Work Smarter, Not Harder.

Work smarter, not harder

In our modern society we are constantly looking to improve the way we work and fit more into the working day. Work smarter, not harder and get more into your working day.

In recent years, smart phones and tablets have completely changed the way we conduct our business, communicate with customers and complete our admin. Smart phones and tablets are invaluable tools for installers to help keep track of their businesses when they are out at work.

Are you making the most of your smart phone or tablet and all of the business support tools available to you?

Information at your fingertips                                     

There’s a wealth of information to be accessed online from your smart phone or tablet wherever you are working. The Ideal Heating website www.idealheating.com features product information including installation guides, information videos on current industry topics such as ErP and booking information for our training courses. You can even download a user guide and email it directly to your customer. The website is optimised for smart phone and tablet use meaning that all of the information appears in the same way that it would on a regular PC screen, so finding what you need is quick and easy.

Connect with customers

The popularity of smart phones and tablets means that the world of social media is an enormous resource for installers. The days when tradesmen relied on word of mouth for new business are long behind us; with the evolution of the likes of Facebook and Twitter there is a constant stream of engagement and conversation on the day to day happenings of the world around us.

Social media is a quick and easy way to bring in new business, particularly during slower times of the year, and setting up a profile takes no more than a few minutes. Websites such as Buffer and Hootsuite offer a free scheduling service for tweets and Facebook posts meaning you can engage with your customers and promote your business even when you are busy on a job. Loyal customers will often tweet about excellent service they’ve received as well as recommending you to their online followers.

Social media sites are also great for keeping up to date with industry hints and tips as well as the latest product information. The Ideal Boilers’ twitter account has over 10,000 installer and homeowner followers and is manned 7 days a week meaning you can tweet us whenever you need to. Facebook also has many discussion groups such as Gas Chat where you can engage with your fellow installers to discuss current industry happenings.

Better Business Apps

Apps are also a great way to increase the efficiency of your working day. For example, the Ideal Boilers’ Installer Connect app helps you keep up to date with registering your customers’ boilers whilst you’re still in their home. The app enables you to scan the boiler bar code and enter your customer’s details so the warranty registration and Gas Safe notification are completed instantly and your reward points are added to your account automatically, saving valuable time later in your day. The app also features an ErP calculator to provide system efficiency figures, fault finding tools so you can instantly offer your customers support and all of our product literature. Flueing information, product dimensions and technical specifications are always just a few taps away!

A vast proportion of business tools you may already use and be familiar with for scheduling appointments or managing your accounts are also available in app form. There are even apps available to enable you to take a customer payment via your phone. Such tools are invaluable for time saving and enable you to book a job or issue an invoice without having to wait to be back at your office.

Keeping one step ahead

The heating industry is a constantly changing environment with ever advancing technologies and changes in regulation. Staying ahead to succeed demands knowledge and a savvy approach; it has never been more important or a better time to make use of the resources available to you to work your business hard and get the most out of it. The heating season will rapidly be upon us and the tools you need to make this the best winter yet for your business are not just the ones in the back of your van!