Should you implement a Document Operating System into your business?
A Document Operating System is a centralized hub that stores all of your business's vital details, documents, workspaces, and processes.
When a small business goes to implement their Document Operating System, the first section they build is their Master Doc Hub.
The Master Doc Hub consists of a variety of categories that are relevant to the business. Then, once the business has selected their categories, they determine what information needs to be documented within each category, and why it matters.
After the infrastructure of the Master Doc Hub has been built, the business will use information from the Master Doc Hub to create various workspaces, and dashboards. It really is a thing of beauty.
One way to determine if implementing a Doc OS into your business makes sense is to figure out what categories are relevant to you. As a starting point, here is a list of categories that are oftentimes relevant to small businesses:
1. Acquisition (you plan to sell your business in the next few years)
2. Advertising (Facebook ads, Google ads, newsletter ads, etc.)
3. Agencies (you work with agencies)
4. Blog (you utilize a blog regularly)
5. Collaborations (you collaborate with other businesses and influential people in your industry)
6. Community (you host a free or paid community)
7. CRM (you utilize a CRM system, and it's a pain in the butt to onboard and train new team members into it because you use it quite extensively)
8. Design (you work with graphic, UI, and UX designers)
9. Email (You regularly send email newsletters, and there's always an influx of customer service emails)
10. Founder / Business Owner (you are the owner of the business, and are still highly involved in the business's growth, and day to day operations)
11. Fundraising (you plan to raise capital in the next few years)
12. Social media (you regularly utilize various social media platforms for lead gen and making sales)
13. Inventory (your business relies on inventory)
14. Manufacturing (your business owns or leases a manufacturing facility)
15. Media (your business relies on photography and videography)
16. Programs (you run affiliate, ambassador, and other types of programs)
17. Real Estate (your business owns or leases real estate)
18. Sales (your business relies on a Sales team)
19. Supply chain (your business relies on supply chain management)
20. Team (you have a team of employees, freelancers, and consultants that you employ)
21. Tech Stack (your business relies on a variety of softwares to run the business)
22. Website (your business relies on a high functioning website to sell your products or services)
Your business is an ever changing, living ecosystem. Your Doc OS gives you the ability to properly document that ecosystem, and continue making clear, informed decisions as you grow and scale.
P.S. in approx. 2 weeks I’m launching a resource center + community that teaches small businesses how to implement a Document Operating System. Stay tuned.