The window , door , and glazing industries are still riding high on the back of a fantastic and long-awaited FIT Show , but after visiting any industry exhibition , it can be hard to know which new product or initiative to follow up first . You want to strike while the iron is hot , but you also want to make sure you ’ re making the best decision for your business for the long term . That ’ s why it makes sense to start from the inside out and ensure your internal operations are running smoothly before you switch products or work with a new supplier . Ask yourself whether there are any problems in the day to day running of your installation business – are there any glitches in communication , or any sticking points in your processes ? If there are , this is where you need to focus your efforts first .

Admin is one of the biggest areas of concern for installation businesses . There is so much of it that needs to be done and different departments , and even individuals within the same department , have their own unique ways of working and passing information around the

Source a trusted solution

The right CRM system can aid installation companies in collecting , storing , and using data within the business to improve lead generation , customer service , and profitability . It ’ s worth paying due diligence and researching your options too , because some systems have been around a lot longer than others , which means they have been tried , tested , and trusted by your peers for many years .

AdminBase is a good example of just such an installation management system with 25 years under its belt , but part of our longevity is constantly developing and evolving the system to ensure it changes with the times . We launched three more features at the FIT Show to keep our customers ahead of the competition .

Additional sales support

Our new partnership with PricepointTM Sales created a big buzz at the show because of the clear added benefits it gives our subscribers . Our users will now benefit from an even better interface that is intuitive to use – a key

feature of all aspects of AdminBase . The sales tool also boasts endless product types and professional high-definition images to offer installation sales teams a valuable and professional tool when selling in the home . It also comes with Manufacturing Intelligence ^TM that highlights any restrictions that may occur with certain product combinations and can even be used without an internet connection . Partnering with Pricepoint ^TM allows us to enhance our offering quickly and easily , while sticking closely to all our core values as a business .

Further launches at FIT

We also announced at FIT that our subscribers can now benefit from a facility to easily gather electronic signatures within AdminBase . The trend for completing a sale online has been building for a while , but the pandemic accelerated its use greatly . Our users now have peace of mind that AdminBase can support this .

The third and final launch from Admin- Base at the Show was the integration of a barcode scanning facility . Barcode scanning offers a more efficient way of logging materials in and out of factory or warehouse , so to have it fully integrated into the AdminBase system , makes sense .

The three launches we announced at the FIT Show were on top of multiple developments we have made to the system in the last 24 months , including our award-winning Customer Portal that allows homeowners to log in , confirm appointments , make online payments , check on the progress of their survey

and installation , and as importantly , report any snagging issues after the project has been completed . All of which makes their life easier and gives them peace of mind that everything is in hand with their order , while leaving installers free to get on with the task of managing the project .

Strengthen your business from the inside out

There was almost palpable excitement at this year ’ s FIT Show because we ’ ve all been starved of an industry exhibition for so long . It gives us all a renewed vigour to try something new and make changes that we perhaps should have made a long time ago . But for any new supplier , service , or product to work within your company you first need a solid foundation and clear understanding of where your installation business is now . The first port of call should be a new management system because gaps in admin and reporting can muddy the view of where your strengths , weaknesses , opportunities , and threats lie , and the value of having this information in order , shouldn ’ t be underestimated .

www . abinitiosoftware . co . uk