Earworx is a professional ear cleaning business with 23 clinics across Australia. Their commitment to improving health outcomes saw them win the National Championing Health Award at the 2024 Telstra Best of Business Awards.
We spoke to Director and Founder Lisa Hellwege about managing a nationwide business. She outlined the advantages of online business, describing how a reliable internet connection and an integrated business tech ecosystem created a recipe for success. This helps enable communication, education and collaboration across the company.
When cleaning ears, proper training is very important. Incorrect earwax removal could cause serious damage. To help, Earworx uses digital training systems to educate its nurses. This means all clinics can offer the same level of quality service and patient care regardless of location.
Earworx also uses online collaboration platforms to conduct meetings across its network. It could be a weekly clinic check-in. Or monthly company-wide results meeting. The team records the sessions and stores them online. Team leaders are also available daily and regular audits happen online to maintain consistency.
This online system offers a range of business benefits including easy access to training materials. This supports new and existing staff. It provides continuous learning opportunities for nurses. It also encourages professional development. This helps improve collaboration in the workplace and greater efficiency.
“Our policies, procedures and patient management systems are all in the cloud. This means quick access to important information and resources. And it means location is never an issue", says founder Lisa Hellwege.
For example, Earworx uses special cameras to examine patients’ ears and take photographs. Nurses can upload these images to the cloud. This online approach is advantageous for maintaining up-to-date records and ensuring patient safety. It also helps enable knowledge sharing and learning.
Cloud storage services can help improve cyber security, business resilience and productivity. There are many different ways that cloud solutions can help boost efficiency. These range from customer communication to internal business operations. In fact, almost 70% of workers agree that the latest technology, like cloud services, can help them be more productive at work, according to the Telstra Tech State of Play Report 2024.
“The network is the fundamental building block,” says Scott Marston, Chief Executive Officer at Earworx. “Unless we have that foundation, we could not do what we do.”
Most workers believe having a secure, reliable and fast internet connection is important. They think it will have the most positive technological impact on their workplace. This is according to the Telstra Tech State of Play Report 2024.
We need a strong, reliable internet connection. Otherwise, Earworx wouldn’t be the success that it is
- Scott Marston, Chief Executive Officer at Earworx
Earworx runs a decentralised service model. This means high-quality internet connectivity and high-speed internet is essential. A seamless network experience helps support the smooth communication necessary for running a nationwide business online, including those in regional or remote locations. The Earworx clinics extend across Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria, Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and Western Australia. “They might as well be next door!” laughs Scott.
In fact, about 40% of Earworx’s business is in regional Australia. This means a reliable network is very important. One major advantage of Earworx’s online business approach is that remote locations get access to the same level of quality care. This can also improve the employee and customer experience. It helps make access to internal systems and connecting with the Earworx business much easier.
Learn more about how to thrive online as a regional business
Earworx has benefitted from using digital marketing to raise awareness and education about its services. Video content is an important part of their marketing strategy.
A high-speed network helps support these efforts. This means Earworx can upload high-quality content to its social media platforms.
Discover how to create your own social media marketing strategy
Short-form video content can be a valuable investment for businesses. They’re engaging and attention-grabbing. Video content has also helped Earworx’s internal training and development. It can be a more effective way of communicating policies and procedures. New staff may prefer learning through videos than reading long written manuals.
A network of business technology solutions has been essential to Earworx’s successful growth. These include cloud services, a high-speed internet connection, online communication platforms and digital marketing channels.
Earworx has big plans over the next 12 to 18 months. And having the right technology systems in place will help maximise their chances of success.
Learn more about choosing the right technology solutions for your business.
This article does not necessarily reflect the views of Telstra or its staff.
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