Industry News

New partnership further cements CallRail as the market leader for call tracking software in the home services industry

CallRail, the AI-powered lead intelligence platform, today announced a partnership with ServiceTitan, a leading software platform built to power the trades. The integration will allow mutual customers – including those in HVAC, plumbing, pest control and electrical – to access valuable information about their prospects and customers. The integration will ensure that the complete customer journey, from lead to job, is all captured within the ServiceTitan dashboard.

At a time when growing a business can be challenging, it is critical that contractors maximize their marketing investment and deliver a tailored and responsive customer experience. CallRail’s integration can help trade businesses acquire new customers and maximize their revenue – two of the most important goals for contractors, according to ServiceTitan’s recent Exteriors Contractor Market Report.

“Teaming up with the industry leader in ServiceTitan helps ensure we are delivering best-in-class lead intelligence solutions to the home services industry,” said Marc Ginsberg, CEO of CallRail. “We are proud of our history of helping thousands of home service businesses. Through this new partnership, we hope to improve marketing return on investment for them by driving and converting more quality leads.”

The collaboration marks the only call tracking provider available in the ServiceTitan marketplace today, providing home service businesses with the ability to understand what marketing activities are driving their highest-value leads and win more business through CallRail’s Call Tracking platform. This includes how those leads are discovering their business, right down to the keywords being searched for, and the connection between marketing activities and actual jobs that drive revenue. As a result of these insights, contractors can continuously improve marketing activities and develop a true understanding of the ROI being generated by those efforts. Key features include:

• No more pivoting between systems: View all leads within a single dashboard along with the marketing sources that generated those leads.
• Go beyond surface-level insights: See marketing sources at a deeper level – right down to the keywords that triggered each lead’s interest in your business.
• Power better bid strategies: Tie visitor-level tracking data to the revenue data from ad platforms to power better automated bid strategies that drive the right leads.
• Reduce administrative burden: Gain detailed records of all inbound calls at the touch of a button while avoiding wasted time traditionally needed to enter call details for each individual call.

To learn more about the partnership and how mutual customers can access the integration, visit: https://www.callrail.com/blog/fuel-home-services-business-with-service-titan-integration.

Watts has announced the recipients of its inaugural Backflow Hero Award. Recipients were selected by the Watts backflow leadership team from nominations from the Watts sales organization and rep network.

The Backflow Hero Award recognizes those who have made a significant impact in the field of backflow prevention and individuals that embody the following qualities:

• Passion for Protecting Drinking Water: Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to safeguarding drinking water from the dangers of backflow.
• Innovative and Creative Thinking: Generates fresh, inventive ideas around backflow prevention.
• Commitment to Education: Actively seeks and provides continuing education about the importance and methods of backflow prevention.
• Enforcement of Best Practices: Upholds and promotes the highest standards and best practices in backflow prevention.

The 2024 Backflow Hero Award recipients are:

Dave Watson – Dave Watson Associates

Dave began working in the cross-connection control field in the 1970s, traveling from town to town to explain the need for CCC programs as the codes were being developed. Dave is dedicated to finding the best products to protect systems while managing the impact on customers. Over the years, he has recommended vacuum breaker designs, offered constructive improvement ideas, and produced backflow preventer repair videos.

Dave teaches at all Michigan Plumbing & Mechanical Contractor’s Association (MPMCA) cross connection testing classes. He also presents to inspector groups such as PIAM, Tri-County, and SEMPIA. In his early years, he trained pipe fitters at GM, Ford, and Chrysler. He constantly interacts with local code authorities, addressing product listings and installation issues, and speaks directly with customers to gather feedback.

Jim Purzycki – Backflow Apparatus and Valve Company (BAVCO)

Jim is a highly experienced expert in backflow prevention and cross-connection control, with over 40 years of dedication to the field. Water agency personnel frequently seek his advice, and many of his innovative ideas have influenced backflow products available today. Jim is deeply committed to education, having served as an instructor and moderator at numerous backflow and water conferences nationwide. He remains an active mentor, teaching others about backflow prevention.

Jim is heavily involved with the American Backflow Prevention Association (ABPA) at both national and local levels. He collaborates closely with manufacturers and approval bodies like the University of Southern California Foundation for Cross-Connection Control and Hydraulic Research (USCFCCCHR). He has developed a comprehensive catalog of spec sheets, models, and parts for various assemblies and maintains a website with training videos on backflow assembly repair, installation, and maintenance. His three warehouse locations cover the entire U.S., reflecting his lifelong commitment to backflow prevention across all brands.

To learn more, visit watts.com/our-story/backflow-hero-award.

70% Have Experienced Bad Restroom Conditions

It’s back to school time and this year a survey got the deets about teens’ handwashing habits, restroom evaluations and whether or not they stay home from school when they’re sick. The Healthy Handwashing Survey™, conducted by Bradley Company, connected with 1,012 high schoolers ages 14 to 18 to gather their insights and opinions.

Handwashing & Health

First, the survey found teens are educated about the benefits of handwashing since 97% believe sudsing up with soap and water is an important action for maintaining their overall health. Despite that, nearly two-thirds admit on occasion they’ve cheated by skipping the soap and simply rinsing with water. In addition, one-third say they frequently see others leave the school restroom without washing up at all.

When it comes to removing the most germs from their hands, students have also learned that handwashing with soap aces hand sanitizer. 72% correctly believe their hands are less germy when they lather up with soap and water than after using sanitizer.

In general, students are conscientious about staying healthy. 74% take steps to avoid a sick classmate by eliminating physical contact and staying away from them. In the bathroom, students circumnavigate germs by operating the toilet flusher with their foot and using a paper towel to mitigate contact with doorknobs and faucets.

Restroom Complaints

Unfortunately, the survey revealed that most students use their school restrooms sparingly. 64% say they visit the facilities just once or twice a day. When asked why they avoid the facility, about 40% cited the fact that it’s usually dirty or smells bad.

70% report they’ve actually had a particularly unpleasant experience due to the condition of the facilities. Besides unpleasant smells, too many people in the restroom, clogged/unflushed toilets and stall doors that don’t latch closed cause the most negative feelings about school restrooms.

When they encounter a bad bathroom situation, 57% simply leave without using the restroom and nearly half say they steer clear of using that restroom in the future.

Teens also take issue with their peers’ negligence in restrooms. They’re particularly bothered by reckless behavior that causes damage to the facility (57%) and used paper towels left on the floor or in the sink area (53%) that makes the space look unkempt.

Overall, 48% of high schoolers say their school restrooms are average, which equates to a C grade, and 26% feel the conditions are poor, meaning the facilities got a D.

Restroom Recos

When asked how their school bathrooms could be improved, 56% responded that they would like them to be cleaner and stocked more frequently. More privacy with taller doors and no gaps between panels is another top request, along with more deodorizing or air freshener.

“Unfortunately, poor restroom conditions lead teens to think less of their school and cause them to believe it’s poorly run,” said Jon Dommisse, vice president of marketing and corporate communication for Bradley. “Our research shows that restroom conditions speak volumes about public establishments, including schools, so restroom cleanliness and maintenance is a must.”

Even when they are away from school, teens use restrooms as a barometer. Two-thirds say they have made a conscious decision to choose a business, such as a restaurant, store or gas station, because they know it has well-maintained restrooms.

Sickness Drives School Misses

While it’s an age-old joke, the survey found that the majority of teenagers do miss school when they’re sick. Three out of four say they stay home when they’re ill and the call is typically theirs to make – as opposed to their parents. However, for one out of five, the decision is influenced by whether or not they have tests to take or projects to complete.

The annual Healthy Handwashing Survey from Bradley queried 1,012 high school students Jan. 4-17, 2024, about their handwashing habits, school restrooms and germ avoidance. Teens were from around the country and were fairly evenly split between male and female.

For more information, visit www.bradleycorp.com/handwashing.

Once-in-a-lifetime VIP trip lets trade professionals go behind-the-scenes at RIDGID

RIDGID®, a part of Emerson’s professional tools portfolio, recently hosted their seventh RIDGID Experience, an annual celebration of the skilled trades held at RIDGID headquarters in Elyria, Ohio. Each year, the brand’s signature event rewards select members of the trades with an all expenses-paid, three-day VIP trip that features hands-on experiences, fun and camaraderie.

“The enthusiasm for RIDGID Experience continues to grow and this year’s trip was more epic than the last,” said Maddie Suvak, engagement marketing manager, RIDGID for Emerson. “It’s often described as ‘the hottest ticket in plumbing,’ and we loved hosting lifechanging experiences for attendees, who joined us from across the United States and Canada.”

Pat Finley from Indiana described the trip as: “The best three days I could ask for. Friends and memories for a lifetime.” Herb Lisone from California, echoed that sentiment, saying, “Loved every moment! Great brand, great people, great team! Definitely felt the love, run it back!!!”

Participants included:

• Nick Parlet, Webster, NY
• Pat Finley, Frankton, IN
• Germaine Nelson, Bowie, MD
• David Williams, New Braunfels, TX
• Philip Juliano, Boynton Beach, FL
• Laura Giudice, Mississauga, ON, Canada
• Herb Lisone, Sylmar, CA
• David Waldon, Ogden, KS
• Mike Caruso, Moreland Hills, OH

A highlight of the event was a factory tour that invited each guest to build their own iconic RIDGID customized pipe wrench. Guests also received a sneak peek at the latest RIDGID tools in development and provided feedback and insights. They also had the opportunity to network with attendees of Greenlee® Experience, a similar contest hosted by professional tools brand Greenlee. The two concurrent events created a full-scale celebration of the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing trades.

“Our team looks forward to the RIDGID Experience every year, and that’s especially true for our manufacturing team,” said Suvak. “There’s something special about having the people who use our tools get to shake the hands of the people who made them.”

Emerson’s professional tools business, which includes RIDGID as well as the Greenlee® and Klauke® brands, provides the industry’s broadest portfolio of advanced, reliable tools and technologies for the mechanical, electrical and plumbing trades globally. Visit emerson.com/professionaltools for more information.

RIDGID®, Greenlee® and Klauke® are trademarks of Emerson or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks belong to their respective holders.