{"id":4568,"date":"2023-05-26T09:40:33","date_gmt":"2023-05-26T09:40:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/?p=4568"},"modified":"2024-07-30T15:24:30","modified_gmt":"2024-07-30T15:24:30","slug":"agency-operations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-operations","title":{"rendered":"Agency operations: A 5-step framework for running a successful agency"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the heart of every thriving agency, there&#8217;s a well-oiled machine known as agency operations. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From resource allocation and workflows to client management and process optimization, agency operations are what, well, keeps your agency in business.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agency operations management covers a wide range of roles and responsibilities, from finding resource management software to developing effective quality control processes.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Agency life is challenging as it is, and running ops isn&#8217;t easy. But we&#8217;re here to (hopefully) enable you to improve agency operations while putting your team first and improving your bottom line.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">In this article \ud83d\udcd6<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-operations\/#What-are-agency-operations\" >What are agency operations?\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-operations\/#Whats-agency-operations-management\" >What\u2019s agency operations management?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-operations\/#Agency-operations-Your-5-step-framework\" >Agency operations: Your 5-step framework<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-operations\/#The-future-of-agency-operations-Better-brand-experiences-and-AI-adoption\" >The future of agency operations: Better brand experiences and AI adoption<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-operations\/#5-pitfalls-to-avoid-in-agency-operations\" >5 pitfalls to avoid in agency operations\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agencies\/agency-operations\/#Prepare-for-the-future-of-agency-operations\" >Prepare for the future of agency operations<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What-are-agency-operations\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are agency operations?\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Agency operations refer to the day-to-day activities and processes involved in running an agency.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> It encompasses various functional areas, such as administration, finance, human resources, project management, client services, and marketing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agency operations involve <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agency-resource-planning-management-guide\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">managing resources<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-team-roles-and-responsibilities\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">coordinating project teams<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, delivering services or products to clients, and ensuring the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the business. These activities are essential for achieving the agency&#8217;s goals and meeting client expectations.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Whats-agency-operations-management\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What\u2019s agency operations management?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though operations management is vital in all business, agency operations management is particularly crucial because agencies rely heavily on:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-monitoring-and-control\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Managing diverse projects<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/team-management-101\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coordinating creative teams<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-scheduling-101\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meeting client expectations within specific timelines and budgets<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The truth is that agency work is so intricate, variable, and expansive that you <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">need<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> foolproof processes and operations to pave the way toward employee happiness and client satisfaction. Without it, you can kiss <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/ad-agency-work-life-balance\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">work-life balance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> goodbye.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What does an agency operations manager do?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The person in charge of agency operations management is usually the operations manager or Chief Operating Officer (COO). The title and specific responsibilities will vary depending on the size and structure of the agency and the role is usually designed by the person in question together with the CEO.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typically, they\u2019re responsible for overseeing and managing the operational aspects of an advertising agency. That includes the following areas:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Workflow management<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agency-resource-planning-management-guide\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Resource planning and management<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/how-to-create-the-ultimate-project-budget-template-free-excel-template\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Budgeting<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Process improvement across <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-life-cycle\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">project life cycles<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/remote-project-management-tech-stack\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technology management<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (including <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/teamwork-alternatives\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">agency operations management software<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vendor relationships<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-manager-performance-metrics\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Performance tracking<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As part of all that, they facilitate <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-collaboration\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">team collaboration<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to ensure efficient operations and successful project delivery.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They act as a key link between account managers, project managers, finance, HR, and leadership. Because it\u2019s such an integral role, it requires an extremely strategic mindset, excellent communication, and analytical skills.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How is agency operations management different from project management?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agency operations management and project management are different, but interconnected disciplines.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Agency operations management <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">encompasses the broader operations and functions of the agency beyond individual projects. It\u2019s an ongoing and continuous function that operates beyond the lifespan of individual projects. It is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the agency and ensuring smooth operations on a long-term basis.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Project management <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">focuses on the planning, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-execution\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">execution<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and delivery of individual projects within the agency. It involves defining the project scope, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/free-project-plan-template-for-excel\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">creating project plans<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, coordinating tasks and resources, managing timelines, and ensuring <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/drive-project-success\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">project success<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It\u2019s temporary and time-bound.<\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #fcf2fe; padding: 30px 40px; margin-top: 40px;\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Resource Guru is a resource management tool that can help operations managers easily understand resource capacity and utilization so they can do strategic resource planning, long-term.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re experiencing any of these challenges with your agency, <a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/industries\/agencies\/marketing\">Resource Guru\u2019s agency software<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can help.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Agency-operations-Your-5-step-framework\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agency operations: Your 5-step framework<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-4593 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/agency-operations-framework-943x645.png\" alt=\"agency operations framework including five categories of people, processes, technology, planning, and profit\" width=\"943\" height=\"645\" srcset=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/agency-operations-framework-943x645.png.webp 943w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/agency-operations-framework-1039x711.png.webp 1039w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/agency-operations-framework-1536x1051.png 1536w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/agency-operations-framework.png 1912w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/agency-operations-framework-943x645@2x.png.webp 1886w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 943px) 100vw, 943px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An agency operations framework defines the actionable steps needed to execute your business plan in the most efficient way possible. And with so many touchpoints where you could lose efficiency, we\u2019ve created a framework that helps you make the right decisions across the business.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This framework splits agency operations management into six core categories:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Processes<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technology<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Planning<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Profit<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s take a look at why each is so important and what it means for your business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Prioritize your people<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your people are the lifeblood of agency operations, so it\u2019s in your best interest to use them wisely\u2014and treat them well. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agency-burnout\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agency burnout<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a real issue and staff turnover is not just disruptive, it\u2019s expensive, time-consuming, and morale-sapping. A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commonwealthretirement.com\/reduce-employee-turnover\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2022 Gusto study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> shared that finding a replacement can cost between half and double an employee\u2019s salary.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Minimize turnover to maximize output<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Create a results-focused and flexible work environment for your team, without <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/remote-team-project-management\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">micromanaging<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. In practice, this starts with providing a clear direction and realistic goals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You may question whether putting this time and effort into staff retention has an impact, but a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/dmexco.com\/stories\/agencies-in-2023-crazy-times-lie-ahead\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2022 DMEXCO survey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> shared that <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c29% of respondents said that it is taking an average of three to six months to fill an advertised vacancy. Seven percent are needing more than half a year, and six percent of companies can no longer fill vacant positions at all.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So be aware, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/employee-turnover\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">employee turnover may be quietly killing your business<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Pre-empt your human resource capacity\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Put simply, this means having the right people available, to work on the right projects at the right time. If sales have just bagged a huge new client, then creative or marketing is going to need the right talent skilled up and ready to work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get ahead of recruitment by:<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintaining a vetted and varied freelance pool of support\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keeping in contact with previous candidates (you almost hired)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having recruitment incentive schemes for current employees<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Staying on top of employer branding activities<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Want to try resource capacity planning but not ready to commit to a software subscription? We\u2019ve got you covered. Try our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/factors-affecting-resource-capacity-planning\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">free resource capacity planning template<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to see how much of a difference the right tools could make to your agency.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Realistic resource capacity planning<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019ve secured the people you need comes the tricky task of mapping their skills and experience to the right projects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Set your staff up for success by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/factors-affecting-resource-capacity-planning\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">staying ahead of resource capacity planning<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and giving them a steady flow of realistic and rewarding projects to work on. Having the right <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/industries\/agencies\/marketing\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">agency operations management software<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in place for visibility on what people are working on is a great place to start.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A good rule of thumb for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/resource-capacity-planning-guide\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">resource capacity planning<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is to have your staff planned for 80% capacity, leaving 20% free for the inevitable issues that crop up. Our automated capacity warnings will let you know if assigning a task will put your resource above 80% utilization.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learn more about how agency operations software can help <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/how-to-schedule-employees-effectively\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">schedule your employees effectively.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"adblock adblock--bright09\">\n<div class=\"adblock__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2210\" src=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/bbh.png\" alt=\"BBH\" width=\"562\" height=\"576\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2203\" src=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/alex-matthews.png\" alt=\"Alex Matthews\" width=\"528\" height=\"576\" \/><\/div>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;Resource Guru has the perfect balance of simplicity and detail. It\u2019s easy to see where issues might arise.&#8221;<\/p>\n<footer><strong>Alex Matthews<br \/>\n<\/strong>Head of Creative Technology<\/footer>\n<p><svg class=\"curve__right\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 42 236\">\n<path d=\"M42,0H0C20.4,38,31.14,77.5,31.14,118S20.4,198,0,236H42Z\" style=\"fill:#40264d;fill-rule:evenodd\"\/><\/svg><br \/>\n<svg class=\"curve__bottom\" preserveAspectRatio=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 236 42\">\n<path d=\"M236,42V0c-38,20.4-77.5,31.14-118,31.14S38,20.4,0,0V42Z\" style=\"fill:#40264d;fill-rule:evenodd\"\/><\/svg>\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"adblock__link\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/resourceguru_2019\/images\/resource-guru-vertical.svg\" \/><br \/>\n<a id=\"customtestimonial\" class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\">Try It Free<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h4><strong>Create a collaborative culture<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creating <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-collaboration\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a culture of collaboration<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> stops teams from making costly mistakes. Not only does it benefit from diversity in expertise, but it also fuels creativity and more engaged stakeholders. The result? Better project outcomes and happier clients.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your departments may have communicated organically in the past, but good agency operations should facilitate, incentivize and, at times, formalize this process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/briansolis\/2022\/02\/09\/from-the-great-resignation-to-the-great-digital-skills-divide-the-rise-of-empathetic-leaders-in-a-digital-first-world\/?sh=3077f7206d77\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2022 Forbes study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 6 in 10 respondents ranked collaboration skills among the most important skills needed by businesses today, yet only 25% rated themselves \u201cadvanced\u201d in collaboration technology skills.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Establish scalable processes<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When things are running smoothly it can be tempting to skip process maintenance and let things take care of themselves. But this approach will only slow you down in the long run.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Processes exist to create replicable, scalable, and robust ways of doing things that save time and increase client satisfaction.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You want to develop processes built with scalability in mind from <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">day one<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. So where does it start? You need to align your processes with business goals.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Create an operations statement\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An operations statement is a document that outlines the specific actions, strategies, and processes required to achieve the operational objectives of your agency. It provides a detailed roadmap for how day-to-day activities will be carried out to support the overall business goals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>This document should evolve over time as you update and polish processes as needed. Plus, if the business goals or strategy change (for example, there&#8217;s an M&amp;A), the impact on operations would be significant.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>Automate as much as possible<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The problem with processes is they can be repetitive and tedious. The solution? Automation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From resource planning and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/monday-alternatives\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">project management tools<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to best-in-class<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/best-leave-management-software\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> leave-tracking software<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, why waste precious employee time on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/billable-non-billable-time\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">tasks that aren\u2019t billable<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">? Ask your team for their favorite agency operations software they\u2019ve used in the past to get a list of things to consider or take a look at our list of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/agency-resource-planning-management-guide#What-to-look-for-in-an-agency-resource-planning-and-management-tool\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">what to look for in an agency resource management tool<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Choose scalable agency operations software<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to your tech stack, you want to be set up for growth from day one. Because when an agency needs to scale, it often needs to scale quickly. Relying on outdated tech and plastering over the cracks with manual spreadsheets, will eat into important time (read: billable hours) spent on client projects.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bcg.com\/publications\/2022\/keys-to-scaling-digital-ability-and-value\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2022 BCG study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found that those who identified as digital leaders not only brought twice as many digital solutions to scale, but had three times higher revenue growth and cost savings compared to laggards.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Futureproof your tech stack by asking yourself what would be the best software choice for the company in:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Six months?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One year?<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Five years?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before making any key agency operations software decisions you also want to ask yourself this: How much work would it take and how much would it cost to migrate to a different tool at a later date?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remember, agency operations are about long-term thinking, not quick short-term wins.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"adblock adblock--bright03\">\n<div class=\"adblock__image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2214\" src=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/ogilvy.png\" alt=\"Ogilvy\" width=\"562\" height=\"576\" \/><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2206\" src=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/martin.png\" alt=\"Martin\" width=\"528\" height=\"576\" \/><\/div>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;With the Guru software we get better insights into our daily planning. Great tool &amp; easy to use.&#8221;<\/p>\n<footer><strong>Martin Verdult<br \/>\n<\/strong>Head of Operations<\/footer>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"adblock__link\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/resourceguru_2019\/images\/resource-guru-vertical.svg\" \/><br \/>\n<a id=\"customtestimonial\" class=\"button\" href=\"https:\/\/app.resourceguruapp.com\/signup\">Try It Free<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Plan for better projects\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019ve automated and optimized as much of your day-to-day as possible, then you\u2019ve created time to plan for the future.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Turn plans into objectives<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So much of agency operations planning is about making the intangible achievable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Make sure your employees are aware of how their work fits into the big-picture vision for the agency. Giving your team tangible goals can also support employee retention and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/team-burnout\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">minimize burnout<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as they\u2019ll have a solid sense of their impact at work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Get ahead of crisis and scenario planning<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As the famous Mad Men adage goes \u201cThe day you sign a client is the day you start losing [them]\u201d. And whether it\u2019s losing your main client or a global crisis that changes the world as we know it, you need to be ready for it <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">before<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> it happens.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/bradadgate\/2022\/12\/12\/advertising-agency-executives-weigh-in-on-what-to-expect-in-2023\/?sh=7f25448b5c19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">recent Forbes interview<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Darren Lee, CEO of McCann, referenced the goodwill some brands generated during the pandemic as an example of crisis planning in practice:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cWhen crisis hits, brands can make people\u2019s lives better and the meaningful role they earn in people\u2019s lives in those difficult moments will likely continue long after crises subside&#8230; Think of the brands that traditionally have nothing to do with medical supplies or pharma stepping in during the pandemic to produce hand sanitizers or masks. The good they did and the goodwill they generated live on.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Use project controls to stay within the scope<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/scope-creep\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scope creep<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> happens when the deliverables you and the client agreed upon slowly grow far beyond the realm of the original project. It\u2019s an all too common occurrence that ends in you doing work for free, building resentment between you and the client.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That\u2019s where <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/project-monitoring-and-control\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">project controls<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> come in.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Discuss things like a project scope statement or definitions of done agreements with the client before you start working on the project.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Enable profitability (through efficiency)<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Profitability doesn\u2019t just \u201chappen.\u201d And these days, profitability is about efficiency rather than growth.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The processes agency operations create are the foundation project management sits on top of. The better the foundation, the easier it is to deliver client work on time, on budget, and improve your agency\u2019s bottom line.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/prometheanresearch.com\/2023-digital-agency-industry-report\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2023 digital agency report<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by Promethean stated competition among agencies is playing a role in the downward pressure on profit margins, meaning \u201cshops are going to have to increase their level of sophistication to compete successfully. Things like time tracking, managing utilization rates, service mix optimization, and targeted industry focuses are becoming table stakes.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So besides having the right processes and tools in place. Agencies need to think about the relationships between departments and what that means for their bottom line.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Communicate with sales<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s far too easy for sales to operate in a silo, going for projects and pitching prices that are great for onboarding clients but don\u2019t make sense operations-wise. It\u2019s up to agency operations to create a feedback loop so sales, leadership, and the rest of the company understand the end financial results.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><strong>Work closely with project teams<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p>We&#8217;ve already mentioned collaboration and resource planning plenty. But it really is the crux of the matter. Because if you don&#8217;t plan your resources well, you can&#8217;t plan the work well. And if you don&#8217;t do that, you won&#8217;t keep your clients for very long. In short, agency operations are not only good for business, but they&#8217;re also essential.<\/p>\n<h4><strong>A word of advice on price<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It can be tempting to cut costs to attain a dream client, but you\u2019ll then encounter the choice of reducing quality or going over budget. This will both harm agency operations and the bottom line in the long run.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Differentiate yourself in other ways by specializing in a particular niche or marketing your agency around certain values. Plus, if the client is looking for the cheapest deal, it\u2019s probably just the first in a long line of issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3X6lT4Q\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-6582 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-943x242.jpg\" alt=\"A rectangle shaped banner in purple featuring a 3D book cover with a prompt to download an eBook about resource planning for agencies.\" width=\"943\" height=\"242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-943x242.jpg.webp 943w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-1042x268.jpg.webp 1042w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-1536x395.jpg.webp 1536w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-310x80.jpg.webp 310w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1.jpg 1836w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-310x80@2x.jpg.webp 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 943px) 100vw, 943px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The-future-of-agency-operations-Better-brand-experiences-and-AI-adoption\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The future of agency operations: Better brand experiences and AI adoption<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Looking toward 2024 and beyond, we believe agency operations will face a series of once-in-a-lifetime challenges. The rise, and adoption, of new technologies like artificial Intelligence, augmented reality, and virtual reality will reshape agency operations as we know them.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Agencies that can adapt quickly to these challenges without losing stability or overwhelming staff will thrive. In fact, a key challenge may well be finding and retaining staff amidst an ongoing shortage of skilled professionals. You may want to think about specializing your recruitment strategy, as well as creating socially conscious and balanced working conditions to retain talent.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From digital to marketing agency operations, each type of agency will face its own set of challenges, requirements, and client expectations in the coming years. They\u2019ll need a specialized strategic approach to their agency operations to differentiate themselves from the competition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From creating better brand experiences to using AI, let\u2019s take a look at exactly what each type of agency is in for in the coming years.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advertising agency operations<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a recent <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/bradadgate\/2022\/12\/12\/advertising-agency-executives-weigh-in-on-what-to-expect-in-2023\/?sh=39adf16a5c19\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forbes piece<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Megan Jones, EVP Head of Media for Digitas, described the need for \u201cmedia-fueled creativity\u201d to \u201c[deliver] a rich brand experience in the ideal moment to the precise audience that matters.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This understanding of how to marry striking creativity with specific marketing channels and audience segmentations will be crucial to your bottom line, and something ad agency operations will need to facilitate.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creative agency operations<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/industries\/agencies\/creative\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creative agencies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will need to manage clients&#8217; perceptions of AI versus the current value of the technology. As well as consider what a flood of poorly executed AI content will do to consumer behavior.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.lbbonline.com\/news\/sara-tate-on-how-curiosity-connections-and-curation-drive-the-creative-mind\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Little Black Book<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> interview <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/saraktate\/?originalSubdomain=uk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sara Tate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, former CEO of TBWA London and MD\/strategy director at Mother London, conceptualizes this content overload as \u201cquantity over quality. People [will] struggle to choose what\u2019s the most impactful: there\u2019s still a human skill in evaluating those connections.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Creative agencies will need to work hard to prove that human discernment is not only relevant but key to results. So creative agency operations will need to facilitate processes that streamline AI adoption in workflows, whilst increasing quality control measures before you share projects with the client.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital agency operations<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Digital agencies will be in a position to adapt faster to new tech developments. They\u2019ll have more opportunities than ever to reach consumers, but changing consumer behavior means they\u2019ll need to keep their creative approach top tier as well.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A recent <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/forbesagencycouncil\/2021\/05\/04\/the-future-of-digital-marketing-agencies-in-a-post-covid-world\/?sh=7aeb44554eaa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Forbes piece<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> characterized this contradiction as the \u201cmore people become accustomed to digital platforms, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.shots.net\/news\/view\/the-state-of-advertising-in-a-post-covid-world\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the more discerning they are likely to become<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to marketing messages that don\u2019t hit the right tone.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In other words, digital marketing agency operations will have to make sure their KPIs and hygiene metrics keep an eye on conversions, not just impressions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Marketing agency operations<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New trends and technology may be shaping the future of marketing industries into something closer to the past. Nancy A Shenker, Founder &amp; CEO, <\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theonswitch.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">theONswitch<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &amp; Nunu ventures, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/forbesagencycouncil\/2021\/12\/28\/agency-2025-evolve-or-die\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">argues in Forbes <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">that agency leaders must be visionary generalists who are tech-driven, trend-conscious, and customer-centric rather than focused on their own skill set.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cBrand imperatives, the Covid-19 pandemic, and the rise of artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI and ML) will reshape our industry. Mad Men will be replaced and augmented by Mad Machines\u2026 Media integration will make a comeback, and only the truly strong and customer-centric will survive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So marketing agency operations will need to think carefully about who they hire and what they put in their tech stack to meet growing client expectations.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5-pitfalls-to-avoid-in-agency-operations\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5 pitfalls to avoid in agency operations\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The future of agency operations is going to come with its fair share of challenges. To help you tackle those, we\u2019ve identified five pitfalls to avoid in agency operations management.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Outdated processes<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Imagine this: Six months have passed since you last updated your processes. Microsoft has released another version of ChatGPT, Elon Musk has created three new Twitter features and Meta has finally released a virtual reality world that\u2019s catching on.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Will someone <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">please<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> think of the processes?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nintex.com\/blog\/benefits-of-updating-business-processes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nintex\u2019s recent research report<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/info.nintex.com\/rs\/272-JVS-996\/images\/Nintex%20AMBP%20Ebook%20Final.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">America\u2019s Most Broken Processes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found that broken processes are a huge push factor for employees leaving jobs, with 67 % of respondents stating their company\u2019s broken processes prevent them from maximizing their potential.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Neglecting talent development<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you have enough staff to keep things ticking over it\u2019s easy to neglect your talent pipeline and current staff progression. But in today&#8217;s competitive market the amount of time, and money, it takes to fill a role just isn\u2019t worth the risk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/leaders.com\/articles\/company-culture\/millennials-in-the-workplace\/#:~:text=A%20survey%20from%20Payscale%20and,them%20reach%20their%20professional%20goals.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Payscale\u2019s Generations at Work survey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found 72 % of millennials value career advancement opportunities. They want to work for organizations that offer:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weekly one-on-one meetings<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mentorship<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Regular feedback<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Career development plans<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leadership opportunities<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Lack of quality control in the age of AI\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the modern marketing world, we find ourselves at a crossroads where AI can be a helpful ally or a mischievous trickster. Agency operations management holds the key to unleashing the potential of AI while safeguarding creative quality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Deloitte\u2019s 2021 <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www2.deloitte.com\/xe\/en\/insights\/industry\/telecommunications\/connectivity-mobile-trends-survey.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Connectivity and Mobile Trends survey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> a third of US consumers were overwhelmed by the number of devices and subscriptions they manage. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fnins.2021.695852\/full\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Previous studies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have also shown that as the amount of information customers consume increases they feel more negative emotions, less decision satisfaction, and more buyer\u2019s remorse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019re entering an era where how well you master the art of handling AI will determine your agency\u2019s reputation. Design your agency operations processes with creative integrity and consumer value at their heart to stand out.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Not getting buy-in on innovation\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So you and the rest of the C-suite may have a vision for the future of your AI powdered customer-centric media field agency, but are you empowering your team to feel the same?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Get buy-in from your team on your approach to innovation by bringing them in on the process. Get them to play with new AI tools and ask for their opinions on where it helps and hinders before deciding your company&#8217;s approach.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Inefficient resource management<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Failing to properly allocate resources leads to missed deadlines, and soon enough\u2014decreased profitability. Make the process of resource management a breeze by finding software you love to use.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/bit.ly\/3X6lT4Q\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-6582 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-943x242.jpg\" alt=\"A rectangle shaped banner in purple featuring a 3D book cover with a prompt to download an eBook about resource planning for agencies.\" width=\"943\" height=\"242\" srcset=\"https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-943x242.jpg.webp 943w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-1042x268.jpg.webp 1042w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-1536x395.jpg.webp 1536w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-310x80.jpg.webp 310w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1.jpg 1836w, https:\/\/resourceguruapp.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Blog-banner-1-310x80@2x.jpg.webp 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 943px) 100vw, 943px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prepare-for-the-future-of-agency-operations\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prepare for the future of agency operations<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you make any decisions around your agency operations think carefully about your long-term stability and growth. Consider how you can invest in staff retention, scenario planning, and capacity planning so you\u2019re ahead of the game and saving costs in the long run without sacrificing creative quality.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Putting your people first, especially if you have to make difficult decisions about restructuring, will ensure stability and success in the long run. <\/span><\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #fcf2fe; padding: 30px 40px; margin-top: 40px;\">\n<p><b>Improve agency operations with Resource Guru<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employ resource management software like Resource Guru now to put yourself in the driving seat tomorrow. Use a tool that easily tracks billable hours and utilization rates to get the highest return on investment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Not to mention software with reports and dashboards so you can easily plan, manage, and evaluate whether your agency operations are improving efficiency in the ways you need.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/app.resourceguruapp.com\/signup\">Start your free 30-day trial today<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At the heart of every thriving agency, there&#8217;s a well-oiled machine known as agency operations. From resource allocation and workflows to client management and process optimization, agency operations are what, well, keeps your agency in business.&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":34,"featured_media":4569,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","mc4wp_mailchimp_campaign":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[55],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4568","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-agencies"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Agency operations: 5-step framework to run a successful agency<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Use this simple framework to improve agency operations and increase profitability while putting your employees first.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, 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