What are some actionable steps businesses can take to improve their operational efficiency without increasing overhead costs?

In the cases where businesses' operational processes are not efficient and businesses want to Improve operational efficiency without raising overhead costs, businesses can focus on optimizing existing processes, leveraging technology, and enhancing team productivity. Here are some actionable steps:

1: Conduct Process Audits
2: Implement Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
3: Develop KRA's and KPI's for each department. ( By looking at the results you will cut down the cost and enhance the results)

4: Use the Centralized model. Hold Focused Meetings, where you can engage the team and get ideas to improve efficiency. 

5: Prioritize Training and Cross-Training ( it plays a vital role in smooth operations. )

6: Focus on Customer Feedback for Continuous Improvement

These steps allow businesses to operate more efficiently within existing budgets, ultimately improving profitability without increasing expenses.

This is quite a difficult question to answer, as actionable steps usually depend on the size of the business, its products or services, its current use of outside services, how it obtains customers and what it does with them.

That said, I would check that each salesperson knows about all the products and services sold - so a workshop to bring all salespeople up to speed with their knowledge of what they're selling. Next, I would identify which source of customer leads is the most profitable and see whether it is possible to get more from that source or improve the other sources to deliver that type of customer. Finally, at least for this answer, I would check the customer complaints - are they being acted upon? Is the firm learning lessons from what they're being told? Is the firm retaining and improving the relationship with the customer satisfactorily without impacting the profits?