On occasion, we get the question... "who is your biggest competitor?"
Simple.
A: Status quo
In other words, whatever the builder or trade has been doing up until this point, they look at BuildIT, then go back to what they were doing. Whether that be paper-based chaos, whiteboards, spreadsheets, burning up cell phone batteries daily or "using the force", construction companies use all manner of tools, processes, duct tape, whatever to keep the wheels on the bus turning.
Sure, there are other construction software companies, some offering an enormous menu of features (with a corresponding enormous price!), all with their approach to building the best mouse trap and promising the world. But overall, we are competing against the natural forces that all other construction software companies are faced with: a prospective customer who is experiencing some sort of pain, their window was rolled down a bit to consider the possibilities or improvement, perhaps a conversation/email or better yet demo/test drive of that software... then POOF, they're gone.
Change is tough. Patterns are well entrenched. Employees and quite frankly owners too have a natural reluctance towards embracing new technology, processes, software. Metaphorically, Newton's first law of motion can applies: an object (person) at rest tends to stay at rest.
Oddly enough, the builder and trade does come to us first. They do voice their pain, make a noise as it were.
Reminds me of the story of the guy walking down a country road, sees and hears a commotion on the front porch of a farm house. Old farmer on a rocking chair, and his hound sat next to him... howling. The howling was non-stop, so the guy strolled up and asked the farmer, "hey, what's up with your dog?"
"Oh, he's just howling cuz he's sat on a nail."
Puzzled, the guy carried on with his questioning, "So, why doesn't your dog just move his butt?"
"Well, it hurts him enough to complain, but not enough to do anything else."
Over the past 20 years, we've spoken to lots of builders and trades, who have been very clear about their issues, business challenges, scheduling nightmares... some have taken action and we're delighted to serve them. Others have found other options.
But there are many hound dogs out there who even today are probably still facing the same issues, but have remained fully seated on their nails... and if you hear them howling, you'll know why!
If you're ready to get off the nail, give us a shout. Let us help you get your schedule done today !!
