# Watchdog Management Services > Technology & Expense Management --- ## Pages - [Our Trusted Partners](https://watchdogms.com/partners/): We work with Industry Leaders! With over 150 connections with leaders in business services, our team of dedicated professionals are... - [Upload Your Invoices](https://watchdogms.com/upload-your-invoices/): Send Us Your Invoices for a FREE review! Please complete the form below. We will provide you with your FREE... - [Meet our experts](https://watchdogms.com/team/): Jessie Lehnerz Managing Partner Zack Klee Managing Partner Dustin Bedward VP, Sales & Marketing Dayna McCaig Chief Financial Officer Kari... - [About Us](https://watchdogms.com/about/): Watchdog Management Services We are a telecommunication, utility, waste management and technology expense management firm. We specialize in cost optimization... - [Contact](https://watchdogms.com/contact/): Call us 1 (403) 222-0615 Our location PO Box 28050 Calgary, RPO Mahogany AB, T3M 3C9 Email info@watchdogms. com Get... - [Services](https://watchdogms.com/services/): Payment Processing Make it easy for your customers by letting them pay the way they prefer. Details Communications & Internet... - [News & Articles](https://watchdogms.com/blog/): All articlesBusinessCompanyTechnology Amet tincidunt elit habitant morbi tristique Technology5 February 2020Read article Maecenas sit – amet tincidunt habitant morbi dolor... - [Watchdog Management Services](https://watchdogms.com/): 40+ Years In Industry Top Industry Specialists 100% Positive Client Referrals Millions in Company Savings 24/7 Real Live Support Save... --- ## Posts - [Artificial Intelligence: What You Should Know](https://watchdogms.com/artificial-intelligence-what-you-should-know/): Many businesses have adopted the use of Artificial Intelligence in their daily operations. One of the most common uses is... - [Tap to Pay - How Secure Is It?](https://watchdogms.com/tap-to-pay-how-secure-is-it/): Tap to pay has been adopted across multiple industries as an option for customers to purchase products and services. For... - [Shipping & Fulfillment - The Potential Effect On Business Profits](https://watchdogms.com/shipping-fulfillment-the-potential-effect-on-business-profits/): Businesses that rely on shipping vendors to fulfill customer orders are facing increased rates, slow delivery times, and customer dissatisfaction.... - [Minimize Health Risks With Your Company Cleaning Products](https://watchdogms.com/minimize-health-risks-with-your-company-cleaning-products/): Employee safety is a major priority in all businesses. As such, it should be paramount to understand the risks involved... - [Fuel Fraud: What It Is and How To Avoid It](https://watchdogms.com/fuel-fraud-what-it-is-and-how-to-avoid-it/): Fuel fraud is an often overlooked risk when it comes to a business’ bottom line. To avoid fuel fraud, you... - [Are Your Overspending On Office Supplies?](https://watchdogms.com/are-your-overspending-on-office-supplies/): Many businesses often overlook the cost of their office supplies. It’s hard to distinguish whether you truly need your supplies... - [Medical Uniforms: Should You Pass the Bill To Your Employees?](https://watchdogms.com/medical-uniforms-should-you-pass-the-bill-to-your-employees/): Purchasing uniforms for a medical practice relies on a number of factors. Before you make a decision on whether it’s... - [Which Cloud Service is Right for Your Business To Save Costs? SaaS, PaaS, or IaaS](https://watchdogms.com/which-cloud-service-is-right-for-your-business-to-save-costs-saas-paas-or-iaas/): Choosing the right cloud service can significantly impact your business’s cost savings. Understanding the differences between Software as a Service... - [What Is Payment Integration & How Does It Help Your Business?](https://watchdogms.com/what-is-payment-integration-how-does-it-help-your-business/): As a business owner, you have had experience with payment processing and all of the complicated issues surrounding it. As... - [The Importance of Merchant Codes](https://watchdogms.com/the-importance-of-merchant-codes/): Did you know that there are over 700 unique categories for merchant service transactions? With so many categories, it’s hard... - [ELD Failures And What To Do About Them](https://watchdogms.com/eld-failures-and-what-to-do-about-them/): Electronic Logging Devices are essential tools used by truck drivers on their daily routes. These devices help fleet-operating businesses to... - [Is The Future of Shipping Box-Less?](https://watchdogms.com/is-the-future-of-shipping-box-less/): Large vendors like Amazon have starting to move away from using cardboard boxes for order fulfillment. These classic brown boxes... - [Upgrade Your E-Commerce Presence With Our Tips](https://watchdogms.com/upgrade-your-e-commerce-presence-with-our-tips/): In order to keep up with the ever changing demands of online shoppers, many businesses have had to improve their... - [Make The Shift to Sustainable Packaging](https://watchdogms.com/make-the-shift-to-sustainable-packaging/): In recent years, online shopping has skyrocketed in terms of popularity. The demand for products to be delivered straight to... - [High-Risk Merchants and Your Bottom Line](https://watchdogms.com/high-risk-merchants-and-your-bottom-line/): As a business owner, you may have heard of the term “high-risk merchant accounts”. This is often associated with online... - [When To Use Paid vs Free Software](https://watchdogms.com/when-to-use-paid-vs-free-software/): Software as a service (or SaaS) is being used across all industries as a primary means of doing business. SaaS... - [Should You Implement Textile Recycling?](https://watchdogms.com/should-you-implement-textile-recycling/): Across the United States and Canada, textiles is one of the most common materials to end up in landfills. “Utah-based... - [Why You May Need a Toll-Free Number](https://watchdogms.com/why-you-may-need-a-toll-free-number/): Toll-free numbers can be a cost-effective way to keep your telecommunication bills low. Depending on the size of your business,... - [Choosing The Right Shredding Service](https://watchdogms.com/choosing-the-right-shredding-service/): Many businesses produce large amounts of paper waste from confidential materials to everyday usage. With such a large volume of... - [Make The Switch to Single-Use Plastic Alternatives!](https://watchdogms.com/make-the-switch-to-single-use-plastic-alternatives/): Since December 2022, Canada has prohibited the import and manufacture of single-use plastics. This includes checkout bags, cutlery, food service... - [Cost Saving Tips For Uniforms and Linens](https://watchdogms.com/cost-saving-tips-for-uniforms-and-linens/): If you are a business that relies on company uniforms or if you’re a part of the hospitality industry and... - [How To Handle Staff Shortages](https://watchdogms.com/how-to-handle-staff-shortages/): As a business, you should be prepared for an eventual staff shortage. Though you might not be facing this problem... - [Should Your Business Lease a Card Terminal?](https://watchdogms.com/should-your-business-lease-a-card-terminal/): As a business in a digital era, quick and accessible payment options are a staple and should be utilized in... - [How To Prepare Your Utilities for Winter](https://watchdogms.com/how-to-prepare-your-utilities-for-winter/): Calgary is experiencing one of the coldest starts to December in the last 100+ years. With such extreme temperatures becoming... - [It's Time Your Business Reduced Its Plastic Waste](https://watchdogms.com/its-time-your-business-reduced-its-plastic-waste/): If your business is producing a large amount of plastic waste, you might be unknowingly eating the costs to dispose... - [Should You Surcharge?](https://watchdogms.com/should-you-surcharge/): With the recent news that Canadian businesses can start charging customers an additional credit card processing fee, numerous questions have... - [Understanding the Effects of Inflation on Your Small Business](https://watchdogms.com/understanding-the-effects-of-inflation-on-your-small-business/): The recent news cycle has been dominated by inflation and its effects on the average Canadian. Small businesses are looking... - [Service Outages & Remote Work](https://watchdogms.com/service-outages-remote-work/): While remote work offers many benefits to the average worker, especially those that are self-driven and independent, it can also... - [Fleet Cards Can Help You Save Time and Money](https://watchdogms.com/fleet-cards-can-help-you-save-time-and-money/): With the rising cost of fuel, businesses are looking for new solutions to help them save at the pump, especially... - [It's Time to Understand Your Water Bill and Usage](https://watchdogms.com/its-time-to-understand-your-water-bill-and-usage/): Every business pays for water. From small stores with washrooms, to fully functioning kitchens, or even car detailing garages, water... - [Avoid Billing Errors in your Utility Bills](https://watchdogms.com/avoid-billing-errors-in-your-utility-bills/): The unfortunate truth about your utility bills is that they can come with a multitude of common errors that can... - [Shipping Insurance: A Small Fee For Peace of Mind](https://watchdogms.com/shipping-insurance-a-small-fee-for-peace-of-mind/): Has your business ever shipped a product out to a customer/client only to have it become damaged upon arrival? Maybe... - [Gas Prices Are Soaring. Will Your Business Keep Up?](https://watchdogms.com/gas-prices-are-soaring-will-your-business-keep-up/): Over the past month, we’ve seen record high gas prices hit as unpredictable changes in the market manifest. This is,... - [Recycling Will Save You Costs!](https://watchdogms.com/recycling-will-save-you-costs/): Sometimes eliminating waste is impossible, but don’t worry! By using commercial recycling as an alternative, you’ll be able to save... - [Fixed and Variable Expenses](https://watchdogms.com/fixed-and-variable-expenses/): When it comes to your business expenses, you should know the difference between fixed and variable. In fact, separating the... - [How You Can Start Saving on Office Expenses](https://watchdogms.com/how-you-can-start-saving-on-office-expenses/): As a business, your office is your castle... and castles don’t come cheap! You should always look to end the... - [Start Saving... On Energy!](https://watchdogms.com/start-saving-on-energy/): As the world moves towards a more sustainable future, businesses everywhere are starting to shift towards renewable energy as a... - [A Change in Name With the Same Quality Service](https://watchdogms.com/a-change-in-name-with-the-same-quality-service/): If you’ve been following us recently, you may have noticed a slight change to our company. Yes, we’ve officially renamed... - [Is It Time To Consider Mobile Payments?](https://watchdogms.com/is-it-time-to-consider-mobile-payments/): Has your business considered implementing mobile payments? Not only are these options fast growing and widely adopted, they are also... - [Power Outages and Recovery](https://watchdogms.com/power-outages-and-recovery/): So you’re working hard throughout the day with uninterrupted productivity, when all of a sudden your entire office experiences a... - [Is your business paying too much for credit card processing?](https://watchdogms.com/is-your-business-paying-too-much-for-credit-card-processing/): The higher risk your business is, the higher your credit card processing fees will be. Essentially, the more prone you... - [Workplace Waste and You!](https://watchdogms.com/workplace-waste-and-you/): So how can you manage your waste output better and maintain a cost-effective waste management strategy in your office? - [Rising Electricity Bills and Your Business!](https://watchdogms.com/rising-electricity-bills-and-your-business/): The average electricity bill in Calgary is going up. Over the past few months, you may have noticed that electricity... - [Is it time to ditch landline phones for VOIP?](https://watchdogms.com/is-it-time-to-ditch-landline-phones-for-voip/): It is 2021. Landline phones are slowly, but surely, being replaced by new voice systems across the world. As a... --- ## Team - [Zack Klee](https://watchdogms.com/our_team/zack-klee/): Managing Partner - [Jessie Lehnerz](https://watchdogms.com/our_team/jessie-lehnerz/): Managing Partner - [Dayna McCaig](https://watchdogms.com/our_team/dayna-mccaig/): Chief Financial Officer - [Kari Hurley](https://watchdogms.com/our_team/kari-hurley/): Controller - [Justin McMaster](https://watchdogms.com/our_team/justin-mcmaster/): Director, Information Technology - [Matthew Malcom](https://watchdogms.com/our_team/matthew-malcom/): Director, Utility Services - [Dustin Bedward](https://watchdogms.com/our_team/dustin-bedward/): Sales - [Vanessa Church](https://watchdogms.com/our_team/vanessa-church/): Senior Account Executive - [Charon Hatfield](https://watchdogms.com/our_team/charon-hatfield/): Account Executive - [Audit & Analysts Team](https://watchdogms.com/our_team/audit-analysts-team/): Our Dedicated Team of Professionals --- # # Detailed Content ## Pages We work with Industry Leaders! With over 150 connections with leaders in business services, our team of dedicated professionals are committed to ensuring we offer our clients a broad range of solutions guaranteed to increase their bottom line. Understand what your business is paying for today! Get in touch now! 1 (403) 222-0615 Start Saving Money Today --- Send Us Your Invoices for a FREE review! Please complete the form below. We will provide you with your FREE review within 5 - 7 business days Your Name *E-mail Address *Phone NumberWhat type of Invoice are you providing? *Communications ServicesUtility ServicesPayment ProcessingWaste RemovalSelect an Invoice *Choose FileNo file chosenDelete uploaded fileGet My Free Review! Edit form --- Jessie LehnerzManaging Partner Zack KleeManaging Partner Dustin BedwardVP, Sales & Marketing Dayna McCaigChief Financial Officer Kari HurleyController Matthew MalcomDirector, Utility Services Justin McMasterDirector, Information Technology Charon HatfieldAccount Executive Audit & Analysts TeamOur Dedicated Team of Professionals Trust Our Experience! Bring your business to a new quality level! Get in touch now! 1 (403) 222-0615 Start Saving Money Today --- Watchdog Management Services We are a telecommunication, utility, waste management and technology expense management firm. We specialize in cost optimization helping your organization reduce existing business expenses. We started Watchdog Management Services because we saw businesses being overcharged and underserved by their service providers. We knew that wasn’t right, so we decided to lower costs, be completely transparent, and provide better service for business owners. Our team has more than 40+ years of combined experience working for Canada’s largest telecommunication, merchant service, utility, waste management and IT organizations. While doing this we look to increase your companies productivity, drive predictable results, billing and be a true business partner and trusted advisor. We are an agnostic consultancy with vendor partnerships in place to ensure we are providing your business the best pricing and a clean billing transitioning with excellent ongoing support. These vendors relationships are the key foundation of how we improve to simplify your service interactions. No more sales reps trying to sell you products and services you don't need. We provide a risk-free assessment and our fee is only a percentage of savings we can find and implement . Watchdog Management Services will provide savings and strategy with 4 simple steps! With our help, we'll make savings simple, effective, and satisfying! 40+ Years in Industry Top Industry Specialists 100% Positive Client Referrals Millions in Company Savings 24/7 Real Live Support 150+ Industry Leading Partners Our Core Values 01. Honesty Our fairness and straightforwardness to conduct business fairly. 02. Helpful... --- Call us 1 (403) 222-0615 Our location PO Box 28050 Calgary, RPO Mahogany AB, T3M 3C9 Email info@watchdogms. com Get in touch! And we will get back to you ASAP. Your name *Your email *SubjectYour message SubmitEdit form Let's get social! Check out our social profiles. --- Payment ProcessingMake it easy for your customers by letting them pay the way they prefer. Details Communications & Internet ServicesBusinesses today struggle just to keep up with the number of telephone and internet invoices they receive and process every month, not to mention not having the internal expertise and time to verify the accuracy of every bill. Details Utility ServicesUtility retailers rely on customer apathy to maximize their profit margins and it works. Details Mobility ServicesManaging voice & data plans, wireless invoice auditing, and wireless plan optimization all combine to make wireless expense management an enormous task. Details Managed IT ServicesWe prepare, we predict and we prevent! Details Waste RemovalOur industry insiders identify the true cost of your waste removal service and then work backward from there to achieve the best possible monthly savings for your company. Details Principles of our work 01. We're on YOUR side 24/7 Human Support with non-commission based representatives and NO automated call centre! 02. Know what you're paying for Total visibility into billing, ongoing billing support and we help you understand your contracts! 03. Our Reviews are 100% FREE Seriously. What does your business have to lose? Expense Management Services made simple! We offer a free no-cost assessment of your services. How many times have you called your telecom, merchant services or other service providers and walked away more confused than when you started? With our ongoing billing and expense management support, our clients have more time and money to focus on the things... --- All articlesBusinessCompanyTechnology Amet tincidunt elit habitant morbi tristique Technology5 February 2020Read article Maecenas sit – amet tincidunt habitant morbi dolor Company5 February 2020Read article Nunc ut – for dictum purus lorem vel Business5 February 2020Read article Pellen lorem: tesque habitant morbi tristique Technology5 February 2020Read article Lorem ipsum nulla dolor Business5 February 2020Read article Lorem ipsom – habitant morbi tristique senectus Company, Technology24 January 2020Read article Pellentesque habitant morbi tristique Company24 August 2019Read article Netus et malesuada – fames nulla from ac turpis egestas Business5 May 2018Read article Load more --- Watchdog Management Services Helping your business maximize profits, productivity and minimize expenses! Start Saving Today! 40+ Years In Industry Top Industry Specialists 100% Positive Client Referrals Millions in Company Savings 24/7 Real Live Support Save money today with a FREE review of your existing expenses in: Payment ProcessingMake it easy for your customers by letting them pay the way they prefer. Details Communications & Internet ServicesBusinesses today struggle just to keep up with the number of telephone and internet invoices they receive and process every month, not to mention not having the internal expertise and time to verify the accuracy of every bill. Details Utility ServicesUtility retailers rely on customer apathy to maximize their profit margins and it works. Details Mobility ServicesManaging voice & data plans, wireless invoice auditing, and wireless plan optimization all combine to make wireless expense management an enormous task. Details Managed IT ServicesWe prepare, we predict and we prevent! Details Waste RemovalOur industry insiders identify the true cost of your waste removal service and then work backward from there to achieve the best possible monthly savings for your company. Details We are here to help you run your business as efficiently and be as profitable as possible! Experience you can trust, service you can count on. Watchdog Management Services - your partners in profit! Principles of our work 01. We're on YOUR side Our team is hyper focused on reducing your companies expenses and are 100% vendor agnostic. We work for you! 02. Know what you're... --- --- ## Posts - Categories: Business, Company, Technology Many businesses have adopted the use of Artificial Intelligence in their daily operations. One of the most common uses is to create written content for advertisements, websites, and more. While AI can be a major boon for many, there are some caveats to consider before you utilize it. This article will explore the major advantages and disadvantages of using Artificial Intelligence in your business operations. Are you using Artificial Intelligence to create your content? The Advantages of Artificial Intelligence: The most common positive factor of Artificial Intelligence is its capability to quickly and efficiently create content. Artificial Intelligence has made it simple to create written content on just about any topic you can imagine. As such, you can quickly produce mass amounts of content with simple prompts and be able to allot time to other projects. AI can also help save on costs by reducing the amount of people needed to produce your content so that you can spend your budget elsewhere. You may even use Artificial Intelligence as a starting point for content creation by using prompts to provide inspiration for your next piece of content. This can save you the headache of getting over writer’s block or figuring out what to write next. The Disadvantages of Artificial Intelligence: By using artificial intelligence, you are trusting the system to create content that is coherent, accurate, and well written. In many cases, artificial intelligence can fall short in this aspect and cause your content to be generated poorly. This can... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Tap to pay has been adopted across multiple industries as an option for customers to purchase products and services. For many, it is a convenient method of payment that allows them to quickly finish a checkout process without the extra effort of remembering a PIN or going through the hassle of multiple button prompts. As a payment method, tap to pay has been implemented into so many different devices that almost everyone has the ability to use it. Whether it’s through their phones, smart watches, or otherwise, tap to pay is the defacto method in which many have chosen to use. But what are the possible security risks associated with tap to pay? Tap to pay is one of the most convenient methods of payment, but is it secure? Personal Information Theft: One of the potential drawbacks of tap to pay is the concern that your personal information can be leaked or stolen. With popular new technology on the rise there are always methods that look to exploit them. The potential risk of having your information stolen due to suspicious wi-fi or Bluetooth connections is very much real. While there is no guarantee that your information is 100% safe, as long as you are using your devices to pay with security risks in mind, you can avoid such concerns. In fact, there are multiple methods set in place that help keep your payments secure, all of which are standard implementation by the PCI SSC (Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council).... --- - Categories: Business, Company, Technology Businesses that rely on shipping vendors to fulfill customer orders are facing increased rates, slow delivery times, and customer dissatisfaction. These are challenges that can impact your bottom line and effect your overall profitability. With the increased demand for product shipping, you want to make sure that your shipping vendor/provider is operating smoothly. Perhaps they cannot keep up with the rise in demand and failing to fulfill orders on time. By knowing the kind of challenges your providers may face can help you develop a stronger shipping and fulfillment strategy. The problems your shipping provider will trickle down to you and affect your profits! Lack of Labor With a growth in demand for shipping services, there is going to be a rise in need for skilled labour. Workers who can commit to long, undesirable hours or physically demanding positions can be hard to come by. Such roles are critical in ensuring customers receive their goods on time and safely, so shipping providers are always on the lookout for able minded and able-bodied individuals to fill these roles. Some providers may look into using automation to help reduce the stress and costs of labour, but not everything can be handled this way. Even if automation is used, there is still the need to have someone maintaining, repairing, and implementing technology. If there is a labour shortage going on, you can guarantee that your shipping provider will be impacted. Speed and Efficiency Large companies like Amazon have set a new standard for... --- - Categories: Business, Company, Technology - Tags: business, money, productivity, technology Employee safety is a major priority in all businesses. As such, it should be paramount to understand the risks involved with the cleaning products you use every day. There are many factors that go under the radar and are thus overlooked, creating unnecessary risks that can affect employee health. Here, we will outline the different kinds of products that may pose health concerns among your facilities supplies. Does your workplace practice safe cleaning product use? Awareness is Your Best Defence How often do you look at your cleaning products and understand the kind of ingredients that go into them? Can you recall any ingredients at all? Chances are that you are like every other average person and what goes into your cleaning products is not usually something you would pay attention to. Now, think about your employees and how they are the ones handling your cleaning products daily. If they share the same mindset as you, it’s time to raise awareness of the potential risks your cleaning product carry. From wiping down desks to using industrial strength products, there are many potential dangers that can negatively affect the health and safety of the workplace. One way to increase awareness in the workplace is to use printed materials that quickly outline safe practices and risks involved with every day cleaning products. Monthly updates and safety meetings can also help employees stay informed as well. It would also be beneficial to review work safety training guidelines every so often, especially for new... --- - Categories: Business, Company, Technology Fuel fraud is an often overlooked risk when it comes to a business’ bottom line. To avoid fuel fraud, you should look at what it is, how it happens, and what you can do to protect yourself. What Is Fuel Fraud? Fuel fraud is a practice that dishonest employees partake in. For example, if your company uses a fleet for its daily operations, your drivers may irresponsibly fuel your vehicles or falsify fuel expenses. You may also fall victim to criminal activity that steals and uses your company fuel card information. The most common practice that occurs is the misuse of a company fuel card by an employee. This scenario often has the employee using the card for personal reasons and then submitting falsified information to obtain reimbursement for unpurchased fuel. Card information may even be stolen through the use of card-skimming technology, so it’s best to practice safe card use at fuel pumps. How Does Fuel Fraud Affect Your Business? The most obvious consequence of fuel fraud is the significant negative impact it can have on your bottom line. Up to a potential 60% loss in your fleet’s operational budget can occur when unauthorized fuel purchases are made. This can lead to a massive increase in overall expenses and put you at a severe disadvantage over competitors. Misuse of fuel can also result in disruptions across your daily operations. Employees who use fuel for unauthorized purposes can cause delays, increased downtime, and lower productivity. Your customers can have a... --- - Categories: Business, Company, Technology Many businesses often overlook the cost of their office supplies. It’s hard to distinguish whether you truly need your supplies or if they’re simply just a luxury purchase. How do you end up knowing which supplies are worth purchasing and which are going to end up being a waste? How Much Are You Spending? United Stationers performed a study that concluded that most companies allocate between $186 and $544 annually per employee for office supplies. This cost will be dependent on how large your company is of course, but regardless of your size, trimming unnecessary costs is always welcome. Not only does it boost efficiency, it can also boost your profits. It is a good practice to set aside a time to conduct internal audits to determine how much you are actually spending per employee. Keeping track of this number can help ensure that you are staying on track when it comes to earnings and overall performance. Ordering Your Supplies Efficiently As a business, it will be tempting to purchase your office supplies in bulk. While this can be an option, you should consider whether you’ll be using the full amount of supplies. If they are not being fully utilized, this can effect your bottom line. Be sure to check in with your employees to see which supplies are being used the most so that you don’t end up buying more than you need. A good way to determine this is by having employees fill out surveys to better understand... --- - Categories: Business - Tags: business, productivity, technology Purchasing uniforms for a medical practice relies on a number of factors. Before you make a decision on whether it’s more cost effective to buy o pass the bill onto your employees, you should look into the advantages and disadvantages of each option. The Benefits of Passing the Bill: By having employees purchase their own uniforms, your practice will be saving on costs by not having to pay for recurring laundering, replacements, or damage fees. Your employees will have full control and responsibility for their uniforms and your practice can avoid the initial purchase price. Some practices with limited budgets opt for this option because of the cost savings it provides. You may even encourage your employees to purchase their own uniforms by reimbursing them later or provide them with a provider who can give them a discounted rate. The Disadvantages of Passing the Bill: While it can be a cost effective measure to pass the bill onto your employees, there are a number of disadvantages that may outweigh the cost benefits. By letting your employees purchase their own uniforms, you may run into issues with consistent standards of professionalism. It is also unlikely that all of your employees will be purchasing the same level of quality, making it complicated to ensure safety standards are up to par as well. Some cheaper uniforms, for example, may not have the same level of fluid resistance. Your employee motivation may be negatively affected if they are buying their own uniforms and the... --- - Categories: Technology Choosing the right cloud service can significantly impact your business's cost savings. Understanding the differences between Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is crucial for making an informed decision that aligns with your specific needs and budget constraints. Key Takeaways Understand Your Needs: Evaluate your business requirements to determine whether Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), or Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) aligns best with your goals. Consider Cost Implications: Calculate the costs associated with each cloud service model, including subscription fees, maintenance expenses, and scalability factors to make an informed decision. Prioritize Security: Prioritize security considerations when selecting a cloud service, ensuring data protection, compliance with regulations, and robust security measures are in place. Tailor Your Choice: Choose a cloud service model that not only saves costs but also meets your specific business needs, promoting efficiency and scalability. Balance Features and Expenses: Strike a balance between the features offered by each cloud service model and the associated costs to optimize your business operations effectively. Make an Informed Decision: Combine insights from understanding cloud computing basics, exploring SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS, calculating costs, and considering security to make the right choice for your business. Cloud Computing Basics Definition IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS in cloud computing stand for Infrastructure as a Service, Platform as a Service, and Software as a Service. Cloud services offer on-demand access to resources over the internet. Choosing the right cloud model is... --- - Categories: Uncategorized As a business owner, you have had experience with payment processing and all of the complicated issues surrounding it. As an integral part of any business, payment processing can needlessly lower your productivity with all of its moving parts, especially if you have difficulties understanding its intricacies. Payment Integration is a solution that many businesses have adopted to smooth out payment processing. In this article, we will discuss what payment integration is and what kind of benefits it can bring. Payment Integration can be extremely beneficial in improving your business' efficiency. What is Payment Integration? Payment integration is the process that takes place when a customer makes a payment through a merchant’s payment processor without the need for manual processing. On e-commerce platforms, this allows customers to process a payment without having to leave the platform or switch to another website/application. Payment integration ensures your cutomers will be able to use their payment method without hassle. For example, paying for an online order on a platform like Skip the Dishes on an iPhone will use Apple Pay as a payment integration process. With a simple tap of a button, the customer is able to pay for their product/service without any extra steps. This ultimately increases efficiency, improves security, and streamlines the user experience. How Do Payment Integrations Work? Payment Integrations are facilitated through Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). These allow for software applications to communicate and process payments with each other. Think of APIs and Payment Integration as the middleman between... --- - Categories: Uncategorized Did you know that there are over 700 unique categories for merchant service transactions? With so many categories, it’s hard to understand which codes would benefit your business more. This is usually left to your payment processing service provider, so if you are unaware of how merchant codes work, you might be getting a less cost-effective designation. This article explores what merchant codes and how you can get help in finding the right code. What Are Merchant Codes: Merchant codes are four-digit numbers that are assigned to a business by credit card companies and payment processors. These codes help categorize the type of product or service the business provides. Merchant codes also help with fraud detection by making it easier to detect fraudulent payments. If there is a service or a product that is being sold, it’s guaranteed that there is a merchant code for it. How Do You Get a Wrong Merchant Code? Human error is the most common reason why your business may have the wrong merchant code. There can be misunderstandings made about the products or services you provide or confusion over the nature of the business itself. It’s best to keep up to date on your merchant code by asking your provider to give you a detailed breakdown of your merchant code. There may be mistakes that happen in the application process and you wouldn’t even know about it until much later. How To Change Your Merchant Code: The best method for you to explore is... --- - Categories: Business, Technology Electronic Logging Devices are essential tools used by truck drivers on their daily routes. These devices help fleet-operating businesses to operate smoothly by tracking the vehicle’s diagnostics. By connecting to the truck’s engine, the ELD records driving data, engine hours, ignition status, location, miles driven, and much more. With these statistics, business can better understand their routes and how to optimize them. As an incredibly vital tool in a fleet-operating business, ELD failure can be a massive headache. Not only will it effect productivity, it can also result in higher costs due to unoptimized routes. An ELD failure may also mean that you cannot use the connected vehicle since they are required by law to be operational. Your bottom line will be effected by ELD Failures What To Do When An ELD Failure Occurs: As soon as a malfunction or failure is detected, you must inform your carrier within 24 hours. The carrier then has 8 days to repair, service, or replace the ELD. Hours of Service data (HOS) may be recorded using paper logs or a secondary system. Recording HOS data is an ELD’s primary function, so when this goes down, you must be able to keep track of the data in the meantime. Your carriers may also extend the period of time for repair or replacement by contacting the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) How To Prepare For Failures: The best practice you can implement to curb ELD failures is to train your drivers on how to... --- - Categories: Business, Company, Technology Large vendors like Amazon have starting to move away from using cardboard boxes for order fulfillment. These classic brown boxes are so ingrained with package shipping that the image of a front door step with a cardboard box has become synonymous with deliveries in general. So what will the future of shipping be like when everyone shifts towards box-less alternatives? A box-less future is coming to the shipping industry Benefits of Box-Less Shipping Box-less shipping can offer many benefits for businesses who use order fulfillment as their primary operation. Without boxes, delivery trucks can store more items and make deliveries more efficient. No bulky boxes means smaller package slips and pockets can be used to maximize space. Shipping waste is dramatically reduced when box-less alternatives are used. Cardboard boxes are often more expensive than shipping slips and shipping packs. This cost is often transferred to the customer. Reducing expenses means happier customers! Bulky cardboard boxes require more materials and labour costs to maintain. Using box-less shipping means you can also save on these expenses. Box-Less Shipping Challenges While box-less shipping does offer many benefits, there are some difficulties that you should consider before making the transition. Third-party companies will have to opt-in for box-less shipping. Not everyone will be on board. Some items simply cannot be shipped without boxes and the alternatives are complicated to procure. Some items may be difficult to place shipping labels on due to dimensions and materials. Privacy is a major concern with box-less shipping. As... --- - Categories: Business, Company, Technology In order to keep up with the ever changing demands of online shoppers, many businesses have had to improve their e-commerce platforms. What are some of the best methods that a business can employ to ensure they are on top of the online shopping world? Our latest blog post will provide several tips that will give your business a leg up when it comes to improving your e-commerce platforms! Keep Up With The Competition And Improve Your E-Commerce Platform Now! Keep Your Design Simple: Much like a physical store, an online store should feel welcoming, easy to navigate, and simple to understand. Treat your online store design as you would your physical location and keep things simple and clean! Imagine being a shopper and entering a store for the first time to see it cluttered, disorganized, and chaotic. You’d likely be scared away, never to return! To begin, focus on the first page of your website and ensure that your design represents your brand and products while being easy on the eyes. Treat this page like you would your store front as it will always be the first point of contact for any new and returning customers. We recommend the following tips when it comes to designing your landing page: Pick on-brand colour schemes (1-3 colours) Use high quality images Use colours that help categorize, label, and identify elements on your page (i. e. carts, shopping categories, search, etc) Use empty space to your advantage Make Your Site Easy To... --- - Categories: Uncategorized In recent years, online shopping has skyrocketed in terms of popularity. The demand for products to be delivered straight to a consumer’s door has never been so high. But what does this mean for the environment when shipping requires an incredible amount of boxes, slips, pockets, and more? Generally speaking, it’s not good. It’s why consumers are becoming more and more aware of sustainable methods used in packaging when they choose places to shop. Not only are consumers more willing to pay for sustainable packaging, they are becoming increasingly interested in it. What is Sustainable Packaging: Sustainable packaging is self explanatory. It’s packaging that a company uses that is manufactured using sustainable practices. This can vary between many different factors such as size, materials, and design. For example, companies may opt for smaller cardboard boxes with cardboard shock absorption rather than using Styrofoam peanuts. If your company is looking to make the move to sustainable packaging, you would ultimately be decreasing your carbon footprint and contributing to improving the environment. Consumers are also more likely to notice these changes and your business may benefit from this positive image. How to make your packaging sustainable: There are a number of things you can do to make your packaging sustainable. One of the most common practices is to ensure that you are not being wasteful when it comes to shipping your products. Consumers are often noticing companies who send out large cardboard boxes with tiny products inside of them and then lamenting... --- - Categories: Business, Company, Technology Being labelled as a high-risk merchant can have its consequences. As a business owner, you may have heard of the term “high-risk merchant accounts”. This is often associated with online card payments is applicable to your operational finances. High risk merchant accounts can affect your online payment processing fees, so it’s best to be knowledgeable about the impacts this label may cause. What is a High-Risk Merchant Account? To put it simply, a high-risk merchant account is a label that your processor may require you to operate under. This is often related to high risk chargebacks and fraud but can also be related to subscription fees, high transaction sizes, and long fulfillment time frames. What Makes Your Business High Risk? Since there is no governing body that decides what is considered high-risk, it is ultimately up to the processor’s policies and what they consider high-risk factors. This may include the following: Subscription fees Poor credit Low business experience High sales volumes Being on the MATCH (Member Alert to Control High-Risk Merchants) list Long fulfillment times Illegal activity and history of fraud Large number of card-no-present transactions This list only covers some of the more common factors that processors use to label high-risk merchants. Be sure to ask your processor what they consider high-risk behaviour and understand what they need from your business to avoid such a label. High-Risk Industries There are a number of industries that often have a higher likelihood of being labelled as high-risk. Check our list below... --- - Categories: Business, Company, Technology Software as a service (or SaaS) is being used across all industries as a primary means of doing business. SaaS consists of free and paid software that businesses utilize for everyday functions. Some companies offer free alternatives to their subscription-based offerings, but they are often limited in function. However, it’s important to note that while some software may be free, it doesn’t necessarily mean they can’t get the job done. There are many examples of free software alternatives on the internet that offer effective solutions over their paid counterparts. So when should your business pay for its software? Adobe is a prime example of SaaS with a subscription model. Open-Source Software (OSS) Open-Source Software (OSS) is software that is generally unpaid and free to use. OSS is named as such because it operates under a license that gives the user the right to use, alter, and distribute the software and source code to anyone for any purpose. You may have used open-source software in the past without knowing. Some examples include ad blockers, price history checkers, operating systems, and servers. The main benefit for using open-source software is its minimal cost. It also comes with a large global community of ever expanding development for further improvements in functionality and features. Open-source software is also highly scalable and flexible, making them a very beneficial investment for long-term use. Is All Free Software OSS? The short answer is no, not all free software is OSS. For example, you may be using Google... --- - Categories: Business, Company, Technology Across the United States and Canada, textiles is one of the most common materials to end up in landfills. "Utah-based PromoLeaf LLC says its analysis of data on recycling facilities and programs shows fewer than 6 percent of large cities in the United States accept discarded textiles in curbside recycling bins. The firm's analysis says only eight out of 151 cities offer regular curbside collections of clothes and textiles. PromoLeaf gathered information from the three largest cities in each state plus the District of Columbia. " Read more Here Businesses that deal with textiles are under pressure to recycle their materials, especially since the push for sustainability is affecting consumer shopping decisions. Are you a business that relies heavily on textiles? If so, you may want to read further on how textile recycling works, how you can use it to your advantage, and why it’s important to implement. Recycling textiles can bring benefits to your brand reputation Textile Recycling The process of recycling textiles is generally straightforward. First, the material is collected from multiple sources. This includes drop-off points, dedicated recycling centers, and curbside pickups. Once collected, they are then transported to a sorting facility where the textiles are sorted according to their material, composition, texture, condition, and more. Once the material has been sorted, they are sent to be cleaned and prepped for recycling. This process ensures that odours, stains, and dirt are all removed prior to recycling. Textiles that have been cleaned will be sold at consignment shops,... --- - Categories: Business, Company, Technology Toll-free numbers can be a cost-effective way to keep your telecommunication bills low. Depending on the size of your business, you may find it advantageous to have a toll-free number and have been looking for one for a while. So how do you find a toll-free number and what makes it such a good option for your business? This article will explore this topic and provide some details to help you choose. Your Business May Need a Toll-Free Number! The Benefits of Toll-Free Numbers Most major businesses across Canada use toll-free numbers because it allows their customers to make calls without having to incur any fees. Large companies such as Bell or Rogers use toll-free numbers for their customer service simply because of the sheer number of requests they receive daily. This ease of access and lack of payment makes it more likely for customers to contact and receive a sense of higher quality service. Not only will a toll-free number make it easier for your customers to contact you, but it will also make your business look more professional. Large companies with strong brand presence rely on their image to attract and retain customers, and a toll-free number can help support this. Inn terms of branding, you can even obtain a toll-free number with “vanity” customization. For example, Ikea uses their own brand name in their client services number (4532, or IKEA). This type of customization can allow your customers to think about your company and reinforce your brand.... --- - Categories: Business, Company Many businesses produce large amounts of paper waste from confidential materials to everyday usage. With such a large volume of paper waste, it is common to use a professional shredding service to help better manage the volume of paper materials your business may produce. In fact, professional paper shredding services can also better guarantee that confidential or sensitive information can be effectively destroyed, keeping your reputation and company security in-tact. But how does a business choose the right shredding service? There are many things to consider such as pricing structure and level of service. Paper shredding companies can save you time and money! Why Use a Shredding Service? A third-party professional shredding service can offer your business improved efficiency and cost-saving measures to better maintain company security, privacy, and reputation. Using a professional shredding service will also guarantee your company will adhere to privacy laws and regulations, saving you the headache of having to keep track of such matters during your everyday operations. It will also help improve productivity by outsourcing low priority work and freeing up your staff for larger projects. What Does a Good Shredding Service Offer? Certification A good shredding service will provide a certification of destruction with every shredding job that has been completed. Receiving this certification is a guarantee that your documents have been securely and safely destroyed. Your business can also use this certification as proof that you have adhered to privacy laws and regulations, demonstrating your commitment to your clients security. On-Site Shredding... --- - Categories: Business - Tags: business, productivity Since December 2022, Canada has prohibited the import and manufacture of single-use plastics. This includes checkout bags, cutlery, food service ware, and straws. This regulation aims to reduce the harmful impact of plastic pollution on nature and wildlife and has caused many Canadian businesses to pivot to plastic alternatives. So what does this sort of legislation mean for your business? Does your business use single-use plastics on a daily basis? If so, how does this impact you? If your business has struggled to adjust to this change, Watchdog Management Services is here to provide some expert advice on the most common types of single-use plastic products and their alternatives so that you can make a more informed decision when choosing a new supplier. Be a part of a sustainable future and find new single-use alternatives for your business! Choose Vendors With Plastic Alternatives: As most businesses, you may have a longstanding vendor that you have worked which provide all of your single-use plastic products. Changing vendors can be daunting, but if you know what kind of products you need, it can help you narrow down your options when finding the right vendor. For example, does this potential new vendor offer plastic-alternatives to your most used products? How much are they offering in comparison to the competition? Here are some examples of plastic-alternative products that you business may require: Reusable Bags The largest impact single-use plastic legislation has had is prohibiting the use of plastic bags in retailers across the country.... --- - Categories: Business, Company If you are a business that relies on company uniforms or if you’re a part of the hospitality industry and linens are an essential part of your operations, these are the tips for you! Have you ever considered how much your business spends on laundry and cleaning? It’s an often overlooked expense that most businesses wouldn’t pay attention to, potentially costing you more than you think. In this month’s blog post, we will be exploring the ways your business can effectively save on your uniform and linen costs, learn about the industry, and how you can ensure your vendor fees are fair. Uniforms and Linens can be an unexpected source of expensive costs for many businesses. About the Uniform and Linen Industry In the United States alone, the linen and uniform industry makes an estimated annual revenue of up to $14 billion. Thousands of establishments across the USA belong to this industry and can effect a business’s bottom line. These establishments also save on their own costs by using suppliers based in countries like China, Bangladesh, India, and Vietnam. The most heavily affected and targeted industries that use uniforms and linens include, but are not limited to: Healthcare Hospitality Restaurants If your business belongs to one of these industries, expect to be paying a large sum to maintain your uniforms and linens. A Hefty Expense As a part of your everyday operations, linens and uniforms are often overlooked as an expense. In reality, they can cost you thousands of dollars... --- - Categories: Business As a business, you should be prepared for an eventual staff shortage. Though you might not be facing this problem right away, it’s likely to rear its ugly head sometime in the future. As the past couple of years has shown, staff shortages can occur at any moment for several different reasons. Poor infrastructure, lack of affordable childcare, COVID-19 concerns, and supply chain issues are all examples of causes for staff shortages. Sometimes, the cause for a staff shortage can be a result of cost cutting measures or even poor management If your business is not prepared for a staff shortage, it can prove to be detrimental to your everyday operations. Here is how we recommend your business prepare for any staff shortages in the future. Staff Shortages Are a Challenge Any Business Will Run Into. How Do You Deal With Them? Cross Training One of the effects of staff shortages is that your business may not have the manpower or skills to accomplish certain tasks. Does an everyday task require a certain type of position to be filled? Is that position currently vacant? Then expect that part of your business to come to a halt. A method to ensure that your business can prevent this sort of situation is to cross-train your employees across multiple roles. Doing so will ensure that if someone is absent or if the primary position is vacant, your other employees can take it upon themselves to fulfill the necessary duties. Consider setting up a... --- - Categories: Business, Company, Technology - Tags: business, productivity, technology As a business in a digital era, quick and accessible payment options are a staple and should be utilized in your everyday operations. This is incredibly important for businesses that are customer facing or have physical locations for customers/clients to visit. Businesses new and old are using the latest terminal payment technology to offer convenience to their customers... but are they buying the technology outright or simply leasing it? What is the best option for your business? This article will examine the topic of buying or leasing a card terminal to help you choose the option for your business. Leasing a Terminal: The Advantages Leasing or renting a card terminal can be an attractive option for businesses that are looking to cut up-front costs or improve short-term productivity. If you are a business that is just starting off, renting can be your best option to ensure maximum cost effectiveness. Renting equipment can also give your business flexibility. If the hardware you’re renting does not fit your business or if you decide you want to make an immediate change, you can work with your providers to change your equipment rather than be stuck with it. This flexibility can also be beneficial when it comes to updating your business’ technology to match modern times. Technology is growing faster and faster every day and you don’t want your business to fall behind! This can be greatly beneficial because you don’t have to rebuy a new system every couple of years to stay up-to-date... --- - Categories: Business, Company, Technology Calgary is experiencing one of the coldest starts to December in the last 100+ years. With such extreme temperatures becoming the norm, you shouldn’t forget to prepare your business’ utilities and infrastructure. A properly prepared business will be able to tackle the winter and even save on costs! Our latest blog post outlines how your business can better prepare for the challenge of extreme winter weather so that you don’t have to worry about any productivity loss or potential repair costs. Why Should You Prepare Your Utilities During the harsh winter months, utilities are often hit hard. This is further pushed by extreme weather conditions like blizzards or freeze-snaps that can bring temperatures below -30 c in some regions. With such temperatures, your utilities will be pushed to the limits as it tries to keep up. Unprecedented winter storms can cost utility companies and governments billions of dollars if they are improperly prepared for such an event. By establishing a well maintained and functional utilities set-up at your business, you can potentially save yourself from spending more than you’re prepared for! Did You Know? During the winter months, utility bills always see a dramatic rise. This is mostly due to heat being used for longer and more intensely. Most businesses will find that their heating is responsible for at least 40% of their total utility bill, especially if natural gas is used. Thanks to skyrocketing prices in the oil industry, utility companies are raising their prices to compensate. Don’t let... --- - Categories: Business, Company, Technology If your business is producing a large amount of plastic waste, you might be unknowingly eating the costs to dispose of it. Reduction of plastic wastes should be a goal that your business strives for as it is a simple process that benefits everyone! Recycling is a win-win situation! Did You Know? Plastic is being recycled less with more plastics heading towards landfills. Half of plastic bottles are used once before being thrown away. Only 23% of plastic bottles end up being recycled. Annually, over 50 billion plastic bottles are sold to the public in the US alone. Plastics take over 450 years to degrade into microplastics. Plastic recycling is a multi-billion-dollar industry. Reducing plastic waste is not only good for the environment but good for your business’ bottom line. If you fill your waste bins with plastic bottles, you’ll be spending more on waste disposal than necessary. By taking the measures outlined in this article, you can ultimately save money on waste disposal and help make a difference in the environment. Provide Adequate Recycling Options It might be obvious, but if you want to reduce plastic waste, you should start recycling and provide your business with adequate recycling options. Start by buying recycling bins for your employees. A good rule of thumb would be to have one bin per 50-75 employees to ensure maximum use. Next, place your new recycling bins in high traffic areas such as break rooms, kitchenettes, bathrooms, and lobbies. By having recycling options easily accessible... --- - Categories: Business With the recent news that Canadian businesses can start charging customers an additional credit card processing fee, numerous questions have risen among small and large businesses alike. One of the most common is “Should my business charge a surcharge? ”. Our latest article hopes to inform you of what a surcharge is, why some businesses choose to use it, and whether you should consider adding to your operations. Should your business charge a fee for credit card processing? What is a Credit Card Surcharge? To put it simply, a credit card surcharge is an additional charge that is added on top of a customer’s credit card bill to help cover the cost of processing a credit card. Credit card rates can differ between companies, the type of business, how the transaction is processed, and the type of card being used, therefore a surcharge must reflect this cost. Does Surcharging Save Money? There is no simple answer as to whether a surcharge will save your business money. This is something that will greatly depend on your customers and your business. For example, if your business is in an industry that is highly competitive, lower prices are always going to be of benefit. Adding a surcharge can hurt your bottom line and draw customers to competitors who choose not to include the additional fee. It is also worth considering the appropriate time a surcharge should be included. During times of record inflation, adding a credit card surcharge can make customers less likely... --- - Categories: Business The recent news cycle has been dominated by inflation and its effects on the average Canadian. Small businesses are looking at a difficult future where rising costs are threatening to close their doors. In May of 2022, a survey completed by Alignable (a professional networking site) showed that 51% of small business owners were concerned that inflation will cause them to shut down in the next six months. While it’s true that inflation will affect regular Canadians, it’s no doubt that businesses should look into what inflation is and how it could affect their operations. An Introduction to Inflation Inflation is the rising cost of good and services over a period of time. What you can buy with your dollars becomes less and less as a result, decreasing overall buying power that the consumer may hold. Inflation is often caused by several main factors: Rising Wages Cost-Push Inflation Deman-Pull inflation Increased money supply Devaluation Government Policies Rising Wages: When wages increase, it often results in increased costs for the business. Having to pay staff more while maintaining profit margins is a difficult balancing act. Small businesses who can’t afford this increased cost will look towards increasing product prices to accommodate this rise. Cost-Push Inflation: When labour and material costs rise, so does the price of the product. Demand-Pull Inflation: When demand for a good or service outweighs supply, prices increase to maintain profits. This may or may not equalize once supply meets demand. Increased Money Supply: If there is simply... --- - Categories: Business, Technology While remote work offers many benefits to the average worker, especially those that are self-driven and independent, it can also come with technical caveats which include, but are not limited to, service outages. No matter what kind of environment you are working in, you simply cannot control your provider or the services they provide. Not only should your business come up with a contingency plan when you experience a service outage, you should also figure out methods to help your remote workers complete their tasks. Diagnose the Problem: Common apps used in the remote working space are Zoom, WebEx, and Teams. These apps are often subjected to heavy traffic and internal issues. It’s common to assume that if your connection is weak or suffering, it’s your internet to blame, but in these cases, it might be the app itself that’s experiencing issues. By diagnosing the situation, you and your employees can work around a service outage by finding alternative options to use. You can also use conferencing software that has dial-in options to avoid communication failures. Subsidize Cellular Plans and Equipment: When an internet outage occurs, remote workers can be left stranded without their primary means of completing their work. However, your employee always has the option to reconnect to the internet via mobile hotspot. Of course, this can be a pricey solution depending on workload and outage length. As a business you can subsidize your employees mobile bill to ensure they are covered for the hours their internet goes... --- - Categories: Business, Company, Technology With the rising cost of fuel, businesses are looking for new solutions to help them save at the pump, especially those that use large fleets for their everyday operations. Using a fleet card will improve efficiency by making it easy to manage the expenses that come with owning and operating company vehicles. What is a Fleet Card Unlike corporate credit cards, fleet cards are used specifically for vehicle related expenses such as maintenance and fuel. Businesses such as ride sharing services, delivery companies, and trucking companies will often use fleet cards to keep themselves organized. How do Fleet Cards Help? Here are several benefits of using a fleet card for your business: Convenience Fleet/Fuel cards are often accepted at a vast majority of fuel stations. This makes it easier for your drivers to find merchants who will accept this form of payment and not have to waste time, money, and efficiency on extra miles just to find a compatible merchant. Accurate Records Fleet cards offer exceptional reporting and analytics abilities which help business owners to stay informed about their expenses. Fleet cards tend to feature real-time reporting which allows for automated data to be presented anytime during operational hours. This ultimately helps the business manage its expenses better and eliminates the need for costly expense reports to be filled. Budget Control Fleet cards are linked to individual employees. This gives the business owner accurate information on spending and fuel efficiency for each employee and their vehicles. With such pin-point accuracy,... --- - Categories: Business, Company Every business pays for water. From small stores with washrooms, to fully functioning kitchens, or even car detailing garages, water is a vital part of any business. However, water bills can be complicated to understand as they are constantly changing. How is Water Measured Water is most commonly measured using CCF (centum cubic feet) and the gallon. One CCF is equal to about 748 gallons. To give you a bit of perspective, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has reported that the average four-person household uses up to 10,500 gallons of water in a 30-day period. Water Billing Most providers will use the following method to bill businesses for their water usage: Flat Fees: All customers are charged the same no matter how much water is used. Uniform Rates: A constant per-unit price is applied. You will pay by usage but the rates stay the same year-round. Increasing Block Rates: The rates increase with each succeeding block period. Promotes conservation. Declining Block Rates: rates decrease with each succeeding block period. Popular in rural areas and areas with plentiful water supplies. Seasonal Rates: Rates will cover a specific period throughout the year. For example, rates may be higher in summer and lower in winter. Drought Rates: Similar to seasonal rates, but will adjust based on the region’s drought level. How To Save Money on Water Usage: The best practice for your business to start saving on its water bill is to find the right rates. As the list above suggests, you need... --- - Categories: Business, Company The unfortunate truth about your utility bills is that they can come with a multitude of common errors that can hurt your business’s bottom line. To avoid overspending on your utility bills, it’s best to be educated about the topic so that you can better understand and detect inappropriate pricing. Common Billing Errors: Here is a list of some of the most common billing errors that can be found on your utilities bill. Confused Rates Meter Multiplier issues Incorrect taxes Incorrect late fees Incorrect classification Meter reading issues Paying with the wrong meter(s) Physical issues with your meters Each of these can lead to overspending, especially if you leave them alone to build up without notice. Now that you understand what an error could be, it’s time to find out how to spot them. Confused Rates: Rates can change day to day, season to season. The best practice you can employ is to become familiar with the kind of rates your provider gives you depending on time. It’s common for providers to charge you the incorrect amount for the time of day in which you’re using your utilities. We recommend closely monitoring your bills to track your usage. There are multiple real-time analytics solutions you can employ as well. By having a collection of recorded data available to you, you can better understand your consumption and avoid confused rates in your bills. Meter Multipliers: A meter multiplier is often used to invoice you accurately as the actual voltage used is... --- - Categories: Business, Company, Technology Has your business ever shipped a product out to a customer/client only to have it become damaged upon arrival? Maybe it got lost and the customer never received it? These scenarios can be a headache when it comes to costs and customer service. Even when it’s not your business’s fault that something like this happened, you will still be held accountable and be expected to pay to fix the issue. This is where shipping insurance comes in. WHAT IS SHIPPING INSURANCE: Shipping insurance is a small up-front fee that gives you peace of mind that your business’s image will not be tarnished by any shipping related mishaps. For example, when a product is shipped to a customer and it does not reach its destination, shipping insurance guarantees that you will not pay for this and rather the delivery company or retailer will be held responsible. REPUTATION IS EVERYTHING: A poor shipping experience is more than just about eating costs, it’s about your business’s reputation. Customers are more likely to stop doing business with you if your shipping experience is bad, therefore shipping insurance isn’t just about protecting your products and bottom line, it’s about your reputation. Are you willing to lose customers over a lost/damaged product that you had no control over? WHEN DO YOU NEED SHIPPING INSURANCE? This is highly dependent on your business and the frequency of shipping. It’s simple probability; the more you ship, the more likely that something can go wrong. It’s often better to invest... --- - Categories: Business, Company, Technology Over the past month, we’ve seen record high gas prices hit as unpredictable changes in the market manifest. This is, without a doubt, going to affect the bottom line of your company, specifically at it’s fuel bill. There doesn’t seem to be a clear answer as to whether or not this trend will continue or if we’ll see prices fall either. So how will your business ensure that you stay afloat during such dramatic price trends? Prices haven’t been as high as they are now since September 2014 and there doesn’t seem to be any end in sight. In Calgary, as of this blog entry’s writing, gas prices have hit an average of 167. 9 at most stations across the city. One can only imagine how much this will cost a business that relies on fuel for their vehicle fleets as a part of their daily operations. However, now is not the time to spend less on gas but rather learn to optimize your spend instead. It's not just commuters who will feel the pinch of rising gas prices. ROUTE OPTIMIZATION: If your business relies on vehicles to complete daily operations, you will want to learn how to best optimize the routes your vehicles take. This can be done easily with software that third parties can provide. With route optimization software, you can begin to choose the most cost-effective routes for your vehicles (or entire fleet) to take every day. Common software features include the ability to show the number... --- - Categories: Company, Technology - Tags: business, demo, money, news, productivity, success, wordpress Sometimes eliminating waste is impossible, but don’t worry! By using commercial recycling as an alternative, you’ll be able to save on transfer and landfill costs associated with waste disposal. While recycling has become a common practice among residential homes, many businesses don’t have the ability, knowledge, or incentive to properly manage a recycling program of their own. This negatively impacts the amount of waste a business can generate and therefore cause a ripple effect on your bottom line. Let’s give your business a leg up with these valuable tips on how your business can save while recycling! Produce Less, Save More. Simple as that! Waste disposal costs are always tied to how much waste your business produces. So, the simplest way to reduce your waste management costs is to produce less waste! Reducing the amount of paper you use as well as purchasing reusable materials can eliminate waste build-up regardless of where the waste ends up. Sometimes eliminating waste is impossible, but don’t worry! By using commercial recycling as an alternative, you’ll be able to save on transfer and landfill costs associated with waste disposal. Using separate containers for different materials can ultimately reduce the frequency in which waste collection occurs. Spread your waste, save on costs! Sell Your Recyclable Materials If your business generates waste that can be recycled (i. e. scrap metal) you can easily sell them to make extra money on the side. Consider your recycling as a new type of output your company generates. Whatever you earn from selling your recyclable materials could have gone into more waste generation... but now you’re earning a little bit more without having to worry about waste management costs!... --- - Categories: Business, Company When it comes to your business expenses, you should know the difference between fixed and variable. In fact, separating the two can help save costs, especially if you understand the differences between the two. When it comes to your business expenses, you should know the difference between fixed and variable. In fact, separating the two can help save costs, especially if you understand the differences between the two. The best way to describe the two types is that fixed expenses stay the same month-to-month whereas variable expenses are ever changing, making them difficult to predict and prepare for. Seems easy enough to grasp right? Let’s dive into the finer details. Fixed Expenses: As its name suggests, variable expenses are costs your business has incurred in a month-to-month basis. These are constantly changing and can include things like utilities, credit card purchases, waste management, and more. These expenses are difficult to lower and can also be difficult to predict. For example, your office might be going through a heat wave one summer. To keep everyone cool, your air conditioning must be used more often with more intensity. This can easily drive your electricity bill up. Some variable expenses are much easier to reduce than others. Waste management is easier to maintain because you can control waste production with recycling strategies. However, trying to predict how much electricity, water, and heat you use is far more difficult. In order to maintain such costs, your best option is to work with industry experts to help you identify areas where you can save. Luckily, Watchdog Management Services is an expert at cost savings and cost management. Our industry experts have the experience and proven track record of finding... --- - Categories: Business, Company As a business, your office is your castle…and castles don’t come cheap! You should always look to end the year on a fiscally responsible note. Besides, what better way to ring in the new year than with cost savings? Using energy throughout the office can ask for a hefty price, especially if you’re not paying attention to them. If you don’t have to time to micro manage and encourage employees to be more energy conscious, you can always invest in electronic equipment that can help! Upgrade your office to smart outlets and timers, preventing energy usage when the office is empty. If you have any unused services such as landlines, cancel them immediately. You never know what you may be paying for even if you’re not using them! Lastly, be smart about your utility bills and look into fixed rate plans with your providers. This will help prevent surprised cost spikes on your bills and instead keep a consistent equal payment throughout the year. This is also especially helpful when hot summers and cold winters increase utility usage. Smart Supply Purchases Buy bulk... save on costs! As a business, you are likely going to need office supplies and furniture on a steady basis. The smarter your purchases, the more you save. Start by buying supplies in bulk. While the costs seem steep initially, you are guaranteed to save more money in the long run. On top of that, the time saved for having to resupply small items like staples, pens, and ink can go a long way. Keep your eye on the sales or perhaps even hunt around second hand markets to find the supplies and furniture you need. While you can also upgrade and buy new equipment for... --- - Categories: Business, Company As the world moves towards a more sustainable future, businesses everywhere are starting to shift towards renewable energy as a means of saving on their energy bills. As the world moves towards a more sustainable future, businesses everywhere are starting to shift towards renewable energy as a means of saving on their energy bills. Of course, the easiest way to save on your energy bill is to use less energy, but what are some other options you should consider as you make the transition to something more sustainable and efficient? 1. Switch to energy efficient light bulbs Electrical lighting accounts for a large chunk of your energy bill. We recommend finding energy efficient light bulbs that not only last long and stay bright, but also consume less energy over time. You’ll thank us when you see the difference in your bills! 2. Install solar panels This may be a niche suggestion, but if your business has the ability to install solar panels, we highly recommend doing so. By having a personal source of electricity, you won’t have to rely nearly as much on your energy company to provide for you. This is, ofc course, a long-term investment. While the initial cost of installing solar panels may be high, they are definitely going to pay off as the years go by. Free energy is good energy! Free energy is good energy! 3. Update your Equipment As more and more companies start to move towards energy efficient and sustainable operations, so do their products. If your business is still using outdated office equipment, older appliances, and ancient electronics, it’s probably time for an upgrade. Once again, while the initial... --- - Categories: Company If you’ve been following us recently, you may have noticed a slight change to our company. Yes, we’ve officially renamed Watchdog Communications to Watchdog Management Services! Hello everyone, If you’ve been following us recently, you may have noticed a slight change to our company. Yes, we’ve officially renamed Watchdog Communications to Watchdog Management Services! We believe that this name change best reflects the service we provide to our clients. It highlights the fact that we focus on managing a wide variety of things in your business from office communications, waste management, mobility services, and more. Our previous branding put emphasis on communications, which is something that we’ll always uphold as a cornerstone in our business, and we felt like we needed to emphasize that we are more than capable of finding savings across multiple industries rather than just communications! If you’re looking to save on costs, be sure to get in touch with us today. While our name may have changed, our professionalism and dedication to providing the absolute best cost savings services remains the same. Remember, your first audit with us is 100% risk-free, so act now and let Watchdog Management Services find you the best prices and help increase your productivity today! --- - Categories: Company, Technology Has your business considered implementing mobile payments? Not only are these options fast growing and widely adopted, they are also incredibly efficient, fast, and convenient. Has your business considered implementing mobile payments? Not only are these options fast growing and widely adopted, they are also incredibly efficient, fast, and convenient. Digital wallets, such as Apple Pay, are forecasted to become the world’s primary source of payments by 2030 according to experts. While it may seem like a while away, it’s better to be ready for this change now than later. Here are a couple of reasons why you should consider mobile payments/digital wallets for your business: 1. Faster Checkout Speeds Mobile payments are generally faster than using cash or debit. A single tap and you’re good to go! While this may seem small, the long-term benefits can be enormous. If, for example, you are a business that handles a lot of customers in a short amount of time, this increased checkout speed can ensure more of your customers are in and out of your door in no time. Coffee shops are a great example of this as they serve large quantities of young adults every day! No more counting change or finding the right card... simply have your customer pull out their phone and tap away! Simple, fast, and convenient! 2. Convenience It’s not secret mobile payments are far more convenient than traditional forms of payment. In fact, this is one of the main reasons why younger customers are more likely to use them. By offering mobile payments, you can easily stand out amongst the competition simply because you are offering a more convenient experience.... --- - Categories: Company, Technology So you’re working hard throughout the day with uninterrupted productivity, when all of a sudden your entire office experiences a blackout. Is your place of business prepared for the unexpected? So you’re working hard throughout the day with uninterrupted productivity, when all of a sudden your entire office experiences a blackout. Is your place of business prepared for the unexpected? Here’s a couple of tips on how you can better prepare your business from catastrophe, and to ensure productivity does not take a massive hit. 1. Disaster Recovery Plans Every business should have a disaster recovery plan implemented into their core procedures. In the event of an outage that may cause downtime, a DRP is your best bet to recover critical information and restore productivity. Before coming up with a DRP, be sure to identify the most important elements of your business. These should be the processes that are imperative to your company’s continued operation. It’s also good practice to find alternatives to these processes and a measurement for how long your business can operate without them. The more information you have regarding the inner workings of your business, the better. Your DRP will successfully prioritize the most important aspects of your business to get you back on your feet quicker. 2. Make Sure Your Team Knows What to Do What better way to get through a crisis than with a good, well organized team? Something you should consider for you business is training your employees to follow procedures that ensure productivity does not decline when an outage occurs. For example, if work can continue using pen and paper for the time being, then do so before transferring it electronically.... --- - Categories: Company, Technology The higher risk your business is, the higher your credit card processing fees will be. Essentially, the more prone you are to fraud and fraud attempts will determine how much you will be paying. 1. Leverage and Negotiate While you can’t avoid credit card fees, you can contact payment processors and negotiate better rates. In order to improve your chances, you need to be seen as a merchant that adds value so that the vendor will want your business. Having higher transaction volume can give you the leverage you need during such negotiations. Generally speaking, the relationship between merchant and vendor is a two-way street. As long as you are able to provide proof of your value as a merchant, the vendors can lower your rates if it is worthwhile to them. 2. Credit Card Fraud Awareness The higher risk your business is, the higher your credit card processing fees will be. Essentially, the more prone you are to fraud and fraud attempts will determine how much you will be paying. Some of the best practices to mitigate fraud risk can be to swipe as many cards as you can and have security information entered during each transaction. Address verification services are another step forward in reducing credit card fraud. This system is commonly seen all over online storefronts. When a customer is about to purchase a product from your store, you can have the system verify the cardholder’s billing address with the card issuer. Not only will this reduce fraud, but it will also limit chargebacks against your business. 3. Set Up Accounts and Terminals Properly Small mistakes can snowball into larger and larger fees. Therefore, properly setting up your account from the... --- - Categories: Business, Company So how can you manage your waste output better and maintain a cost-effective waste management strategy in your office? Office waste can be expensive to manage, especially when you take into consideration the amount of waste that is produced from a single day of work. Printing, food packaging, broken equipment, and more... there’s just so much waste coming out of a place of business in a single day! So how can you manage your waste output better and maintain a cost-effective waste management strategy in your office? Paper, Ink, and Recycling... Oh My! How many sheets of paper are used daily in your office? Probably too much to count! Improving paper usage is something every business can achieve simply by utilizing the wonders of modern technology! By adopting services such as Google Docs, One Drive, Drop Box, and more, your colleagues can collaborate and share documents without having to waste paper and ink. If you absolutely need documents to be printed and passed around, adopt black-and-white printing methods to ensure ink is used sparingly. Investing in a laser printer could also help save on ink expenses if you need to print multiple times a day! Another good practice is to ensure recycling bins are always within easy access in the office. Setting them up in common areas, next to printers, or even in individual offices will ensure a culture of recycling will be maintained in the workplace. Stay Food Savvy Food waste can be a major contributor to office waste output. Packing a lunch in reusable containers can mitigate the use of paper plates, clamshells, bags, and more. A... --- - Categories: Business, Company The average electricity bill in Calgary is going up. Over the past few months, you may have noticed that electricity rates have risen when compared to several years ago. The average electricity bill in Calgary is going up. Over the past few months, you may have noticed that electricity rates have risen when compared to several years ago. Kilowatt-hour costs are going to have a major impact on your business, so what should you do to ensure that this unexpected cost doesn’t turn into a major shock? Look Into Fixed Rates Since 2019, the Albertan government removed the electricity price cap from 2017. This caused the bills of many consumers to spike dramatically throughout 2019. This continues to be an ongoing trend in 2021, especially during sweltering heatwaves or bitter polar vortexes. Despite efforts to stabilize Alberta energy prices, these natural occurrences are one of the many reasons why it’s difficult to predict what electricity bills will look like in the coming months. When prices become unpredictable, consumers should look towards fixed rates with their energy providers. This will, at the very least, provide some stability and consistency with your electricity bills. You will always know what to expect when your monthly bill comes in even when the unexpected hits. Insure Your Costs Think of fixed rates as a form of insurance for the future. Though you may pay a slightly higher rate compared to a variable plan, you will always have the peace of mind that nothing unexpected will disrupt your business’s expenses. Fixed rates will be your best friend when it comes to stability. We've Got Your Back Our 100% risk-free audit can help you find out... --- - Categories: Company, Technology It is 2021. Landline phones are slowly, but surely, being replaced by new voice systems across the world. As a business, you are more than likely to still use landline phones. It is 2021. Landline phones are slowly, but surely, being replaced by new voice systems across the world. As a business, you are more than likely to still use landline phones. Your clients are likely to also pressure you to change to some of the numerous options out there, such as VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) phone systems, especially during the wake of the COVID-19 Pandemic. But would this be a change that you would want to do? To go beyond your comfort zone and immerse yourself in a new, technologically connected world? VoIP Benefits: By changing from landline to a VoIP phone system, you could potentially save on your costs. VoIP phone systems make calls using the internet; therefore, you would only have to pay for internet services, hardware, and software. Cutting out telephone services would cut your costs down effectively and would make long distance or international calls far cheaper. The COVID-19 Pandemic has made remote work a common practice among businesses. VoIP phone systems would be far easier to set-up compared to a landline. Why buy a whole landline system for your employee when all they need is an internet connection? You could also install an app on their mobile devices to keep them connected at low cost! Another major benefit to consider is the efficiency of using VoIP for international clients and support related roles. E-Commerce businesses rely on this technology to ensure customers can make purchases as well as assisting them in anything they may... --- --- ## Team - Team Categories: managers Managing Partner Contact 1 (403) 226-0615 info@watchdogms. com Linkedin --- - Team Categories: managers Managing Partner Contact 1 (403) 226-0615 info@watchdogms. com Linkedin --- - Team Categories: managers Chief Financial Officer Contact 1 (403) 226-0615 info@watchdogms. com --- - Team Categories: managers Controller Contact 1 (403) 226-0615 info@watchdogms. com --- - Team Categories: managers Director, Information Technology Contact 1 (403) 226-0615 info@watchdogms. com Linkedin --- - Team Categories: managers Director, Utility Services Contact 1 (403) 226-0615 info@watchdogms. com Linkedin --- - Team Categories: managers Sales Contact 1 (403) 226-0615 info@watchdogms. com Linkedin --- - Team Categories: managers Account Executive Contact 1 (403) 226-0615 info@watchdogms. com Linkedin --- - Team Categories: staff Our Dedicated Team of Professionals Contact 1 (403) 226-0615 info@watchdogms. com Linkedin --- ---