Digital Disruption: The Big Opportunity defines digital disruption as “changes enabled by digital technologies that occur at a pace and magnitude that disrupt our established ways of value creation, social interactions, doing business, and more generally, our way of thinking.”
Spot on. The pace at which technology develops has been absolutely astounding, and the rate at which it has impacted contractors? Even more so. Employers, employees, and consumers are more connected digitally than ever before, and companies across the globe are implementing mobile solutions that allow staff to become nomadic, if they so desire.
Keeping up with the changes in mobile technology is a hurdle in and of itself, right? But despite its minor annoyances and constant evolution, technology is your organization’s friend. In fact, mobile technology and apps are what will give your company a competitive edge by empowering your sales staff to be even better at their job.
According to research from EMA Contractors:
– 68% of contractors say they use a smartphone in their workflow everyday
– 22% regularly use tablets
The time-saving data proves why: a recent TechnoMetrics survey revealed that 589 employees hours and 291 owner hours are saved per year per small business when mobile apps are introduced in the workflow. Consider your hourly rate and do the math. Worth it? We’d say so.
Need more proof? By equipping your sales staff with the tools and tech they need to be productive on the go, you’re ultimately investing in a more efficient and more effective workplace. Here’s how:
1. Sales team members are no longer chained to their desk.
The standard formula of drive → meet → drive → follow up is revamped when the sales staff is freed from their swivel chairs and equipped to quote clients right from the field. Essentially, what used to require a drive back to the office and hours of data collection, paperwork, and fine-tuning, is now as simple as a few taps of a touchscreen, minimal typing, and a digital share while still face-to-face with the prospective client.
2. Mobile technology streamlines cumbersome paperwork.
Paperwork has a stigma attached to it for a reason – it can be cumbersome, overwhelming, and a huge time-burner – especially when your sales employees’ fortes lie elsewhere.
But when mobile technology is introduced with the ability to digitize materials and pricing lists, contracts, and other pertinent information required to build a quote and sign a deal, the burden is lifted and paperwork is pleasantly forgotten.
3. Collaboration is made easy, from anywhere.
Mobile technology keeps the sales team in constant connection, no matter where they are, with coworkers, distributors, vendors, and subcontractors. This makes travel and in-the-field quoting less stressful and more reliable.
4. Instant gratification for customers.
As consumers, we crave instant gratification. Now, the sales team can provide it. And because of that ability, they’re much more likely to “wow” the customer and stay top-of-mind. Delivering the quote on-the-spot leaves no time to muddle or hesitate.
Sold yet?
Staying competitive requires staying on top of mobile technology as it grows. Easier said than done, yes, but gaining the motivation to keep up with technology becomes easy once you realize the potential benefits.
Oh, wait. What if you can’t get a good internet connection in the field? Mobile technology is useless then, right? Hardly. The best in mobile tech has already considered that – that’s why mobile apps like JobFLEX eliminate the need for an internet connection, providing even greater reliability and flexibility. You can create quotes on the go, with or without a wifi, hotspot, or 3G/4G connection, and simply upload it later.
Time is money.
It’s quite simple, really. Mobile technology opens the door to better time management, and with more effective use of time, employees have the ability to generate more quotes, resulting in more sales, and in turn? The golden ticket: more revenue. Are you in?
