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Going Mobile in the Janitorial and Sanitation Supplies Industry
1.
2. INTRODUCTIONGuide produced
by sales-i
$23.6bn
The janitorial and sanitation supply industry
is worth an incredible $23.6bn.
The janitorial and sanitation supply industry is moving at
such a fast pace, it is often difficult to keep up. And in a
sector worth an incredible $23.6bn, it is not an industry
any business would ever want to fall behind in.
While the ‘big boys’ - that is the typical huge janitorial
and sanitation dealers - are in a great position to
dominate the market with their seemingly endless sales
and marketing budgets and a cost saving financial
model, the smaller players amongst the masses often
get tossed to the wayside, with little consideration from
potential customers and buyers.
Yet businesses just like yours are making their comeback,
battling their way through the ‘big boy’ noise and
clawing back some share of the customer wallet. How
are they doing this? A fine example will be sitting on
your desk or in your pocket right now: mobile devices. It
sounds straightforward, but mobile can be the difference
between a deal won and a deal lost.
The industry has come back fighting after the recession
and business for many is going from strength to strength.
Going mobile is the next step in the competitive race and
will keep you biting at the heels of your top competitors.
As company leaders from across the industry begin
to realize the benefits of mobile technology, they are
beginning to carve out a role for smartphones and
tablets in the workplace. Further to that, the recognition
of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) schemes is adding to
the growing ubiquity of mobile tech in business.
So going mobile is on the rise, big time, but just how
are janitorial and sanitation supply businesses really
benefiting from implementing mobile technology into
their day-to-day operations?
3. Working productively whilst on the move has to be one of the biggest
benefits of going mobile. It can be as simple as making calls, checking
emails, sharing files and updating mobile CRM systems, or as advanced as
using mobile devices to deliver presentations, check inventory levels back
at the warehouse and process orders.
With mobile technology comes the potential for more productive working
on the move. When equipped with smartphones, tablets, notebooks and
other mobile gadgets, your team can work where and whenever they
choose.
The advent of 4G and even 5G connectivity lends itself to faster data
transfers and more reliable mobile networks no matter where in the world
your team members end up. Coupled with the fact that the functionality of
handsets and tablets is only set to get more advanced in the coming years,
this is incredibly encouraging for businesses seeking to make the transition
to mobile technology.
ON THE MOVE
WORK PRODUCTIVELY
1.
Team members are becoming more and more mobile, spending time
away from the heartbeat of your business. Technology is one of the few
ways that will keep them connected to your business even if they are
hundreds of miles away from your HQ.
4. Dissatisfied customers tell 16
people. Happy customers tell 9.
Going mobile is not all about your team out on the road,
but your customers will notice a difference and they’ll
soon be singing your praises from the rooftops.
If your team is always connected, they’ll be able to
respond quickly to any issues or enquiries. Moreover, if a
member of your service team is to see an issue outside
of business hours, they’ll be able to plan their solution
outside of the office, saving valuable work time. This will
take that wonderful team and make them superheroes
that are always one step ahead. Customer expectations
in every industry are getting higher and they are
demanding more from suppliers, so you have to bring
your ‘A game’ or risk falling behind.
This is not to say that the traditional methods of serving
your customers are done and dusted. More that there
are better tools out there to do the same thing, in a
faster and more streamlined manner. Issues, enquiries
and support queries used to be hand written and sent
by snail mail (or carrier pigeon) to arrive a week later,
be processed and replied to with another weeks delay.
Now they can be dealt with, rectified and closed in a
matter of hours, if that.
Dissatisfied customers typically tell 16 people about
their poor experience, while happy customers tell 9.
This statistic alone should be more than enough to
encourage you to ensure that every customer interaction
is top notch.
SATISFACTION
BOOST CUSTOMER
2.
5. The janitorial and sanitation industry is one rife with directives to drive
efficiencies and more ‘green’ legislation than you can shake a stick at.
While we all typically think of ‘going green’ as cutting waste, pollution,
environmental impact and recycling more, have we thought about the
impact we have on the environment in terms of the computer hardware
we have rattling around the office?
Luckily, the advent of BYOD schemes means you don’t need to invest in
another batch of laptops and smartphones every time you get a bunch
of new recruits. It means one single device for work and play. If your
employees are making good use of their smartphones and tablets, there’s
less need and reliance for expensive, energy-using desktop computers,
saving your business money and reducing its impact on the environment.
What’s more, the development of Cloud based services and storage
means you no longer need to invest in and maintain any infrastructure to
keep your business wheels turning. Everything is done over the Internet and
can be accessed from anywhere you can find a connection. Security isn’t
a worry either, as most solutions are using a similar security grade to what
most banks do, so you don’t have to fear for your business’ data every time
an employee is off on a trip.
GO MOBILE, GO GREEN
3.
6. THE CLOUD AND MOBILE APPS
WILL REDUCE COSTLY IMPLEMENTATION PROCESSES.
There is a myriad of tools, technology and mobile
solutions out there that will streamline business processes
and make your professional lives that run that little bit
smoother. In today’s technology heavy world, it is now
possible to conduct complete business meetings from
start to finish, process sales and close deals using mobile
technology alone. You sometimes never have to meet
a customer or prospect face-to-face. It may be a bit
daunting for anyone that is new to technology, however
your company will certainly be remembered for doing it
a little differently.
Everything from planning, presenting, negotiating,
exchanging contracts and processing payments can all
be done using mobile technology. If your prospects and
customers are as well versed in the latest technologies
as you are, they will welcome your modern way of doing
business with open arms.
Whether you are tied to your desk or one of your
company’sroadwarriors,mobiletechnologywillhelpyou
to ensure that you profit from every efficiency, potentially
saving you a good amount of cash. The Cloud, software
provided as a service and even mobile apps will all save
you a huge investment in assets, infrastructure, hosting
and costly implementation processes.
EFFICIENCIES
DRIVE BUSINESS
4.
7. Technology of every kind can promote collaboration, but mobile
technology in particular can allow employees to work remotely no matter
where they are. They can share and edit documents from tablets and
smartphones or jump on video conferences with colleagues to work and
communicate in real time.
The prominence of Cloud based platforms in today’s business world means
that team members can work together on projects, proposals, documents
and much more without ever having to meet in person.
But it is not just a case of working remotely with other colleagues. Your
mobile workforce can collaborate on projects during meetings, sketch out
ideas and share sales brochures or technical documentation in a far more
interactive manner than traditional methods. Using tablets, smartphones
and other mobile tech can bring entirely new ways of working to your team,
business and the way you interact with your customers and prospects.
COLLABORATIVE WORKING
5.
8. Find out more
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