As 2024 draws to a close, scrap metal recyclers in 2025 have an opportunity to reflect and set goals for the year ahead. The start of a new year is the time to refocus on growth and efficiency to boost your bottom line.
According to financial and recycling industry experts, 2025 looks to be a year of shifting conditions in the scrap metal recycling industry. Increasing manufacturing demand, fluctuating commodity prices, evolving regulations and continued rapid advances in technology are some of the scenario’s recyclers will be facing.
In Part 1 of this blog, we explore two possible 2025 resolutions for scrap recyclers to be prepared for change, improve operations and increase efficiency and profitability.
1 – Increase Employee Retention
The recycling industry has faced its share of challenges in hiring and retaining workers over the years. Today, the situation is further complicated by an economy in which workers are quitting and changing jobs at record rates as they seek better pay, benefits, conditions, and flexibility. The experts say reducing employee attrition boils down to one thing: creating an attractive place to work. Here are some measures to help achieve that goal:
• Provide opportunities for growth.
Studies reveal that one of the best ways to show employees that you value them is by offering plentiful opportunities for learning and advancement. Whether it’s specialized software training, an online course, or a mentorship session, professional development gives employees the chance to learn and flourish.
• Deliver a better work experience.
Efforts to improve workplace culture are always smart investments. Think beyond the recycling aspect of your business and expand the scope so that people are your primary focus. Regardless of their role or industry, employees are seeking purpose. The best organizations blend a sense of purpose with opportunities for workers to contribute to something greater. Take steps to foster connectedness by educating each person on the importance of what they are doing and the positive influence the recycling industry has on shaping the world.
• Utilize employee-friendly tools and processes.
Explosive turnover creates unique challenges, including new workers who are on perpetual learning curves. Every job is more difficult when the tools are complicated and the processes unwieldy, adding to the likelihood that workers will abandon ship. Tech can be particularly off-putting. In the recycling sector, firms turn to ScrapWare for simple, straightforward recycling software that gets the job done. ScrapWare becomes part of the solution because it’s easy to learn and use, especially for novices. Designed with the end-user in mind, its intuitive interface streamlines even the most complex processes, seamlessly integrating them into daily workflows. ScrapWare readily integrates with existing software and eliminates time-wasting redundant tasks, too.
• Offer ample support.
Left to their own devices and without adequate direction, workers can quickly become overwhelmed and disengaged. This is particularly true for new employees who are trying to learn and adjust to new technologies and procedures. Seek out technologies that are user-friendly and offer exceptional service. ScrapWare offers renowned customer care and support that are unparalleled in the industry. When issues arise, the help desk is always available to provide friendly, knowledgeable assistance. At ScrapWare, no appointments are necessary for customer service. Support is available 24/7 with multiple support channels via email, text, or phone.
2 – Go Paperless
Moving your business away from paper to digital documents is a critical step toward efficiency and competitiveness. Making this digital transformation with new systems requires planning and investment. As a mechanism to save time and money, the benefits of going paperless are numerous.
• Streamline and Accelerate Important Business Processes.
Digital documents can be moved from person to person more quicky than paper documents. They can be viewed by many people at the same time, and mistakes are more easily corrected.
• Simplify Interactions with Vendors and Customers.
With online documents, customers and vendors can access them when it is convenient from any location. They can sign paperwork digitally and print copies when needed.
• Make Finding Documents Faster and Easier.
If documents are stored digitally, it is easier to find them online instead of digging through file drawers. Answers to inquiries are available at everyone’s fingertips.
• Save Time.
Electronic documents are faster (and cheaper) than paper documents to edit and redistribute to customers, vendors and employees. This cuts down on bottle necks and reduces approval cycle time.
• Protect Documents.
If documents are electronic, they are protected from getting lost or damaged from fire, flood or theft.
• Improve Security.
Confidential data or sensitive information is much more secure stored as an electronic document on an off-site cloud server.
With a paperless system scrap metal recyclers can also benefit from improved compliance with state and local laws. Having stored digital images of licenses, signatures and fingerprints can help companies work with authorities and comply with anti-theft regulations.
These benefits have fueled the move to go paperless. Nonetheless, going completely paperless can seem overwhelming, impractical or unnecessary. The good news is that no company must go paperless completely or overnight to reap the benefits. Progress can be made incrementally.
Below is a list of ways scrap metal recyclers can reduce reliance on paper:
1. Store documents and files digitally, in the cloud.
Important files and documents can be saved and accessed anytime using online storage.
2. Use electronic communication.
Almost everyone now uses e-mail, but other types of electronic communication may also help reduce paper and improve efficiency. Instant Messaging platforms like Skype or Slack can be used among employees to improve efficiency for internal communication. A company can request electronic billing from vendors, use electronic invoices for customers, and electronic calendars instead of paper.
3. Copy documents with scanners and apps.
As a company seeks to decrease the volume of paper in its office, existing important documents can be scanned and uploaded for digital storage.
4. Move financial transactions to the digital realm.
Digital receipts, direct deposit and other electronic financial transactions are cheaper and safer than paper and checks, and they are easier to track for bookkeeping purposes.
5. Use e-signatures.
Signing contracts no longer requires printing out long documents to obtain signatures. E-signatures are legally binding, but are significantly more efficient, convenient, faster to use, safer and more secure than obtaining a traditional signature. For scrap metal recycling businesses, ScrapWare Corporation offers a software package that facilitates the use of e-signatures for all contracts and documents.
Increasing employee retention and going paperless are just two possible New Year’s resolutions scrap metal recyclers could make going into 2025. ScrapWare software can help recycling companies pursue these and other initiatives to meet the challenges of the year ahead. Stay tuned for the second installment in our series on ways to increase efficiency and profitability in 2025 and beyond.
About ScrapWare Corporation: Since 1989, Rockville, Maryland-based ScrapWare Corporation has been the software of choice for the recycling industry. Its ease of installation and simplicity saves users time and money while helping them achieve compliance and maintain accurate business insights. With state-of-the-art functionality tailored to each organization’s unique requirements, ScrapWare is an advanced dynamic software solution that alleviates the most pressing recycling industry worries. For more information, please call (301) 517-8500 or visit https://www.scrapware.com/.