Installers: it is time to reduce failure costs

A recent study by USP reveals that failure costs remain a problem in the installation industry. While this amounted to 5% of revenue a few years ago, total failure costs are now estimated at over 10% of revenue. Failure costs are a bottleneck for the organization, and it is essential to prevent the percentage from rising further in the coming years. We want to offer you tips on how the right software can help ultimately reduce failure costs.

The main causes of failure costs in the installation industry

Research by USP Marketing Consultancy reveals that most failure costs stem from a lack of communication and agreements between the parties involved. Additionally, requirements at the start of the assignment are often too vague, there is a lack of knowledge among processors and planners, errors occur in planning, and work is carried out sloppily as the deadline approaches. Furthermore, proper agreements regarding responsibilities are not made, and unexpected additional requirements are imposed without being incorporated into the calculations. And as if all this were not enough, all of the above also result in lower customer satisfaction, longer-than-planned lead times, dissatisfied internal employees, and a qualitatively inferior end product. In more extreme cases, it can even have legal consequences or jeopardize safety.

Record all information in the project

While it is true that recording communication and agreements between various parties requires a specific approach from everyone, you must always have this communication and these agreements fully at your fingertips. Bluace’s service and maintenance software makes it simple to record all this information. You record communication and agreements within the project by, for example, linking incoming emails and adding supplementary notes. Actions can also be linked to these if necessary. Our software is cloud-based so that it can be accessed from any device with an internet connection. This allows your employees to record agreements directly, not only in the office but also on the road or on-site at the client’s or partner’s location. Furthermore, all these notes are immediately visible to every authorized person within your organization.

Work with standard calculations

In daily practice, many errors persist, and significant time is lost due to frequent data retyping. This is even though common jobs, along with their associated assembly time and parts, can be stored in the appropriate software. By using these stored calculations, you have the correct data at your fingertips with just a few clicks, and you can schedule the job immediately without requiring much mental effort from your employees.

Get started with optimizing the planning

In today’s climate, the installation industry is busier than ever before. Efficient planning is crucial to maximizing your capacity utilization. ERP software for installation companies with the right planning module helps you optimize and, where possible, even automate your planning. This makes your planning more efficient, reduces planners’ workload, and makes implementing changes easier. If you also handle urgent jobs, the most suitable technician is selected based on location and the parts available in their van. Furthermore, where relevant, the software accounts for technicians’ qualifications and certifications, ensuring you comply with laws and regulations at all times.

Always work on-site with a Field Service App and a digital work order

Our consultants still regularly hear stories from installers about working with paperwork orders. If these are subsequently lost, there is no record of the work performed, making invoicing difficult. Ensure your employees use a Field Service App. This app ensures that everyone works according to specific guidelines, allowing your installation company to operate uniformly, reducing errors, and making completed work easy to review. Additionally, it is simple to register the time worked immediately and the parts used. All this information is also immediately visible to the finance department, ensuring quick and accurate invoicing.