APRIL 2021 | 43 |
Read online at www . proinstaller . co . uk |
Business |
|||||
|
The right system will know exactly who owes you money and help to chase it automatically . You will be able to raise a sales invoice from a quote with a single click . And when the customer opens a quote or invoice you should be told . Then the customer can click to accept a quote , with you being informed instantaneously . They will also be able to click on their invoice to pay online by card .
‘ the right system will know exactly who owes you money and help to chase it automatically
’ More business
A good system will send reminders out to your customers that another landlord safety certificate is required . And it will say when an annual service is needed . It will tell people that they must have the service to maintain warranty coverage . There are also other ways that business can be encouraged and this can all happen automatically , while you ’ re asleep .
That ’ s almost too good to be true .
|
More wins , more income
You might be cynical about whether more work can be won and more invoiced with a smartphone app . It ’ s certainly true that results will vary . But it ’ s quite easy to explain how in the best cases both of these results are achieved :
• If you get quotes out more quickly this has an impact on the number that you will close . It ’ s because you are addressing one of homeowner ’ s top gripes that quotes are hard to get and slow in coming . It means that you can win more quotes and typically do this at higher prices . You have a credibility advantage over the slower competition right from the start .
• Usually if you produce paperwork from an App it will look more professional . You can include your logo , if you have one , and any membership of professional associations . Then these are on all of the paperwork sent to your customers
• When it ’ s easier to get invoices out this helps to address the problem of ending up not bothering with the little extras that you need to charge for . When you can invoice directly from site , it ’ s much less likely that you will forget
|
Saving your evenings
Trade businesses using my company ’ s system , Powered Now , say that on average they save 4 hours a week . That ’ s half a day probably spent doing your least favourite thing , paperwork . That time could be used for much more satisfying activities . It might be more time with your family . Or maybe longer in the pub . If you are ambitious the time could be spent on growing the business .
Taking less risk
The fact that there is less risk using a system is a benefit that is slightly harder to appreciate . The truth is your information is much more secure if you use an app . This is because it can be automatically backed up to “ the cloud ”. It means that if any device is lost , stolen or broken , all of the information is still available and can be accessed through any other computing device .
When installers don ’ t use a system they usually rely on a black book and this represents a genuine business risk . If it ’ s lost or stolen when the van or tools are pinched , then absolute havoc results . Anyone who has experienced losing their black book , knows that it creates huge problems . Although most trade people
|
About the author
Benjamin Dyer is CEO and cofounder of Powered Now . Powered Now ’ s mobile field service management software takes the pain out of admin and paperwork for installers and other trade businesses .
won ’ t experience that , success in business is partly about managing risks . And losing a black book with all of your vital information is an ever-present risk for your business . But it ’ s one which can be avoided .
If your computer , tablet or smartphone is lost , broken or stolen , all of your information can be retrieved in full onto a new device . This is much more secure .
When a client returns after 6 months to say that they accept your quote and want the job done tomorrow , no problem . The paperwork will be readily available . And that doesn ’ t even mention looking for guarantees or being able to find everything in one place .
What ’ s not to like ?
Unfortunately , it is a fact that it ’ s harder to learn new tricks as we get older . The good news is that most of us have got to grips with smartphones and don ’ t find them too difficult . So , why not invest some time and effort to learn how to use a smartphone to help run your business . Why not just have a go ?
www . powerednow . com
|