Information is power
Rhonda Ridge, of installer management system, AdminBase, discusses why information is so important to installation businesses, and explains how to get the most out of the data they already have and use it to significant effect.
The more you know about your business, the better it will be. Why? Because you will be able to make quicker and better decisions, change course at the first sign of trouble and earn trust from customers, employers and colleagues alike.
There are a few key reasons why information is so important to good business, and installation companies can quickly and easily be enjoying the benefits of gathering the right data and using it in the most useful way, by going digital.
Companies that want to survive and thrive for the long term need to adapt to changing markets, customers, and trends. That might sound like an obvious thing to say but plenty of businesses don’t do it. Because change can be scary.
For management teams and employees, doing something new can be daunting because the outcome is uncertain. What if you invest in a new marketing method and it flops? What if you implement a new sales strategy and it fails?
What if your big new product launch falls flat on its face? In short, there is a fear of the unknown. But try this hypothetical scenario on for size – what if you had so much information about what has worked in the past and as importantly, what hasn’t worked, that you could accurately predict the outcome of your new plans? It is much easier to get buy-in and even generate excitement for change, if you are confident in the outcome.
A digital overview 24/7
The AdminBase system is a tried, tested and trusted system that offers businesses a great overview of the entire operation, 24/7. It has built in reporting options for all users.
If the data is in AdminBase, you can run a report to find the answers you need, without the need to export to another programme. The reports can be viewed in virtually any layout, and although most of our customers find the ones we create and customise to their business are all they need, should they need anything extra, all reports are customisable by the end user too.
The system also offers plenty of installer specific support. For example, we have a dedicated function for ‘Fitters Available Hours’, which takes the name of a fitter or installation team and calculates the spare hours they have within a set timeframe.
This allows decisions to be made about the best use of those spare hours. Another function tracks leads. You might get a lot of leads from advertising in the local paper, but if all those leads are for single window jobs and your radio advertising brings in high value jobs, you can make an informed decision about where to spend your advertising budget next.
Bring focus to the task at hand
To drill down even further, the AdminBase system also has a Taskboard feature that tracks jobs from start to finish. From the moment a lead comes in, specific tasks are allocated to specific individuals or teams and a deadline applied.
Each task can then be tracked through the entire job. Taskboard ensures visibility and accountability and highlights any bottlenecks that may occur. If one team is overloaded with work for example, and another has time to spare, this can be identified and corrected before work begins.
The truth of the matter is that businesses already have all the information they need, it’s just not always organised in the best way and is therefore not useful. If different departments use different databases or systems for example, it’s likely one or both will never be fully up to date.
With one central system on the other hand, it becomes habit for everyone in the business to check in and update records as they go along. This ensure the data held is current and the reports available from the data become incredibly powerful.
Installation businesses need to harness the power of information to be the best that they can be in 2023.