bill quickly and easily<\/span>. More importantly, you might find you get paid more quickly. This will have obvious benefits for your cash flow.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Add to this the fact that <\/span>small business\u2019 payment processes are often full of little, almost invisible, inefficiencies that eat up your time. In fact, generating invoices takes up 14.2% of the average business\u2019 admin time<\/span>, according to recent research by Sage<\/span>. Once you factor in the time taken to deliver those invoices, check that they\u2019ve been paid, and follow up on the 45% of invoices that aren\u2019t paid within 30 days, that time adds up further still.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some tips that may mean both you and your customers are happy when it comes to collecting payments. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n

  1. Offer your customers different payment methods<\/span><\/h2>
    <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    When your customers have to pay their invoices in a way that feels unnatural or unfamiliar to them, payment procrastination sets in. They promise themselves that they\u2019ll sit down and sort it all out the second they get a quiet moment… and, all too often, they forget all about your invoice.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    By offering flexible payment options, the right software lets clients pay in the way that\u2019s fastest, easiest, and most convenient for them. That means faster payments, fewer forgotten invoices, and less time following up on missed payments for you.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some providers will integrate your invoices directly with your payment system, so that customers can pay on credit or debit card direct from your invoice in a matter of clicks, instead of spending extra time digging out bank details or finding the chequebook. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sage\u2019s <\/span>research shows that, while customers take an average of 35 days to make payments by cash, cheque, or bank transfer, \u2018pay now\u2019 buttons on invoices or phone payments take just 20 days. That means more money in the bank for you, and less time making those awkward phone calls to chase payments.<\/span> \n

    \n\t
    \n\t\t
    \n\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

    10 tips to transform your productivity <\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    \n\t\t\t\t\t\t

    Discover how smart technology can reduce the time spent chasing late payments, inputting receipts and compiling reports, so you can spend it on improving your business.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload your free guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n

    1. Automate your invoice tracking process<\/span><\/h2>
      <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      By setting up a system that automatically alerts you when invoices are received and paid, you\u2019ll know exactly which clients you need to chase and avoid wasting time combing through bank statements and comparing invoice numbers.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      This also means that data on how, when and the amount customers pay you is automatically transferred and trackable within your accounting software.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      You are also one-step ahead of any excuse the customer might offer. If they say they haven\u2019t received the invoice (<\/span>which can be a common occurrence<\/span>!), you can mention how you have information in your accounting software saying the invoice was opened at a certain time and on a particular date. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      You can even pre-empt which customers are likely to pay late and tailor invoices accordingly. Software like <\/span>Satago<\/span> can conduct an initial risk assessment of each customer, use that information to decide on a case-by-case basis how much credit you should offer, and then automatically chase late payments when they occur.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n

      1. Create accurate invoices<\/span><\/h2>
        <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        There are few things more stressful and time consuming than debating the accuracy of your invoices with customers \u2013 or fixing errors in invoices that understandably arise from manual processing.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        It upsets them. It upsets you. It doesn\u2019t make for good relationships, and nobody enjoys was<\/span>t<\/span>ing their valuable time on things like this. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        To avoid <\/span>it<\/span>, look for a function that switches your customers over from estimate to invoice automatically in your accounting software. If this isn\u2019t possible, try copying and pasting details directly from the estimate to the invoice form.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Of course<\/span>, <\/span>the gold standard here would be for the field staff to convert the estimate to an invoice themselves, avoiding any work for the finance department.<\/span> This is why <\/span>thinking open and inclusive in your software choices is always best \u2013 <\/span>if everybody is on the same platform then workflows like this are a cinch to create, and everybody benefits. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Conclusion<\/span> <\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        There\u2019s everything to gain and nothing to lose by considering the entire customer\/client journey with your business \u2013 including making payments as easy as possible. <\/span>And thanks to modern software, <\/span>all this <\/span>could take as little as just a few hours to put in place. <\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        \n\t
        \n\t\t
        \n\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

        Get your free 30-day Sage Business Cloud Accounting software trial to boost your business.<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t

        Reduce time spent on admin by up to 80%<\/p>\n

        Free yourself from admin with easy-to-use features, built around you. Ideal for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and growing businesses.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSign Up<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Small\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

        \n\t
        \n\t\t
        \n\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

        Subscribe to the Sage Advice enewsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
        \n\t\t\t\t\t\t

        Get a roundup of our best business advice in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSubscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        Suppose you went into a store. You take something from the shelf. But there\u2019s a problem. There\u2019s no price label. Well, okay, maybe that doesn\u2019t matter. You can guess the price and it shouldn\u2019t be too expensive. But there\u2019s then another problem.   You can\u2019t find the checkout.   You search up and down the aisles. After a few minutes, you find it buried at the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":280,"featured_media":68570,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[33,28],"tags":[316,318,335],"business_type":[2],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[16],"imagine_tag":[63,64,73,85],"coauthors":[405],"class_list":["post-68718","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-planning","category-technology-innovation","tag-business-strategy","tag-cloud","tag-making-financial-decisions","business_type-small-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-za","author_name":"Keir Thomas-Bryant","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/11\/Black-Friday-1675x1275.jpg","imagine_tags":{"63":"Business intelligence","64":"Cloud accounting","73":"Money Matters","85":"Small business"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice South Africa","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68718","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/280"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=68718"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/68718\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/68570"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=68718"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=68718"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=68718"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=68718"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=68718"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=68718"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=68718"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=68718"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=68718"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-za\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=68718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}