If you have never worked in the finance industry, you may have heard people say “COB” and wondered what it means. This is a term used in the financial industry to describe the end of the trading day. It is a time when most employees are free to go home and relax. Some companies are on for the entire weekend, though.
There is a small but important distinction between the EOD and the COB. While the COB is a time when people are generally free to leave the office, the EOD is a time when they are required to be in the office. Therefore, a slick email or business plan may contain a COB in the subject line. However, if you’re in the financial sector, it might be a good idea to ask what you should be doing instead of reading it.
The EOD is a good way to get a deal done on time. For example, you can request an international company that sells products in both the U.S. and Europe to complete a project by the following evening. You might not be able to complete this task in a single night, though, so keep that in mind when you make your request.
If you’re a small business owner, it’s best to stick with the COB. If you have a client in a different time zone, however, you’ll need to confirm the correct time zone to use. Using the wrong term in a correspondence can lead to unnecessary confusion or headaches.
Although the COB and the EOD have different meanings, they’re not the only similar-looking acronyms out there. In fact, the two terms are often used interchangeably by the business-minded. Even if you’re not in the finance field, you should be aware of the various acronyms in your arsenal.
Depending on the size of your budget and the scope of your project, you may be able to get away with a slick EOD email. However, if you’re in a smaller business or work for an agency, you should be careful about putting too much emphasis on the COB. On the other hand, if you’re working for a local client, the EOD is a mighty fine way to get things done.
Whether or not a project is completed on time or at all should depend on many factors, including the complexity of the task, how much time it will take, and the willingness of the recipient. To save yourself from having to do a bunch of extra work, consider the following:
Choosing the right acronym is the easiest way to ensure you’re delivering the appropriate message. A good acronym will also make communication more efficient. If you’re having trouble deciding between the COB and the EOD, use the above tips to guide your decision. Now that you know what the COB and EOD are, you’ll be ready for any upcoming business correspondence. Hopefully, this article has helped you better understand the differences between the two.