By Marge Axelrad: Editorial Director
With its share of hardships and challenges for many, this year has also brought the opportunity for many businesses to take advantage of the opportunity to reorganize and rethink their daily processes and streamline their operations.
Fine-tuning and prioritizing have been happening to great success at one of the industry’s largest groups, HVHC, consisting of Highmark, Eye Care Centers of America, Davis Vision and Viva Int’l. Vision Monday’s exclusive interview with CEO Dave Holmberg in this issue underscores the value the company and its associates have seen in taking a proactive approach to its systems, brands, facilities and procedures and using the tough year to prepare for the ‘new’ competitive climate—how to maximize the economy’s recovery and work to be ahead of the consumer and the market even before that happens.
While the scale may be different, independent ECPs and other businesses can also take a deliberate, planned top-to-bottom analysis of each department, every expense and a clear-eyed look at where the returns are really coming through in their business, too.
They can ask: What is taking too much time or expense and not creating enough return-on-investment? What is providing, or could provide, greater real profit but isn’t getting enough attention and proper management? What investment can be made now, in systems or equipment or software or a Web site, that can pay dividends as soon as the first quarter of next year?
This is the time for intention plus action. It’s a way to wrap up the final months of a tough year and plan for a good one, just a few weeks away. ■