MAY 2022 | 35
FIT Show Preview
FROM STICKING POINT TO SELLING POINT
Rhonda Ridge , Managing Director of Ab Initio , explains the long history behind the company ’ s installer management system , AdminBase , and what visitors to the FIT Show can expect to see from the all-encompassing offering .
Admin is the age-old bugbear for installation businesses . The day to day running of the operation always takes precedence over the seemingly less important chore of admin . So , corners are cut , and frustrating miscommunications happen . It is one of the most time-consuming aspects of an installation business , and the part that every installer hates , and yet , when done right , this area of the business can hold the potential to unlock huge efficiencies and tip the balance with consumers from a ‘ maybe ’ to a confirmed installation . We ’ ll be demonstrating how installation companies can achieve this in detail on stand D31 at the FIT Show .
I designed AdminBase over 20 years ago when I was working in an installation business , because I could see what a sticking point admin was in the overall running of the company . AdminBase makes it easy for installers out on site to update the system on their mobile devices , and for employees back in the office to input any data coming to them directly . This means that everyone in the organisation has access to the same live information at any time . As a result , if customers call with a query , they can get a quick answer whoever they speak to . However , we have also developed features in Admin- Base that help to reduce the number of calls consumers need to make to their home improvement company .
More information with less hassle
Our award-winning customer portal feature allows homeowners to log in to their account and check on the status of their order or installation . They can confirm appointments with the click of a button which saves installers time , but also improves the customer experience .
Homeowners can even report any final snagging issues after the job is complete . This in turn becomes an excellent selling point for home improvement companies at the point of sale .
In addition to the customer portal , we will be showing FIT Show visitors the full internal reporting engine that allows installation companies to run reports on their business without needing to export and manipulate collected data to Excel . This to-ing and fro-ing between software packages to get a clear picture of the business is a particular nuisance for busy installation businesses . With AdminBase , users can quickly and easily see the status of any lead or order with an easy traffic light system applied to a checklist of jobs to complete . Green means the task has been completed and shows how much time has been allocated to it , amber shows that a job is still pending , and red highlights actions that are overdue .
NEW at FIT
Existing users and new subscribers to AdminBase will also be able to see two new features for the first time at FIT . The first of which is a new barcode scanning facility to make checking products in and out of a factory or warehouse much simpler . And the second will be the addition of a facility to collect electronic signatures as part of our core
AdminBase offering . We will also be giving visitors to our stand live demos of the whole system , a few freebie items , and the much sought-after real cup of coffee ! New subscribers at the show can also benefit from one month ’ s free subscription .
AdminBase is a tried , tested , and trusted installer management system that has been designed , tweaked , and modified with installer input for over 20 years . Software doesn ’ t last that long if it ’ s not significantly supporting businesses and making a real difference . We look forward to spreading the word at FIT and helping more installation businesses turn a painful sticking point into an exciting new selling point .
www . abinitiosoftware . co . uk