While planning for the year ahead it’s important for lab owners to prepare their business for 2023. If we have learnt anything since the pandemic, it’s that everything can change very swiftly and organisations must be ready for anything! Despite the challenges that many labs are facing, the future is bright for those that are prepared for it.

Retaining the team 

The recruitment crisis in dentistry has been headline news for some time now. The reducing number of technicians in the UK – alongside other issues – is making vacancies difficult to fill. The key, therefore, is to keep the staff you have. Great staff are the absolute cornerstone of a great lab, so encouraging a stable and content team is a must for those looking to thrive next year. Though pay should definitely reflect their value, there are other benefits that can be offered to team members to top it up, such as private medical insurance, GDC fees covered, travel subsidiaries and so much more. Many team members also appreciate the opportunity to develop their skills and/or expand their role.

Boost your marketing

When budgets get tight, many companies often look to reduce marketing spend first. While completely understandable, it’s important not to eliminate all promotional activities. Growth is essential for any dental practice to succeed, so access to a stream of new potential patients is necessary for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Focus on marketing avenues that are free or highly cost-efficient – social media can be hugely successful depending on your patient demographic, for instance. Also, look to boost word-of-mouth referrals and online reviews. Patients encouraging others to visit you are the best form of marketing you could hope for.

Trade partnerships

Whether you already work with key members of the trade, or wish to build upon your partnerships, establishing strong connections with the industry can be hugely beneficial. In doing so you can gain access to the best possible deals on products and services, plus you can be confident that you are receiving the highest standard of service and support. Not only does this offer immediate monetary advantages, but it could also provide new opportunities for training and support for the team moving forward.  Plus, you will ensure that you are first to know should any new materials or technologies reach the market, further helping to keep you ahead of the curve and at the forefront of the profession.

Technology

With so much technology in the dental market today, it can be difficult to know what would work and what wouldn’t for your business. Take some time to research the options and consider whether any new innovations could improve your lab for the New Year. Could a milling machine increase production and therefore profitability for the months ahead? For some labs, investing in 3D printing or designing training programmes for colleagues could offer a new source of revenue. There are always improvements and alterations to be made so consider what your business would benefit most from in 2023.

Though no one can predict what the next year will hold, you can prepare your lab for many eventualities with careful planning.