The importance of CRM & Automations
& how to deal with the madness of Greek Bureaucracy as a young Business Owner and Artist.
Starting and running a #business in the #competitive and intricate world of #architectural #visualization (#archviz) demands impeccable organization, a firm grasp of your #financials, and a strict adherence to #Greek #laws. For #young #entrepreneurs, particularly those lacking #experience, the journey can be overwhelming. The archviz #industry is not only highly competitive but also mentally exhausting, leaving little room for error. In Greece, the bureaucratic maze complicates this further, underscoring the necessity of having every #detail in order.
When I first embarked on this journey, I quickly realized the dearth of information online about Customer Relationship Management (#CRM) #systems in Greece. Despite the state's stringent requirements for young entrepreneurs to maintain flawless records, there is a glaring lack of support and guidance. This gap in resources meant that I had to navigate the complexities on my own, seeking advice from accountants and seasoned business owners in the commerce and construction sectors.
During my exploration, I discovered the world of CRMs and automation tools. I felt incredibly fortunate to have access to technologies like the OpenAI API, which allowed me to manage intricate details without losing focus on the essential aspects of my business. Initially, I was consumed with anxiety over potentially losing a single invoice, always ensuring they were promptly sent to my accountant and never missing the deadline for Intracommunity #Invoices to avoid #fines.
That's when I grabbed a #pen and #paper and I sketched out simple #diagrams, mapping the flow of information to ensure nothing was overlooked. My first problem . How can I manage all my financial stuff and not end up going to the Greek Jail lol just because My #accountant didn't had that invoice of that architectural #book ... etc.
Enter Notion , a tool I deeply appreciate. Through experimentation with APIs and custom #databases, I spent countless hours failing and learning before finally understanding how to organize information to meet my specific needs.
Then came the breakthrough: automation. Discovering automations like when you find that special #women ... now don't get me wrong being a #geek for me automation was even more significant than advancements like AI or the #iPhone, as it freed my mind to think creatively about scenarios and custom actions based on specific criteria. My solution was n8n a customizable, flexible, self-hosted automation #tool with a robust community.
I am excited to introduce one of my latest #creations. With a simple tap of an #iOS icon, #magic happens in just 30 seconds. Here’s how it works: When I press the iOS icon shortcut, it triggers a webhook call to our studio’s Diorama.Studio self-hosted n8n server.
What I See in My #iPhone
The automation then kicks off, fetching the current time and date, and retrieves all invoices from Notion that haven't been sent to my accountant.
It automatically creates a Google Workspace #Drive #folder with a custom naming structure based on the date.
Folder Structure in My #Google Drive
Once the invoices are uploaded, the folder is shared, along with a custom message in Greek, to the designated emails.
My #n8n Workflow
This #automation has revolutionized my #workflow, providing peace of mind and allowing me to focus on what truly matters—creating #immersive #visual #experiences.
Stay tuned for more #innovations.
Finally I want to thank Spyros Andrianos & Konstantinos Kintzios, MBA for their podcast because when you are under pressure to balance your EFKA payment, Greek electricity bills and communicate with B2B Greek clients the only type of company you need is a podcast exposing the raw everyday Greek madness of business and life giving you hope that its worth staying here in this country even though you might not be able to one day... ❤️
