5 Technologies That Will Transform the Home Improvement Industry
The technological revolution has affected every business sector, as new devices and software help people do their jobs more easily. Nowhere is this truer than in the home improvement industry, where new tools let contractors scale as their business grows.
By properly applying home improvement technology to your business, you can improve both your efficiency and your bottom line. And as your business expands, the technology can expand with you. Here are five specific technologies that will transform the home improvement industry, and ways your business can benefit.
1. Augmented Reality for Home Improvement Projects
The home improvement industry traditionally uses photographs and drawings to convey the look of a project. These days, virtual augmented reality (AR) technology allows customers to see what the project will look like when completed. This lets you and your clients easily change things like placement, color and design.
Through AR, you can adjust the particulars of a project early in the process, before work begins in earnest. This reduces the chances of error and waste, helping you stay on schedule and ensuring everyone’s expectations are 100% in sync.
That, in turn, improves the efficiency of your projects considerably and shortens the period between concept and completion. With less chance of an error or misunderstanding, delays drop to nothing. And if the client wants changes, the technology provides a good way to show the specifics involved.
As a result, your bottom line improves dramatically. Home improvement businesses that can’t match the advantages of using this new tech will be quickly left behind.
2. Automation and Progress Tracking
The home improvement industry entails a number of tasks a computer algorithm can more effectively perform than a human. That includes things like tracking paperwork, providing updates and performing data analysis to help cut costs.
With automation, a home improvement contractor can document the various steps of their project and coordinate schedules to ensure everything stays on track. Potential problems can be identified more quickly, and your team can take corrective measures sooner.
In addition, automation frees your team to focus on other tasks. This makes better use of their time while ensuring the home improvement project moves ahead as needed. Once the project is completed, you can easily showcase it by using presentation software and similar tech to build websites or interactive presentations.
Similarly, your sales team can better coordinate their schedules via automation. Properly leveraged algorithms can find more efficient driving routes and pinpoint more likely sales. All of this gives you more time and helps you keep up with the many projects your team is tackling.
3. Onboarding and Training
Nothing is more important in the home improvement industry than skilled workers with the experience to do the job right. Attracting and retaining talented people has always been a challenge; but in recent years, it’s taken on particular pertinence.
Long-term employee retention starts with proactive recruiting and training. With the right onboarding process, you can secure talented workers who will stay with your business for many years to come.
Analytic software helps you prepare onboarding and training operations, highlighting ways to improve your presentation and more readily convey important information. It can also recommend good spots for improvement and shorten the time required for proper onboarding.
Finally, interactive presentations heighten engagement from new recruits while helping new staff members feel heard when getting up to speed. Not only does that let you bring them on board more quickly, but it also empowers them. As a result, you’ll improve employee retention and make the training process more efficient.
4. Customer Relationship Management
Customer relationship management (CRM) has undergone substantial changes in recent years. In the home improvement industry, those changes have led to happier clients and improved efficiency.
Modern CRM technologies can automate steps such as cost estimates and work proposals. They can also track financing and contract signings via tools such as Leap. A CRM also ensures pertinent paperwork gets exactly where it needs to go. Customers are empowered by the clarity of information, and automatically updating algorithms ensure no one gets missed with any adjustments or changes.
As with the other benefits to home improvement technology, a good CRM saves both money and time, giving your company the flexibility to deal with unexpected issues. And because everything is centralized, you know exactly where to look for the particular piece of information you need.
5. Digital and Interactive Presentations
The home improvement industry thrives on sales. You’re more likely to close a deal if your sales team can make a strong case for your business and present accurate information in an interesting way. That’s where interactive software comes in. It enables sales reps to make digital presentations that engage prospective clients.
Digital presentations make it easy for your sales teams to pitch with confidence. The rich visual aids they provide enable your sales reps to communicate your products and services more effectively. In turn, the increased client engagement shortens your sales cycles considerably. Your audience is more connected to the process and retains information more readily.
With the type of presentation software offered by Ingage, digital and interactive sales pitches are a snap. They’ll help your team close the deal and secure contracts with ease.
Keep Up With Home Improvement Industry Changes
The home improvement industry is in the middle of transformative change, as new technology makes it easier than ever to keep projects on track and clients in the loop. Ingage offers cloud-based software that makes every aspect of the home improvement industry easier. With it, you can engage clients more easily while keeping projects on time and under budget. This frees up your team to tackle any challenge you may face.
The right tools can help your business keep pace with the rapid changes facing your industry. Contact Ingage today to schedule a demo, and let us show you how our packages can help your sales team convert more clients.