How integrating business processes creates time for growth
Greg Rynenberg has been building businesses for over 40 years but remains as passionate today as when he launched his first business at age 27. Dynamic Business sat down with Mr Rynenberg to discuss how his latest venture, Flexigrow, can help SMEs thrive despite the challenges that lie ahead. Australian SMEs are doing it tough, and the difficult times are set to continue, with the RBA predicting that economic growth will slow considerably over the second half of the calendar year 2023. Never has working smarter, converting every prospect into a sale, and closely monitoring cash flow been more critical to business survival. Mr Rynenberg’s mission is to help entrepreneurs better control and monitor their business drivers to become more profitable. The Flexigrow Business Management platform has been designed to improve efficiency so owners can focus on growth. It reduces entrepreneurs’ daily frustrations and keeps them in touch with how the business is performing. Understanding the pain points An insurance broking business is at the core of Greg Rynenberg’s business portfolio, and the brokerage also provided the genesis for Flexigrow. “As well as loving to help people protect their assets, I love to help businesses grow,” he explained. “Insurance brokers visit a lot of clients and talk to a lot of business people, and I hear all the frustrations they experience running their business. “Most entrepreneurs know what they want to do: they want to be a great electrician, they want to be a great plumber, they want to be a great management consultant. What frustrates them the most is putting all the administration pieces of the business together to make it run efficiently. You have to learn those things: I had to learn them.” An important part of Mr Rynenberg’s learning curve occurred when he launched a finance company 35 years ago, a time when business computing was still in its infancy. “Look, I’m a guy who likes to make things simple and run efficiently, and I quickly realised that computers were the thing that would make that happen,” he explained. “I looked for software for my finance company, and there was none. So, being me, I decided to engage a software business to build bespoke software. That software became the leading software for what we call premium finance throughout Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and Canada. It’s the number one software used by many of the leading premium/Fee funders today. Integration is key to productivity Having developed a taste for software development, Mr Rynenberg built and refined bespoke software solutions that could improve the performance of his business units. “The trouble with business is you have all these different programs surrounding you, but unless you’ve got a bit of knowledge, it is very difficult to integrate them. I soon learned that if my systems could seamlessly talk to each other, I could save money and time and make things run more efficiently.” “Throughout the years, Mr Rynenberg dedicated his efforts to crafting an array of software products capable of seamlessly integrating numerous business functions. “What set me apart when creating our business management tool was my first-hand experience running a business,” he explained. “This innate understanding of their inner workings enabled me to grasp how each component interconnects. And that’s the genesis of Flexigrow — it emerged from those modest origins.” Making the numbers meaningful Mr Rynenberg observed that while accounting packages are critical to your business, they are not business management tools and don’t always provide all the information business owners require to keep their fingers on the pulse. And monitoring performance is critical at present. The July 2023 CreditorWatch Business Risk Index showed the average value of invoices for Australian businesses has dropped 28 per cent over the past 12 months. B2B trade payment defaults continue to trend upward, with an 86 per cent year-on-year increase. In short, companies are writing less business, and non-payments are rising. This is where Flexigrow Business Management comes in, providing a solution designed to transform your business operations. It is an intuitive and scalable subscriber-based platform that seamlessly integrates various essential business functions, including Quoting, Appointment Scheduling, Invoicing, a Pay Now feature, and Inventory Management. “The platform provides flexibility from any corner of the world, whether you’re a tradesperson on the move or a business on the rise,” Mr Rynenberg continued. “Its versatility extends to mid-sized companies, particularly those with invoicing requirements and a demand for smooth payment experiences. “Flexigrow facilitates swift quote approvals, deposit payments, and invoice settlements through a single link. The integrated digital payment capabilities provide the seamless transactions that customers demand.” Mr. Rynenberg underlined the importance of effortless payments in maintaining healthy cash flow, a sentiment echoed by delighted business owners who’ve embraced the “Pay Now” button. Beyond financial management, Flexigrow tracks invoices, issues reminders, and manages client and inventory databases and schedules. Mr Rynenberg said that the upcoming release of a mobile application to capture expense data is just a glimpse of what’s to come. Anticipate the integration of marketing and debt collection tools as Flexigrow continuously expands its capabilities. Mr. Rynenberg concluded: “Our message to clients is clear: This is your software. Our mission is to refine it for your business’s growth. Every innovation will be tailored to fuel your success.” Business expansion tips We asked Mr Rynenberg to share his business insights with our readers. Adopt a customer-centric approach Understand your target audience’s needs, pain points, and preferences. Gathering feedback and actively listening to your customers’ needs helps you tailor your products or services accordingly. A customer-centric approach will improve customer satisfaction, loyalty and word-of-mouth referrals. Strategic marketing Having a well-rounded marketing strategy that combines online and offline efforts is paramount. Look at content marketing, social media engagement, search engine optimisation (SEO), and paid advertising. Tracking your actions and customer reactions provides greater insight. Effective sales techniques Develop a process that includes consultative selling, relationship building, and problem-solving by putting yourself in your customers’ shoes. This helps you understand the buyer journey so
Flexigrow launches Business Management software
Premium funding software firm Flexigrow has added Business Management to its product suite, a solution that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to automate tasks and increase efficiency. CEO Greg Rynenberg says he saw the benefits of automated payments and “decided to take it further” by opening up his business’ AI tools to help others. Mr. Rynenberg is also the CEO at East West Insurance Brokers and ShieldCover, and a director at Steadfast. Business Management generates invoices and facilitates payment plans Flexigrow’s Business Management app offers features that streamline the accounting process, making it much more efficient compared to traditional methods. It allows users to create and add inventory items, access client databases, and even log expenses by scanning receipts, uploading them directly to the accounting systems. All that while on the move. Flexigrow says brokers can benefit by advising clients to adopt the new software to streamline operations, lower costs, and improve customer retention. “By offering Flexigrow’s Business Management solution to your clients, you’re not only providing them with indispensable tools for business growth, but you’re also poised to benefit from their success.” “When the client’s company grows, their assets increase. The client will then have a higher insurance premium, resulting in higher income for the broker,” it says. “As your clients’ businesses flourish, so does the value of your services, creating a mutually beneficial relationship that fosters growth for all parties involved.” Flexigrow offers a wide range of solutions for project management, financial tracking, and data-driven decision-making. Grow your business with an AI integrated platform Flexigrow’s entire suite of AI tools and services are designed to making managing your business efficient and accurate. Learn more about it by clicking here. You can also request a demo to get a better understanding on how their business tools can aid you in moving forward.