“Do more with less.” You hear this a lot lately, and it’s often met with groans. It seems that in every industry, from business, to education, to transportation, to our planet’s natural resources, we are all being asked to “do more with less.”

We’ve already made cuts. How can we do more?”
Maybe all it takes is a long look at what that statement means.

DO: What are you doing?
First take a look at what “doing” really means at your company, and what your competition is doing better. Analyze which systems and programs gave you the best ROI and abandon the ones that didn’t. If your clients are asking for an added service that you do not specialize in, think twice before agreeing to deliver. Just like Orville Redenbacher said, maybe you should just “Do one thing and do it better than anyone.” Knowing what you do best will guide your next move.

MORE: What does more mean?
Does doing more mean more of the same? Not necessarily. It means being more productive by using simpler means. Do you really need to fly out of state for a face to face with your client? Yes, for important introductions and contracts, but for many meetings, a scheduled web conference might be more cost effective for everyone.
And “more” doesn’t mean you need to double your man-hours using fewer materials. Expecting the same number of resources to double their workload is a sure fire way to burn them out. Whether it means investing in smarter software or making your production lines more ergonomic, give your staff the tools to actually do more.

WITH LESS: Less of what?
In many cases, the “less” means less planning, less money in the budget or less resources to do the work. But you might be surprised at how many other variables you can consider when lessening your tradeshow expenses. A flatscreen in your exhibit space might be able to tell your story and answer FAQ’s better than a million samples, brochures and demos ever could. And we have all seen how tastefully lit fabric panels can often create a show presence better than hard wall construction panels with built in lighting. Think of how design choices like that can lessen your shipping costs!

People often assume that “doing more with less” is merely out of financial need, after all, necessity is still the mother of invention. But more than that, doing more with less is just a smarter way to work overall. At 3D Exhibits, giving our clients a bigger bang for their buck is our specialty. We thrive on the challenge.

How is your company doing more with less?

Custom exhibit building is a detailed process involving many different components. With entire departments are dedicated to design, execution and delivery, collaboration is critical and timing is key. Many are involved throughout the process, but there is one 3D team member who monitors progress each and every step of the way –and that person is your Project Manager.

It’s a job that requires a special skill set: impeccable organizational skills, grace under pressure, and the ability to multitask, among others.

We spoke with Project Managers Bryan Jacobs and Tony Wojdyla about what it takes to make sure your project comes in on time, under budget, and within scope.