Web Resources
By Jessica Krippendorf
The type of information available on the Internet has grown leaps and bounds over the past 15 years. Once perpetually tied to a calculator, pen and paper, or good old-fashioned brain power, business owners can now take advantage of a myriad of free, online resources to calculate expenses, work out business solutions, or develop new ideas for improving efficiency.
Industry specific resources are readily available in all forms and using all units of measurement, in the case of online calculators. Log conversion rates, unit converters, gas mileage recorders, and real-time mapping programs are all just a few clicks away and can make life a lot easier, a few minutes at a time. If choosing an automated tool means saving 15 minutes a day per person on a crew of ten making an average of $25 an hour, management can save over $16,000 a year. How good does that sound? The only caveat in this category is that it might take a bit of a search to find one that considers the species, wages, and conversion units used by a specific business and in a specific region, but the selection is vast, so chances are the perfect program for your business does exist. You'll just have to look around.
General business resources like word processors, spread sheets, policy templates, and accounting programs usually provide a stable, easy-to-use platform from which to complete day-to-day tasks relatively hassle-free. The most important consideration when using these programs is learning the ins and out of compatibility (there's no sense using a word processor that produces documents your collegues won't be able to read) and gauging your own technical know-how to be sure online tutorials will be enough to teach you the ropes. The good news is, most providers understand these issues and design their software programs accordingly.
When it comes to finding online tools used for the more complex business tasks like creating letterhead, business cards, or tradeshow promotional materials, there are options available, but its a bit trickier. First of all, a search for ÒfreeÓ programs will often turn up many that only seem cost-free, until you actually go to download something. The other minor irritant may be that some basic skills are required to decide how promotional materials should be arranged and formatted. But don't be discouraged. We've compiled a list of truly free, template-driven sources below to save you the trouble, and our list is only the beginning.
Arguably the most valuable online tool around is your basic search engine, like Google or Yahoo!. Not only can you find, read about, and view pictures of pretty much anything on the planet, using search engines regularly can assist you in honing your discerning eye. Credibility is a big factor when using the Internet - a search result for Òforestry newsÓ that turns up a link to Òwww.listentomerant.comÓ is clearly going to carry less educational weight than one that leads you to the Washington Post or American Forest and Paper Association. As long as you take the time to investigate and make a judgement about where the news is coming from, search engines can open up a whole new world of possibilities.
In the meantime, check out the list below for a great introduction to using the Internet to improve business operations and add to your arsenal of efficient, user-friendly business tools.
Forest Industry Resources
The Atlas of Canada - http://atlas.nrcan.gc.ca/site/index.html
This website is a component of National Resources Canada and offers topographical maps of all of Canada at the click of a button. Find maps that date back to 1906 in the history section of this colourful, easy to explore web tool.
Forest Products Association of Canada - www.fpac.ca
The FPAC offers printable fact sheets and buyers' guides if there you are missing or need copies of these quick references.
American Forest and Paper Association - afandpa.org
Check here for policy updates, online marketplace, and free downloadable resources for kids.
Calculators and Convertors
Rural Technology Initiative - University of Washington - www.ruraltech.org
Visit this site to find an online copy of David Briggs' reference guide, "Forest Products Measurements and Conversion factors with Special Emphasis on the U.S. Pacific Northwest". The book contains extensive information on measurement systems, process efficiencies, and conversion factors.
Unit Conversion Calculator - www.unitconversion.org
Easily convert the volume to amount of lumber with this free unit conversion tool. Find links to find a free downloadable version of this handy tool.
Lumber Calculators - Wood Web - www.woodweb.com
This website offers many calculators at one spot, including calculators for finding wood shrinkage, log volume, and hardwood and softwood lumber board footage.
Highway Hourly Fuel Consumption Calculator - Computer Support Group - csgnetwork.com
Find a variety of online calculators to find out how far you can get with what you have.
Bridge Formula Weights Calculator - US Department of Transportation - ops.fhwa.dot.gov
A component of the Office of Freight Management and Operations website "provides a convenient way to determine the maximum allowable weight that any set of axles on a motor vehicle may carry on the Interstate highway system."
Coast Forest Products Association - www.coastforest.org
Contains a long list of white papers, pricing lists, market projections, and industry manuals such as the "Guide Book to Environmentally Sustainable Log Handling Facilities in British Columbia" and "The Value of a Hectare" (presentation).
Forest Industry Network- www.forestindustry.com
North America's most visited service and supply directory for all aspects of the forest industry.
General Business Tools
Open Office - www.openoffice.org
Bundled into one easy download, Open Office contains a word processor and a spreadsheet creator mimicking those of pricier options. It can also be used to open and modify "Word" and "Excel" documents.
AVG Virus Scan - www.free.avg.com
An alternative to buying regular virus scan upgrades, AVG Free is a downloadable virus scan software that is as reliable as store bought versions. Just like the store bought versions, AVG runs in the background while you work.
Free Accounting Software - Support Chain Technologyt - www.freeaccountingsoftware.com
Download free extensive accounting software from this website.
Business Balls www.businessballs.com
Use the hundreds of free posters, diagrams, and other various training tools from this business resource website, to take with you to future seminars and conferences
Business Card Land - www.businesscardsonline.com
Everything you need to make your own business cards can be found online. All you need is a colour printer and a extra thick bond paper to develop your own professional business cards.
Jessica Krippendorf
jkrippendorf@pointonemedia.com