SMALL TO BIG

Small too Big.

When you think of a family business, what do you see? Maybe you see plates, children or a bunch of papers. Well when I think of a family business, I see auto parts and computers. My family owns Al’s Automotive. We buy and ship auto parts to companies that are need of them. If your car breaks down and you take it to just about and shop around here chances are more than likely you got your replacement part from Al’s. We are the largest shipping company of auto part south of Chicago. There is a lot of behind the scene actions that keep our business a float. One being the technology we have had to use to keep the whole company running.
First off, let’s talk about how technology is the backbone of every business in the world. And no I did not need to go to some web site to figure that one out. Phones, computers, scanners, copiers and even the internet are all must have technologies that you have to have in order to run a small or large business. Working in a fairly small business I have came to understand that the key to a successful business is to keep up with the technologies that are out there for you. One example is a phone system. This is a great example because when you need to put someone on hold you have to have some where to put them. But, the key is to keep them on the phone. How do you do that you might ask? It is simple, have music playing while they are on hold or set up an advertisement skit.
One man that understands all of these concepts is my dad. His name is David Scrivner. I started off my little interview with a few simple questions. But, even with the small simple questions I could tell my dad was very interested to talk about the technologies that have let the company flourish since October of 1953. One question that was asked in the interview was “What is one of the most important technologies that we have adopted?” He happily answered “Well it would have to be hands down the internet. More than 2/3 of the day to day business is done on the internet. It is a very common piece of technology that people might over look. When I go to order part, I don’t use the phone. Instead I use the internet. Think of it as a whole other world.” I think what he means by “It’s a whole other world” is, the internet takes way from the miscommunication that a phone could cause and when ordering parts that cost twenty-five thousand dollars a mix up could spell trouble.
“I do not think there is really a difference in technologies used from a large company to a small company.” This was an answer to a question I asked him retaining to differences in technologies used in a large to small company. This can better be explained by looking at a larger auto parts company like O’Reilly compared to Al’s. O’Reilly is able to reach out to people by their sales and by advertisements. Well the same is done by AL’s but only on a small playing field. We use the internet, local races and the TV to get our name out and on the other side the same is done. They have about a thousand different cars and trucks to move their parts; well we do the same only we have 250 cars and trucks to do the same job. My dad always likes to say we are doing what the billion dollar companies are, we just don’t make as much as them.
“In the tough world, only the strongest of companies will survive! And to survive you have to be up to speed on all types of technology, even if it does not apply to you.” My dad said this in the interview after I asked him “If he thinks technology will lead us into the future?” I also share the same idea. Working day to day with the great technologies of the new world I can be the first one to tell you when they stop working it make the rest of the tasks for the day I pain in my ass. We have eleven stores all around the metro area and at all moments of the day and even at unopened hours, the computer and phones must keep working. If they fail then the next work day will be hell.
All in all, the entire interview with my dad went very well. It might have taken a few hours to get down to the good questions but, I think after I had a greater value for our family business. I learn in the interview that a great company takes time to build. There will be set back and great gains no matter what you have to keep up with the amazing technologies the world has to offer. “The new day will one day start with you. How you decide to run that day will show the true you!” Thanks dad!