Boost your construction business | Pro Construction Guide
Embrace technology to boost your construction business

Embrace technology to boost your construction business

Tablets are especially useful as a sales tool

Tablets are especially useful as a sales tool – even if only to showcase before and after photos of your work without lugging a gigantic clipbook.

Instead of looking at the latest tech development and wondering how it can help to boost your construction business, start by looking at your business.

Technology can be used to help Pros (trade professionals and general contractors) save time and money. It’s just a matter of selecting the right high-tech products and services and knowing how to use them to boost your construction business.

Selecting the right high-tech products to boost your construction business

Sometimes the concept of advancing technology can be intimidating or imply some highly complicated gadget or software with a steep learning curve that would take valuable time to adopt. However, retailers like The Home Depot are starting to customize that technology for Pros while keeping top of mind one key objective – save time and money.

Instead of looking at the latest tech development and wondering how it can help to boost your construction business, start by looking at your business:

• Identify areas of opportunity – look for remodeling tasks and processes that take excessive amounts of time and/or keep you and your team away from the construction jobsite. Even while on the jobsite, there may be opportunities to streamline.

• Look for high-tech products and services for construction managers or general contractors that can help you boost efficiency to improve your business. You might be surprised at the range of helpful technology out there designed specifically for Construction Pros – especially focused on three key areas of your business.

Sales technology

This is an area that can always be improved and expanded to boost your construction business. Sales growth is a strong indicator of a healthy business, so if you’re focused on improving sales, then you’re putting yourself and your construction or remodeling business in an excellent position.

Tablets are especially useful as a sales tool – even if only to showcase before and after photos of your remodeling work without lugging a gigantic clipbook.

Project estimators are another must have. You don’t always need elaborate and costly estimation software, especially if you’re a small- to medium-sized residential contractor. There are Pro-specific resources offered by retailers like The Home Depot that might not cost you anything more than the few minutes it takes to sign up for a program like Pro Xtra.

On-site project management

Now from the construction jobsite, you can conduct more business from the palm of your hand than ever, which keeps you and your team on the jobsite instead of running around wasting time with multiple store trips or other inefficiencies.

Look for applications built with features that directly impact those areas of opportunity you identified earlier, such as purchase tracking, smart product suggestions, quick and easy mobile checkout and visibility into local store inventories.

Something as simple as a text message can save a significant amount of time somewhere that general contractors and construction Pros may not have even realized there was inefficiency.

Think about when you send runners to the store for more products and supplies. Many times they will have your credit card, which means someone will need to authorize them before they can complete the purchase. If the retailer can’t get you on the phone right away, you’re losing precious time while the runner stands around waiting for authorization.

The Home Depot recently introduced its Text2Confirm feature for members of the Pro Xtra loyalty program. Now when your runner gets to the checkout with your credit card, it will trigger a text message sent to your phone. One quick response from you will authorize the purchase. A potential 20-minute delay is handled in less than five, and most importantly, your team can continue working throughout.

Business organization

Find a digital platform that organizes your day-today business. This is more than the complicated financial software you bought to organize your invoices. A program like Pro Xtra at The Home Depot will immediately help you start saving time.

Among its suite of helpful features, Pro Xtra enables you to go completely paperless. It will track purchases and even provide access to electronic Customer Service Agreements. Soon that dashboard full of documents, business forms and receipts will be a distant memory.

Not only will your construction or remodeling business operate more efficiently, you can spend that extra time with your family. Technology can be used to give Pros an additional edge over competitors, which can serve as the basis to boost your construction business, if used correctly.

–By J.T. Rieves, Vice President, Pro Business, The Home Depot

J.T. Rieves has been with The Home Depot for 27 years. During that time he’s held many positions including hourly associate, store manager, district manager, regional vice president and two rotations in the corporate office. Rieves has spent time working in hardware and store operations. He is currently in his fifth year as Vice President, Pro Business.


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