Kodak grew into a huge business by selling inexpensive cameras and making large margins on consumables – namely film and paper. In fact, in 1976, Kodak dominated the market, with 90% of film sales in the US and 85 of camera sales.
Unfortunately, the digital age came and Kodak’s business model needed to change. Consumers started using digital cameras – which weren’t profitable for Kodak – and eliminated the need for film, ink or paper. Instead of changing their business model to take advantage of digital photography, Kodak’s complacent corporate culture dragged its feet, eventually leading to a bankruptcy filing in 2011. The inability to change killed a once-great corporation.
A similar aversion to change could kill your business. As we’ve seen when our customers implement our irrigation software, there is one simple answer as to why your technicians will hate irrigation software when it is first installed for your company: Change. Nobody likes change, especially your technicians. Your guys like to go out in the field and do the work on site, not learn a new process on a computer or a device.
I know that even before my irrigation business had software tied to it, my guys hated change. I would introduce a new procedure or form the guys had to fill out and all I received in return was grief, grunts, and eyerolls. I, however, was not going to budge. We all wanted the business to grow and in order for that to happen there needed to be change.
Techs, and people in general, will always hate change. A lot of people enjoy knowing the routine and not having to develop a completely new system. That’s understandable but not realistic. Unless you plan to never grow or expand, you must change.
Along with the change comes accountability. This new system will make your techs accountable. This is another sore spot for your team. They don’t enjoy having their every move monitored, from the time they leave the office, to their lunch break, and back to the office. Again, your guys like to go out in the field and do their job, not worry about all of the logistics and procedures.
The change can be stressful, and at times, even a headache, but the end result will make everything worth it. A few things that techs will love about irrigation software are:
- Eliminate Paperwork
This may be the biggest benefit to your techs when it comes to installing field service software. They no longer have to worry about keeping papers organized, having neat enough hand writing for the office to figure out, or staying late to finish up work orders they couldn’t in the field.
Everything from scheduling, to the work orders, and on to billing is done electronically. Techs need one device with them in the field instead of 20 pieces of paper.
- Easier and More Efficient Schedules
One of the nicer features that comes with irrigation software is a simpler and more efficient schedule The staff is able to schedule a customer based on the length of the service as well as where they are located. This eliminates your technicians driving back and forth across town getting to customers’ locations. Less time spent in the trucks, will almost always result in happier trucks. They can avoid being stuck in traffic and get to more jobs in one day. - More Jobs for More Money
Speaking of more jobs, with an efficient irrigation software, your techs will benefit from more jobs in a day. More jobs mean more money for the company and in turn your employees.
Change is never easy. And trust me, your technicians will fight you on the change to irrigation software. But the benefits that come with it, not only for your techs but also for your entire business, are worth the initial grumbling.
Want more ways to benefit your business? Download 6 Simple Things Your Field Techs Can Do to Grow Your Business today!