Construction and specialty trade businesses are in a class by themselves. They have unique ways of working and unique opportunities and challenges. Any contractor or contracting business that tries to manage so much data without a specialist assisting them will not be very efficient.
Typically, construction contractors have to interact with a large number of specialists and agencies. These could include engineers, architects, subcontractors and multiple suppliers. Contractors also a need to coordinate with inspection agencies and ensure specifications are met. Contractors can’t afford to ignore clients and therefore need to manage client relationships, social media, referrals and so on.
Some of the key features of the CRM solution for Contractors are –
Management of bids – A busy contractor deals with a large number of bids that at varying stages of their lifecycle. There can be many different types of jobs, services, data and time issues, collaboration with other contractors and more. Additionally, good bid management is an essential part of the contracting process.
Managing subcontractors and suppliers – Any busy company will have a number of suppliers and subcontractors. The goods and services they are providing as well as any bids for business can be handled by a CRM solution.
Workflow management – Workflow in the contracting business is very different from other kinds of businesses. A CRM solution tailored for contracting will be able to handle the workflow far more efficiently.
Prospect management and data collection – These modules are built to collect and manage data about prospective work locations and their specific details (types of constructions, HVAC types and specifications, floors and floor space, etc.). It also collects data about customers and links construction to customers to give a holistic view of likely projects.
Scheduling resources –Scheduling resources. In any business, the resources available are finite and the demands could easily exceed what is available. The resource scheduling modules of a CRM solution for contractors ensure that use is optimum and conflicts are eliminated.
Other than these, CRM for contractors allows for efficient follow up with prospective customers so opportunities are not lost. Accurate information on labor and its mapping to projects ensures billing is accurate and timely. A large number of dashboards are available and these can be customized to user requirements.
Does this look like a solution that fits your business? Call us for a discussion on how to move ahead and get a solution package that handles everything from licensing to installation, server management, implementation and training.