The Ultimate Guide to BAU apps

What this guide covers: The Business as Usual (BAU) experts behind Maextro have compiled the complete business guide to BAU apps. This guide covers what it is, how it works, where to start and much more.

What does Business as Usual mean?

“Business as usual” refers to the standard and routine way a company operates, without significant changes or disruptions, maintaining stability and continuity in its day-to-day activities.

What are BAU Apps?

BAU apps refer to software applications used to support and streamline routine, day-to-day operations within a company. These applications are designed to facilitate standard processes, tasks, and workflows, ensuring smooth and efficient functioning in the business-as-usual scenario. Examples include email clients, productivity tools, customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and accounting software.

What are BAU apps used for?

Business-as-usual applications are used to support and manage routine, daily operations within a company or organisation. They serve various purposes, including:

• Communication: Apps like email clients and messaging platforms enable seamless communication among employees, teams, and external stakeholders.
• Productivity: BAU apps enhance efficiency and organisation by offering tools for task management, collaboration, and document sharing.
• Customer Management: CRM systems help businesses maintain and analyse customer data, track interactions, and manage relationships.
• Financial Management: Accounting software and financial tools assist in handling financial transactions, budgeting, and reporting.
• Human Resources: Apps for payroll, employee management, and performance tracking aid HR departments in managing staff.
• Data Analysis: Business intelligence tools and data analytics apps provide insights for decision-making.

Overall, they play a critical role in ensuring smooth and effective operations, allowing businesses to focus on their core activities and achieve their goals.

Why are BAU Apps important?

Business as usual is important for an intelligent enterprise for several reasons:

• Stability and Continuity: Business as usual ensures that essential day-to-day operations continue without disruptions. This stability allows the organisation to maintain its core functions and services efficiently.
• Data Foundation: An intelligent enterprise relies on data-driven decision-making. BAU processes generate a constant flow of data, providing a reliable foundation for analysis, insights, and predictive modelling.
• Benchmark for Performance: Understanding and optimising business-as-usual processes allows the organisation to set benchmarks for performance. This baseline enables the enterprise to measure the impact of changes and improvements accurately.
• Integration with Innovation: BAU operations provide a solid framework for integrating innovative technologies and strategies. It allows the intelligent enterprise to experiment and implement new solutions while minimising risks.
• Focus on Transformation: By efficiently managing BAU processes, an intelligent enterprise can free up resources, time, and personnel to focus on strategic transformation initiatives, such as digitalisation, automation, and process improvements.
• Adaptation to Changing Conditions: While an intelligent enterprise seeks continuous improvement, having well-established BAU practices ensures the organisation can effectively adapt to changing market conditions, customer needs, and regulatory requirements.
• Customer Experience: Consistency in BAU processes contributes to a consistent and reliable customer experience. Satisfied customers are more likely to engage with the enterprise’s innovative offerings and stay loyal to the brand.

In conclusion, Business as usual serves as a strong foundation for an intelligent enterprise, enabling stability, data-driven decision-making, and the capacity to adapt to change and focus on transformative strategies. It harmonises the organisation’s current operations with its future ambitions, fostering a successful and sustainable business ecosystem.

What are the benefits of Business-as-usual apps?

The benefits of Business as usual (BAU) apps, which support routine operations within a company, include:

Efficiency: Streamline processes, automate tasks, and facilitate collaboration, leading to increased efficiency and productivity among employees.

Consistency: These apps help maintain consistent and standardised workflows, ensuring that tasks are executed uniformly across the organisation.

Data Accuracy: BAU apps collect and store data in a structured manner, reducing the likelihood of errors and improving the accuracy of information.

Time and Cost Savings: By automating repetitive tasks, BAU apps save time for employees, allowing them to focus on more strategic activities. This can also lead to cost savings in the long run.

Improved Communication: Apps for communication and collaboration foster better interaction among team members, promoting knowledge sharing and enhancing decision-making processes.

Enhanced Customer Service: CRM and customer support apps improve customer interactions, enabling personalised service and better issue resolution.

Data Insights: BAU apps generate data that can be analysed to gain insights into business performance, customer behaviour, and operational trends.

Adaptability: Many BAU apps can be easily integrated with other tools and systems, allowing the organisation to adapt and scale as needed.

Compliance and Security: Apps designed to meet industry standards and regulations ensure that sensitive data is protected and compliance requirements are met.

Employee Satisfaction: Efficient and user-friendly BAU applications contribute to a positive work environment and can enhance employee satisfaction and engagement.

Overall, Business-as-usual apps are valuable assets for organisations, driving operational excellence, fostering collaboration, and supporting data-driven decision-making. They play a crucial role in keeping businesses competitive, agile, and focused on their core objectives.

What are the Challenges of business-as-usual apps?

While Business-as-usual (BAU) apps offer numerous benefits, they also come with certain challenges that organisations may face:

• Integration Complexity: BAU apps may need to integrate with existing systems and databases, which can be complex and time-consuming, especially if different apps use incompatible data formats.
• Vendor Lock-in: Organisations may become dependent on specific BAU app vendors, leading to potential challenges in switching to alternative solutions if needed.
• Maintenance and Updates: Regular maintenance and updates are necessary to keep BAU apps running smoothly and secure, requiring dedicated resources and attention.
• Data Security and Privacy: Handling sensitive data within BAU apps raises concerns about data security, privacy, and compliance with relevant regulations.
• Training and Adoption: Employees may require training to effectively use BAU apps, and some may resist adopting new tools, which could hinder their full potential.
• Costs: While BAU apps can lead to cost savings in the long run, the initial implementation and licensing costs can be a significant investment.
• Customisation Limitations: Off-the-shelf BAU apps may not perfectly align with an organisation’s unique processes, potentially requiring additional customisation.
• Compatibility Issues: In some cases, BAU apps may not be compatible with all devices or operating systems used within the organisation, leading to accessibility challenges.
• Performance Bottlenecks: Poorly designed or inefficiently implemented BAU apps may lead to performance bottlenecks or slow down critical business processes.
• Dependency on Internet Connectivity: Many BAU apps rely on internet connectivity, which could become a problem in areas with unreliable or limited internet access.
• Lack of Flexibility: Some BAU apps may not easily accommodate changes in business processes or evolving requirements, making it challenging to adapt to dynamic environments.
• Vendor Reliability: Relying on third-party vendors for BAU apps means organisations must trust their reliability, support, and ability to provide timely updates and enhancements.

To overcome these challenges, organisations should carefully evaluate their needs, choose reputable vendors, ensure proper security measures, and invest in adequate training and ongoing support for employees using these apps. Regular assessments of the apps’ effectiveness and user feedback can also help identify areas for improvement.

What are the use cases for Business as usual apps?

Business as usual (BAU) apps find a wide range of use cases across various industries and business functions. Some common use cases include:

• Communication and Collaboration: BAU apps like email clients, messaging platforms, and project management tools facilitate seamless communication and collaboration among employees and teams.
• Productivity and Task Management: Apps for task organisation, time tracking, and workflow management help improve productivity and ensure efficient task execution.
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM): CRM apps assist in managing customer interactions, sales leads, and marketing campaigns to enhance customer relationships.
• Accounting and Financial Management: BAU apps for accounting, invoicing, and expense tracking support financial operations and ensure accurate financial records.
• Human Resources (HR) Management: HR apps aid in recruitment, employee onboarding, payroll processing, and performance management.
• Document Management: Apps for document storage, version control, and collaboration simplify document handling and promote efficient knowledge sharing.
• Customer Support and Helpdesk: BAU apps for customer support ticketing and issue resolution enable effective customer service.
• Inventory and Supply Chain Management: Apps for inventory tracking, order processing, and supply chain optimisation assist in managing stock levels and ensuring timely deliveries.
• Sales and Marketing Automation: Automation apps can help streamline sales processes, lead nurturing, and marketing campaigns.
• Data Analytics and Business Intelligence: BAU apps for data analysis and reporting provide insights to support data-driven decision-making.
• Employee Training and Learning Management: Apps for training content delivery and tracking employee progress help in continuous learning and development.
• IT Service Management (ITSM): ITSM apps support IT departments in managing incidents, service requests, and IT assets.

These are just a few examples of how Business-as-usual apps can be used. The specific use cases will vary depending on the industry, size of the organisation, and its unique requirements. Implementing the right combination of BAU apps tailored to the organisation’s needs can significantly enhance efficiency, productivity, and overall performance.

Are BAU apps Low code?

Yes, many Business-as-usual (BAU) apps are developed using low-code or no-code platforms. Low-code development involves using visual interfaces and pre-built components to create applications quickly and with minimal hand-coding. This approach allows organisations to develop and customise apps without the need for extensive coding knowledge or expertise.

Low-code BAU apps offer several advantages:

• Faster Development: Low-code platforms expedite app development, enabling businesses to create and deploy BAU apps more rapidly.
• Reduced Costs: With less custom coding, development and maintenance costs are often lower, making low-code BAU apps cost-effective solutions.
• Ease of Customisation: Low-code platforms allow for easy customisation, enabling organisations to tailor BAU apps to their specific needs.
• Agility: Low-code BAU apps can be quickly modified and adapted to changing business requirements, enhancing agility.
• User-Friendly: Low-code interfaces are typically user-friendly, making it easier for non-technical users to design, build, and manage apps.

The latest trends in Business as usual

• Remote Work and Digital Transformation: The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote work and digital transformation, leading to an increased reliance on BAU apps for seamless communication, collaboration, and process management in virtual environments.
• Hybrid Work Models: Organisations were exploring hybrid work models, combining remote and on-site work, which influenced the use of BAU apps to support flexible workflows and maintain productivity.
• Automation and AI: BAU apps were integrating automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline processes, automate routine tasks, and provide data-driven insights for better decision-making.
• Data Privacy and Security: With heightened concerns about data privacy and cybersecurity, BAU apps were being designed with robust security features to protect sensitive information and ensure compliance with regulations.
• Cloud Integration: BAU apps were increasingly migrating to cloud-based platforms, offering scalability, accessibility, and centralised data storage.
• User Experience (UX) Focus: Organisations were prioritising user-centric design in BAU apps to enhance usability, improve employee satisfaction, and increase overall efficiency.
• Mobile Accessibility: BAU apps were being optimised for mobile devices, enabling employees to access and manage tasks on the go.
• Sustainability and Environmental Impact: Some organisations were integrating them to track and manage sustainability initiatives, aligning with growing environmental awareness.

Business as usual Best Practices

Implementing effective Business-as-usual (BAU) practices is essential for maintaining smooth operations and optimising organisational performance. Here are some best practices to consider:

• Process Standardisation: Establish standardised processes and workflows to ensure consistency and efficiency in daily operations.
• Clear Documentation: Document BAU processes, procedures, and guidelines comprehensively to provide a clear reference for employees and minimise errors.
• Automation Opportunities: Identify tasks within BAU processes that can be automated using technology to reduce manual effort and enhance accuracy.
• Regular Review: Periodically review BAU processes to identify areas for improvement, efficiency gains, and opportunities for innovation.
• Employee Training: Provide proper training to employees on how to use BAU apps and follow established procedures effectively.
• Collaboration Tools: Implement collaboration tools and platforms to facilitate communication and teamwork among employees, regardless of their location.
• Data Analytics: Utilise data from BAU processes to gain insights into operational performance and make informed decisions for continuous improvement.
• User-Centric Design: Prioritise user experience and design intuitive interfaces for BAU apps to enhance usability and employee satisfaction.

How to choose a Business-as-usual solution?

When selecting a Business-as-usual (BAU) solution, consider factors such as compatibility with existing systems, scalability, user-friendliness, customisation options, data security, vendor reputation, and ongoing support. Define specific goals, assess if the solution aligns with your organisation’s needs, and if it can streamline processes efficiently. Evaluate its ability to integrate, offer mobile accessibility, and provide analytics insights. Prioritise solutions that encourage collaboration, offer a positive user experience, and align with your long-term strategy. Thoroughly research, seek user feedback, and conduct trials to ensure the chosen solution meets your BAU requirements effectively.

Getting started with Business as usual solutions from Maextro

Want to leverage technology for effective business processes? Begin your Business-as-Usual journey with Maextro. Reach out to the Maextro team and discuss your requirements today. Our team of BAU experts will guide you through solution customisation, tailoring it to fit your unique business processes and data model. Maextro‘s low-code, UI5 solutions will streamline your business processes, ditching the tedious for enhanced decision-making and operational efficiency.