New to Tech? Fear Not – Here's a Gentle Way In
You've been doing things manually for years, but now it's time to move your business online – here's how to ease into it
Georgia Madden
23 April 2022
Making the switch from running your business with a pen and notepad to using business software can feel daunting, particularly if tech is not something you’re used to. The secret is to choose software that is designed to be intuitive and easy to use. Before you know it, you’ll be saving serious time and hassle, and impressing new clients from your very first communication. Read on to find out how.
Pros who have relied on pen and paper are often nervous about switching their businesses online, says Melanie George, manager of the client success team for Houzz ANZ. “Learning tech can be difficult if you’re not tech-savvy, plus it takes time. But once you’ve got the hang of it, business software can save you serous time.
“Many pros tell me that switching to business software has resulted in better communication – particularly when they’re working with a team – improved customer service and, ultimately, happier clients.”
“Many pros tell me that switching to business software has resulted in better communication – particularly when they’re working with a team – improved customer service and, ultimately, happier clients.”
Some software, such as Houzz Pro, is easier to learn and use than others, making it a good option for tech newbies. “Some of our packages come with unlimited training calls, and we’ve been told by many pros that the user experience is better for clients,” says George.
Find out how Houzz Pro can help you run your business and manage your leads
Find out how Houzz Pro can help you run your business and manage your leads
Tristan Haddock, director at Renotech Building, made the switch to software three years ago. “We did it to remove the hassle of document handling and to have a more in-depth view of how jobs are tracking.
“At any given time, I can assess a site’s progress through daily logs and live schedule updates. It also tracks the financials of the project to ensure we are on track through live budgeting,” he says.
So how hard was it to transition? “We initially had the software running for two or three months before fully committing to it. There was certainly a teething process to work through, though this was eased with free training,” he says.
“At any given time, I can assess a site’s progress through daily logs and live schedule updates. It also tracks the financials of the project to ensure we are on track through live budgeting,” he says.
So how hard was it to transition? “We initially had the software running for two or three months before fully committing to it. There was certainly a teething process to work through, though this was eased with free training,” he says.
For Anthony Pillinger, director at Swell Homes, the key to success when moving online is to keep your set-up simple. “An office can be furnished with a laptop, a modem, a multi-function workstation printer, a backup hard drive and a cloud data server. List complete. From that point, there is an amazing array of office software you can access to run your company,” he says.
Pillinger uses an array of different business-software programs to run the various parts of his business. “We use Houzz Pro for website hosting, lead generation and to collect client reviews,” he says.
Pillinger uses an array of different business-software programs to run the various parts of his business. “We use Houzz Pro for website hosting, lead generation and to collect client reviews,” he says.
But there’s still a place for old-fashioned pen and paper in his day-to-day business. “I still use a writing pad to note down numbers or codes given to me over the phone, and to write lists,” he says.
“I like striking out jobs as they are completed and transferring the remaining items to the next page in the pad once the working page is too full. This will never go. But, for the rest of the business, we go the tech route,” he says.
If you are new to Houzz Pro, there are several easy-to-use tools you may want to start out with, says George. These include:
- Houzz Pro Takeoffs tool: This lets you quickly and accurately measure and mark up plans on screen in minutes, then turn them into professional estimates. “Just upload your floor plans and use the measuring tool to work out things such as wall length, area space, and to calculate concrete volume, wall cladding and the number of power points. You can even create groups to bring multiple measurements together. You can then easily generate estimates to send to clients,” she says.
- Houzz Pro Product Clipper tool: This captures and stores product images and information from Houzz or other websites, or uploaded from a computer, which you can then share with your client for approval.
- Houzz Pro 3D Floor Planner: This tool lets you create a visual of the finished project, which you can then show your clients.
Next, select products and resize them to match the product you are specifying for your client, and choose your flooring material and paint colours. You can then give your client a 3D walk-through of the ‘finished’ space or show them a dolls house view.
Other easy-to-adopt Houzz Pro tools, says George, include:
- Houzz Pro Stopwatch: This allows you to effortlessly track time spent working on each project.
- Houzz Pro CRM [Customer Relationship Management] tool: Keep up-to-date with where each prospective client is at and see what you need to do next.
- Create templates: Save time by setting up standardised emails for things you do repeatedly, such as new client emails.
Your turn
How did you manage the switch to tech? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, send it to your team, and join the conversation.
More
Need more professional advice to bolster your business? Read How to Keep Your Potential Clients Interested and Onboard
How did you manage the switch to tech? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, send it to your team, and join the conversation.
More
Need more professional advice to bolster your business? Read How to Keep Your Potential Clients Interested and Onboard
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Thank you for the feature, Georgia! xTeam FURNISHD.
Great article! We are going through the switch to tech and THE key thing is patience. The time you invest in proper set-up will ensure an easier journey down the road.