BuildIT - Return on investment is a "no-brainer"

by scott · Jan 15 2010, 08:00 AM
categories: BuildIT Advantage | Contractor Wisdom | Convince me... | On Being More Productive

When was the last time you "wasted" money on something?

You took some hard earning money, bought a widget that ultimately gave you nothing in return, other than the initial feeling that you may get something out of it at some point.

  • the exercise machine that is collecting dust (and clothes)
  • that food mixer appliance that looked so easy on the infomercial but when you use it - not so easy, so you go back to the knife and cutting board
  • that stock you bought, thanks to a tip from your buddy - you're still waiting that puppy to climb back up to the purchase price
  • that box of software you bought a few years ago that promised the world, and now it's a bookend on your shelf

OK, now that I've re-opened a wound, let's cut to the chase.

Everyone comes to BuildIT looking for one thing - a solution to a problem. Finding the right solution will put money back into your jeans, or time back into your life, or will reduce the stresses of running your business... or if you're lucky, ALL 3 at the same time.

You part with your hard earned dollar to subscribe to BuildIT; mentally you are doing the math - the "what's in it for me" equation. You need to see a major return on investment, and you need to experience that return (make it yours) right out of the gate.

It's the story of many of our customers... and it can be your story too !!

Let's look at ways you can win with BuildIT.

1. Saving money - miscommunication

Every job you do requires a number of tasks, and responsibilities from other parties. The more tasks required, and the more people involved, the more mistakes will occur. Those mistakes generally are caused by miscommunication of some sort. Communication issues are the main cause of grief, and profit loss. This is an undeniable fact. Ask yourself, where do problems occur that cost you $$ or time, and chances are, you'll attribute that to a breakdown in communication.

BuildIT is the perfect solution for keeping you and others "on track". Any and all issues are documented in one place, tied to the job. There is no mistaking who is responsible for what, who said what, what was to be built and when - all that information IF YOU TAKE THE TIME TO ENTER IT, is in one place, and there to serve your interests down the road.

Scott Sedam of True North Consulting, an advisor to high volume homebuilders, claims from his organization's research that for every residential construction job, there are about 30 - 35 subcontractors and vendors. There is typically one mistake that takes place for every 5 outside people involved in the project, so you can expect 6 - 7 mistakes per job. These mistakes, thanks in large part to miscommunication (not getting the information in time, red lined drawings that are unclear, building off outdated specs or schedules, etc.) WILL COST YOU time, money and aggravation. And the dollar cost will be well in excess of what our typical customer would pay for subscribing to BuildIT for a year.

Use BuildIT properly (even minimally), and you will reduce errors, and have a back up that protects your interests should errors occur, and passes the onus of responsibility on to the other party.

2. Saving money - labor

Think about what it costs you for a part time or full time "warm body" to help with the "administrivia" of running your business. Now imagine a full time office assistant that never calls in sick, is available 24/7, does not give you "attitude", does not spend hours you pay this person each month checking Facebook, Twitter, playing Solitaire, checking CNN's latest headlines, etc., does not contribute to shrinkage, does not increase your risk of embezzlement - and you get this for a whole month, at a fraction of the cost of that "warm body" (perhaps, 1 to 2 hours' wages of that person's time and loading) !! Our customers make this claim that BuildIT saves them $1000's per month in wages. I calculated with one customer in Texas that his return on investment with BuildIT was 47 to 1 - think about it - for every $1 he spends on BuildIT, he saves $47. Do the math.

Having said this, we recognize that you do need adequate levels of staffing to run your business effectively, and office administrators do play a vital role in the operations of many small to mid sized contracting businesses. BuildIT can augment your business, assist your team with becoming more organized for success, and even give your office administrators a tool to help them accomplish their tasks quicker and with less error. Each person knows where to go for the information, where to post the information, and this will free up your staff to do more valuable functions that drive your business forward in terms of professionalism and profitability.

3. Making money - new revenue

We have customers who use BuildIT to their advantage - to get new business.

How?

Simple. You're competing with other companies offering a similar product. Your price may be in line with theirs. What distinguishes you from the other guy? If you use the worn out platitudes like "we're honest", "integrity in everything we do", "unsurpassed customer service", your customers will blow right by. You need something that truly sets you apart.

Professionalism - customers want to do business with someone that looks good, and gives them the "feeling" that they're dealing with the pros. You use the many construction document templates in BuildIT, which can be printed off, or emailed, showing your letterhead and all the details. AND, you let them know about a system that will keep them informed 24/7 about their project, where you are at any point in the schedule, and a place where they can view any files pertaining to the job.

You offer them the following:

"Mr. Future Customer, if you choose us, we have a web based service that will allow you to view your project schedule at any time of the day. Through this system, you can see how your job is progressing, and you can even communicate with us on any particular task on the schedule. I will also post files for you to review - contracts, specifications, progress reporting, pictures - anything that you need to see along the way will be available through this service. There is no website to remember, no username and password to maintain - just check your email and I'll send you a link."

All things being equal, by you offering this service, you are now set apart from 95% + of your competitors who haven't yet graduated to web based construction tools like BuildIT.

4. Saving Time

Have you ever calculated what your time is worth, per hour?

Have you ever calculated how much time you would save on each project if you carved off, say, 5% of the time?

Time is money - do the math. And start saving time today by using BuildIT. Take the time saved and invest it in new business. New business = new revenue = increased profits for the year.

Do this, and then call us with your answer so we can brag even more about how BuildIT contributes to our customers' bottom line.

----------------------------------

In short, you're not here to buy technology because it's cool (although, we admit, it is a cool tool). It HAS to either save you time, make you $$, help you avoid embarrassment or costly call backs, or help you get the next job and have a leg up on your competition.

Put it to the test today - we'll partner with you, and help you get some success under your belt.

Scott Hutchinson, ROI guy
scott@builditsystems.com
1 866 585 5050 ext 1

 

Technology Adoption Challenges for Construction Businesses

by scott · Jan 08 2010, 11:01 PM
categories: On Being More Productive | On Computers in Construction | On Construction Software

(This article reprinted with permission. Thanks to Josh Groves, President of jobtrio.com, the largest directory of construction contractors on the web. The goal of jobtrio.com is to efficiently connect contractors with consumers who truly value their services.)

Within any company, it is never easy to convince the workforce that a new, technological advancement has made an old way of doing things obsolete. For instance, no matter how my staff tried to explain to me the advantages of the new Windows 7 operating system over XP, I dragged my feet and resisted the change. From my observations, this aversion to technology adoption is far more present in the construction industry than any other major field.

For the most part, construction companies live and die by their continued presence and productivity on the jobsite. Typically, there is little thought given by management to company-wide initiatives or employee training because these acts would necessarily pull the workforce out of the field. Therefore, even if one day of training on a new technology might result in large future gains in employee efficiency, managers usually are not willing to take the risk.

I experienced this first hand as a construction industry Operations Manager for a medium-sized company. Every day I would watch at least thirty minutes get wasted by each employee as they struggled to determine which tasks were to be priorities for the work-day.  The fix seemed simple to me: adopt a basic, web-based system which could allow workers to login and view updated project management information. My estimate was that this system, taking into account training and maintenance, would pay for itself in a matter of a month.

Needless to say, I encountered tremendous resistance from my boss and from all of the workers in the field, and the initiative never got beyond my written proposal. 

This is just one example of what I experienced time and time again -- PDAs, driver GPS, field laptops -- I could never get my company to consider any of these technologies, and, from speaking with others whose businesses rely on their contractor's license, this sort of stone-walling is quite typical.  But, what is to be done? 

My first inclination is to say that until a younger, more tech-savvy generation of contractors who understand the value of technology investments steps into management positions, we aren't likely to see a change anytime soon.  However, if you are dedicated to your company's long-term success, it is wise to fight the good fight, and eventually your supervisors might adopt some of the new, money and time saving technologies which could be key to your company's survival.

Help is a click away

by scott · Apr 23 2009, 07:27 PM
categories: Contractor Wisdom | On Being More Productive

Help.

There's a lot of it available out there... for you... and much of it is free. Help with your marketing, business management, and ways to stay competitive, cash flow positive, and ahead of the pack.

And in this economy, why not take advantage of it ! 

1. Network organizations

Business after hours, Chamber of Commerce meetings, BNI or similar business networks. Rotary, Jaycees, and other service organizations. Trade organizations like NARI, NAHB, CHBA (for you Canadians). Get involved, and get the word out on your business. Associate with those that are going through similar experiences, and brainstorm with them. Many of these folks are willing to share their advice and help you out. Hey, you may just shake hands with your next customer.

2. SCORE big time

I came across SCORE the other day (Service Corps of Retired Executives http://www.score.org/). Here's what they say about themselves:

SCORE "Counselors to America's Small Business" is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA).

SCORE is headquartered in Herndon, VA and Washington, DC and has 370 chapters throughout the United States and its territories, with 11,200 volunteers nationwide. Both working and retired executives and business owners donate time and expertise as business counselors. SCORE was founded in 1964.

We are America's premier source of free and confidential small business advice for entrepreneurs.

Wow, I'd take them up on that one in a heartbeat. Just look at all the business templates that are available for your small but growing business:

http://www.score.org/template_gallery.html

3. Small Business Administration

The Small Business Adminstration (http://www.sba.gov/), or SBA, helps Americans start, build and grow businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, SBA delivers its services to people throughout the United States.

Not only can they provide you with business planning, services, financing, marketing and a host of other tools, they can also help you find local State resources.

4. Economic Development Administration

Each State has one, and they all want YOUR business. They want you to succeed in their State. And they provide the tools to help you: access to capital, technical assistance, educational programs, peer groups and referrals to others in your situation who may be able to help out. Find your State's EDA here:

http://www.eda.gov/Resources/StateLinks.xml

5. Free Software Productivity Tools 

There are some great applications out there to make your job, and life, easier. Some of it will also raise you up a few notches in professionalism.

6. Free Website

If you don't have one already, get one. Many free "template" websites exist.

If you subscribe to BuildIT, we'll give you one, and even help you get it set up.

You need a web presence. Your customers want to see what you're made of. And you'll fare much better if you give them a business card with yourname@yourbiz.com on it as opposed to a Gmail, Hotmail, or AOL email address (save those for your personal email - for business, spend a few dollars and get a proper email address that brands your business).

We can help you get a domain (www.yourbiz.com) and an email address yourname@yourbiz.com pretty quick, and for just a few bucks. Call us.

7. BuildIT

OK, time for the shameless self promotion :-)

But seriously, BuildIT is mission critical for many construction businesses that are weathering this financial crisis. This is a productivity tool that keeps you organized, on top of your scheduling, and gives key people visibility into what's happened, and what needs to happen next. Use it right, it will put more time back into your life, and more $$ in your jeans.

========================

So there you have it, just a sampling of tools and ideas geared to help you achieve more in your business.

Here's to your success !

Scott Hutchinson, CHO (Chief "Help" Officer)
scott@builditsystems.com
1 866 585 5050 ext 1

 

How to create templates to streamline

by scott · Apr 15 2007, 10:36 PM
categories: On Being More Productive
  • choose whatever 'business process' you want to systematize
  • list the required steps for the work to be done
  • decide when each step should be done (each could be on the same day or on different days)
  • save the template (in BuildIT)

Now you can use the template as often as it's needed to schedule work fast:

  • just decide when you want the work to be started OR completed
  • then schedule the work (just click the schedule button)

More on leveraging proven business systems...

More on the advantages of business systems for contractors...

Construction processes that can be systematized using BuildIT...

How BuildIT can help your business grow...

The secret to streamlining your contracting business

by scott · Apr 10 2007, 10:34 PM
categories: On Being More Productive

Creating and using work templates is at the heart of streamlining your work flow and business.

Templates provide a consistent, predictable, reliable way of doing things - with them you can streamline work flow and systematize virtually any aspect of your business including:

  • estimating/bidding
  • scheduling
  • pre-job checklists
  • job setup checklists
  • production checklists
  • inspection and quality control checklists
  • health and safety checklists
  • customer follow up systems
  • sales
  • warranty
  • employee training
  • documentation creation
  • and any other business processes

How to create construction work/schedule templates...

More on leveraging proven business systems for contractors...

More on the advantages of business systems for contractors...

Construction processes that can be systematized using BuildIT...

The critical differences between contracting and other businesses

by scott · Mar 26 2007, 10:34 PM
categories: On Being More Productive

Most businesses outside contracting operate:

  • from the same physical location(s)
  • with the same people group of people on an ongoing basis
  • on a transaction by transaction basis (not job by job / project by project basis)

This makes it easier for people that work in regular businesses to:

  • better know the work habits of their co-workers
  • access all kinds of business information
  • have closer supervision
  • learn to use computers
  • catch mistakes before they happen
  • get and stay organized

None of these apply to contracting. It's a different world.

The truly mobile construction office: coming soon to your area...

The advantages of tapping into proven business systems for contractors...

Killer problems faced by contracting businesses (and how you can reduce and eliminate them)...

The advantages of tapping into proven business systems for contractors

by scott · Mar 26 2007, 10:32 PM
categories: On Being More Productive

The profitability of every job depends on your ability to manage, organize, schedule, and communicate a wide variety of information - so does the success of any contracting business.

Chances are, you use tools by DeWalt, Milwaukee, Stanley, Porter Cable, Makita, and others. These physical tools help get the job done. Quality tools can still produce poor work in the hands of someone who doesn't know how to use them. It takes time to learn to use them properly.

Construction software systems are a new kind of tool that help get the job done. They're power tools that help manage, organize, schedule, and communicate information - and do it all efficiently, predictably, and reliably - which is what good business tools (systems) are supposed to do.

Just like any tool, it takes some time to learn to use construction software properly.

With BuildIT's user-friendly construction software system you can:

More on the advantages of systems for contractors...

More on how BuildIT can help your business grow...

Why software systems help construction businesses sell faster (and for more money)...

The problems with developing systems for your contracting business (and how to avoid them)

by scott · Mar 15 2007, 10:27 PM
categories: On Being More Productive

It takes a ton of work to develop systems for any business.

You need to:

  • think through and understand your businesses processes (what to systematize)
  • identify all the things that could/should be improved
  • develop systems to manage, organize, schedule, and communicate
  • test and improve the systems over time
  • employees need to be trained (more time and money)

This adds up to a pile of time, effort, and expense on top of what you already do.

No wonder so many contractors haven't systematized their businesses (even though they may have wanted to).

Developing your own business systems from scratch is a waste of your time. It would be like developing your own power tools. Why bother when it's been done for you?

The best and fastest way to systematize any business is to tap into an existing system - one that's tested, proven, and works.

Then all you do is learn to use it.

BuildIT Systems gives contractors, construction businesses, and the people they work with a fast reliable way to tap into proven business systems. Learn more...

Learn about the advantages of business systems...

More on the advantages of tapping into proven business systems...

BuildIT gives you everything you need to succeed and is simple to use.
“It's the most impressive collection of tools assembled for construction management success.”
Start your free test drive now.

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