Handy tips that make using our software easier!
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Improve your Customer Relationships with a Phone Call
Have your office call each customer's site at the end of a job or when a unit is picked up. The office can do this during slack time and it has several benefits:
1. Helps you find a customer who has had a problem. Gives you a chance to leave the customer feeling positive.
2. Catches incomplete work, i.e., units on site, tools left behind, damaged lawns, etc.
3. It's an opportunity to upsell or schedule a reminder for next year/service.
4. Involves your customers in an evaluation of your people in the field.
Additional Service Charges for Shortened Lead Times
You can distinguish between supplying service under "normal" conditions and RUSH jobs. A rushed service might be delivery or pickup of units within three business days, or pumping a septic tank or servicing a grease system within one business day.
If the lead time is normal, there is no charge, but if not, it is good to charge a nominal, i.e., $25.00 fee, for suppling the service outside of the "normal" lead times. (You have to spend extra effort in re-routing or make an extra trip out, which is expensive.) Likewise if your customer can wait, offer a discount to close the deal, knowing you can combine jobs and save trips.
Clear Computing offers several ways to implement these charges so they do not fall through the cracks.
1. Use the Work Order Dispatching feature to look forward and see when you are going to be in an area.
2. Post a special entry for the charge.
3. Add a one-time delivery charge when first placing the unit. 3. Use special rate codes that detail what the charge is for, and add them into the note area of the invoice so that the invoice reads correctly.
4. Keep separate rates for service within normal or expected business hours and outside of "normal" business hours, i.e., overtime charges.
Break Out Your Services to Improve Sales and Increase Revenue
Clear Computing allows you to charge for up to 5 different line items for any particular unit. This allows you to quote a cost-effective base price and sell the options. Break out how you charge for your units in terms of:
This is the same technique used by the car rental agencies and utility companies.Rental Service
Damage Waiver
Winterization
Electrification
Hand Cleaner
Multi-services
Specialty units
etc.
Increase your profits with a damage waiver
You can increase your profits by offering your customers a damage waiver for $2.00 to $18.00/month/unit. Fax new sites a form to sign and return if they decline the charge; many customers simply pay for the coverage so as not to impact their own insurance coverage if they have to file a claim.
If you rent 600 units, the damage waiver fee of $5.00/unit/month adds a monthly revenue of $3,000. This is enough to pay for many damaged units and cover office clerical time.
