5 Reasons to Embrace Technology

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter.  

It is time to bring your company into the 21st century! Here are five ways that technology puts extra power behind your business by working smarter. 

The roofing industry is always striving to improve, which is why there are more technological solutions than ever for roofers to take advantage of. From roof measurement tools to CRM systems, the world of roofing has certainly evolved. Roofers who have adopted new tech are constantly reporting decreased costs, improved job-safety and increased accuracy; however, technology has so many more benefits outside of the lifecycle of one job. 

Read on to learn about the top five benefits of embracing technology in your roofing business. 

1 – It is all about efficiency.  

The promise of technology is that it allows us to achieve more in the easiest possible way. Something like automation, for example, is meant to make a business run smoothly and provide customers with an amazing experience.  

Contractors who have long relied on paper workflows are finding that digitization is streamlining their workflows while making their employees’ lives much easier. Routine tasks such as the ordering of materials and equipment to a worksite, marketing and data analysis can all be automated, helping contractors save time and money by optimizing their workflow.  

Additionally, digital technology plays a pivotal role in helping employees to become more effective in their primary roles. When you give your team the tools they need to excel at their jobs, they will continue to bring more value to your company. Technology is all about saving time by doing something as accurately as possible. 

2 – Better communication. 

With many businesses being remotely run, there is a high demand to make data accessible to contractors, clients and employees. Interated data-unified systems help contractors work collaboratively with project team members, yielding better results for the homeowners as the ability to share and update data and communicate in real time promotes overall efficiency. 

3 – Safety and risk management. 

Getting onto a roof can be risky, which is why it is crucial for roofing businesses to find more ways to reduce worker exposure to risk. Until recently, the best way to obtain roof measurements has involved climbing a ladder and using a measuring tape or taking pictures while on a roof to get a clear view of structural features.  

However, advances in technology now can help roofing professionals pull together estimates without even having to get on a ladder. Instead, high-resolution, georeferenced aerial imagery, like those provided through Nearmap, can obtain needed details, saving you time and labor while keeping your crew safe. 

4 – Differentiation. 

When prospective customers call for an estimate, most understand that the process takes time. So imagine how impressive it is when a roofer is able to finish the job more accurately, faster and with greater communication than your competitors? Technology helps you stand out in your bid and makes it easy to gain more work.  

Some roofing technology mostly benefits you and your team, but some provides visibility to the customer. In those instances, it's possible that your tech investment can pull double duty as a marketing tool. Whether it's a portal that streamlines communication, paperless financing options, or an energy-tracking app that shows when an upgrade has paid for itself, customers love tech that gives them more control over their investment, which in turn sets you apart from the competition. 

5 - Future-proofing your business. 

"When I was working on my other job at GE, we had just basically gotten computers given to us to use as a tool, and now look. Now we're Zooming and we're doing whatever we do,” says Marianne Sumter, owner of Wil-Mar Products in a Roofing Road Trips podcast. “It's just crazy. So you have to be open to whatever is out there and just work with it because if you don't, they're going to pass you by." She is right! You have to keep an open mind about new technologies that can help your business. Embracing technology and new solutions is the key to success and will continue to benefit your company as the industry evolves. 

Conclusion 

At the end of the day, technology is all about providing the tools your team and business need to be the best they can be. Roofing will always be an industry that prides itself on craftsmanship and precision. However, the industry is also embracing new technologies that are changing the world, allowing significant advances to be made in the way roofers communicate, work and interact so that they can provide better services for their clients while enhancing their bottom line and staying safe. 

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