A Guide to Streamlining Interior Design Time Tracking
If you’re a small business owner running an interior design firm or project coordinator in charge of any major interior design project, you know the importance of tracking time and expenses diligently. With so many moving parts, from finding the perfect fabric swatch to creating the perfect room to meeting with clients and making sure everything is ordered correctly, it can be hard to keep your team on task and make sure all time is accounted for. That’s why it’s essential to have a streamlined process for tracking time on an interior design project—let’s explore how that works!
1. Set Clear Expectations From The Start
At the beginning of any interior design project, it's important to set clear expectations around what needs to get done and who needs to do it. Doing this will help ensure that everyone knows exactly what they need to do and how long it should take them, giving them a sense of ownership over their projects. Additionally, setting these expectations during the planning phase can help eliminate any confusion later on when it comes time for tracking time. Keeping this consistent in every project helps your team know what to do. Remember, it can always change and be optimized. We encourage you to reflect on what is working and what’s not every 3 months.
2. Use Technology To Your Advantage
Thanks to modern technology, like Materio, there are now tools available that can help streamline the process of tracking time on an interior design project. From mobile applications that allow users to quickly log hours worked from anywhere at any time, to sophisticated software solutions specifically designed for managing large-scale projects, having access to these kinds of tools can make tracking time significantly easier. If you’ve not tried Harvest or other time-tracking applications and want something all in one, try Materio’s text-a-day timesheet. Each day you receive a text and all of your Materio projects are available for category-level tracking.
3. Invest In Training For Your Team
No matter how good your technology is or how clear your expectations are from the start, if you don't invest in training your team on how to use those tools properly they won't be able to effectively track their own time or anyone else's. That's why investing in regular training sessions for your team is essential - not only will this ensure that everyone knows how use all relevant technology without issue, but it will also allow you as a manager or business owner peace of mind knowing that everyone understands exactly what they need to do and when they need be doing it by.
Materio takes little to no training and makes learning a new system easy. You can explore our help center or video library for free and quick resources.
Time tracking doesn't have to be difficult - with proper planning, modern technology solutions, and thorough training sessions for your team, you'll be well on your way toward creating a streamlined system for tracking time that works best for both your team and your business alike. With the careful effort put into establishing a reliable system from the start, every member of an interior design firm or project team can confidently move forward with their work knowing that everything is accounted for along the way!
