There is no getting away from the fact that trading conditions remain challenging for many installers, but in this week’s newsletter there is perhaps a more positive message emerging from the latest industry activity: help is out there.
Businesses don’t have to navigate a difficult market alone, and there are now more resources available to help installers understand where opportunities exist, identify weaknesses in their operations and make better-informed decisions about where to focus their efforts.
Business Pilot, for example, has launched a free Installer’s Operations Review, designed to give installation businesses a quick assessment of how efficiently they are operating. The 15-question review looks at five key areas, including sales processes, operational workflows, installation handovers and team accountability, providing a benchmark and practical guidance on where improvements could be made.
It’s a useful reminder that improving profitability isn’t necessarily about finding more leads. Sometimes the biggest gains can come from making better use of the work already being won – reducing inefficiencies, improving communication and ensuring that opportunities aren’t being lost further down the customer journey.
Meanwhile, AdminBase has commissioned Keystone Market Research to undertake what it describes as the first detailed installer survey for more than two decades. The resulting UK Installer Insights Report will comprise six freely available white papers, providing independent research into the experiences, priorities and challenges facing installers.
At a time when decisions can easily be based on anecdotal evidence or assumptions, having access to independent data should be invaluable. The first report will look at what makes a true supplier partner, providing insight that could help businesses throughout the supply chain better understand what installers actually need.
Keystone Market Research has also released its latest UK Consumer Fenestration Trends Report, which provides another potentially valuable resource for installers looking for opportunities in a difficult market.
Among its findings is a particularly striking statistic: just 7% of homeowners said salespeople addressed what mattered most to them ‘very well’ during their last window purchase, while 53% said they would spend more with companies that demonstrated a clear understanding of their needs.
That’s a pretty significant gap between what customers want and what they’re currently experiencing – and therefore a significant opportunity for installers prepared to close it.
The report also identifies quality, security and energy efficiency as leading homeowner priorities, while triple glazing continues to attract strong interest. It highlights differences between consumer groups and regions too, suggesting that a one-size-fits-all sales approach may be leaving opportunities on the table.
The message from all three initiatives is remarkably similar: the information and tools to help businesses improve are available – but you have to use them.
Help is out there
There is no getting away from the fact that trading conditions remain challenging for many installers, but in this week’s newsletter there is perhaps a more positive message emerging from the latest industry activity: help is out there.
Businesses don’t have to navigate a difficult market alone, and there are now more resources available to help installers understand where opportunities exist, identify weaknesses in their operations and make better-informed decisions about where to focus their efforts.
Business Pilot, for example, has launched a free Installer’s Operations Review, designed to give installation businesses a quick assessment of how efficiently they are operating. The 15-question review looks at five key areas, including sales processes, operational workflows, installation handovers and team accountability, providing a benchmark and practical guidance on where improvements could be made.
It’s a useful reminder that improving profitability isn’t necessarily about finding more leads. Sometimes the biggest gains can come from making better use of the work already being won – reducing inefficiencies, improving communication and ensuring that opportunities aren’t being lost further down the customer journey.
Meanwhile, AdminBase has commissioned Keystone Market Research to undertake what it describes as the first detailed installer survey for more than two decades. The resulting UK Installer Insights Report will comprise six freely available white papers, providing independent research into the experiences, priorities and challenges facing installers.
At a time when decisions can easily be based on anecdotal evidence or assumptions, having access to independent data should be invaluable. The first report will look at what makes a true supplier partner, providing insight that could help businesses throughout the supply chain better understand what installers actually need.
Keystone Market Research has also released its latest UK Consumer Fenestration Trends Report, which provides another potentially valuable resource for installers looking for opportunities in a difficult market.
Among its findings is a particularly striking statistic: just 7% of homeowners said salespeople addressed what mattered most to them ‘very well’ during their last window purchase, while 53% said they would spend more with companies that demonstrated a clear understanding of their needs.
That’s a pretty significant gap between what customers want and what they’re currently experiencing – and therefore a significant opportunity for installers prepared to close it.
The report also identifies quality, security and energy efficiency as leading homeowner priorities, while triple glazing continues to attract strong interest. It highlights differences between consumer groups and regions too, suggesting that a one-size-fits-all sales approach may be leaving opportunities on the table.
The message from all three initiatives is remarkably similar: the information and tools to help businesses improve are available – but you have to use them.
Luke Wood
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