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Enginuity (now part of Ainsworth), a mechanical contractor based in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, was preparing for a refrigerated warehouse expansion that included nearly 50,000 square feet of cooler and freezer space.

Based on the large scale of the project, Almir Kapetancic, who led the Enginuity team, decided to use RLS press fittings instead of brazing the massive number of joints that would be required. The plan was to reduce labor hours and accelerate the timeline with RLS fittings – including the company’s “XL” 1-5/8” and 2-1/8” sizes.

By using hundreds of press fittings across the project, Kapetancic was able to reduce on-site labor hours by two-thirds, better manage and schedule his staff, deliver the completed project faster for the customer – and do it all more profitably.

“This was the first time that I’ve utilized press fittings on a job site, but it was an absolute game changer for both our workflow and bottom line,” says Kapetancic. “The benefits of added flexibility and efficiency of labor on-site more than made up for the investment we made in the press fittings and tools themselves.”

“I had full faith that I could explain the technique for press fittings to even the greenest contractor and they could confidently reapply it across the worksite after a quick hands-on instruction” he said. “The alternative is a brazing certification, which is an in-depth process that can’t be taught on a whim or in passing. Brazing certified contractors are also becoming harder to find these days, so RLS has allowed us to adapt to an evolving workforce without compromising the quality of our installations.”

In addition to the major efficiency and ease-of-use advantages of RLS, Kapetancic and his team also found the fittings to be completely reliability. “We haven’t needed to revisit any of the connections that used press fittings” he said. “The proven reliability and resilience of XL press fittings from RLS have me very excited about the positive impact they can have on our business going forward.”

For more information about RLS fittings – the only HVAC/R press fittings with a 9+ year track record and sizes up to 2-1/8” – visit the RLS website.

By Paul Carmody

Small business owners face constant challenges in their quest for growth. In the home service industries, numerous obstacles threaten to block the path, from staffing shortages to increasing overhead expenses and competition. Add to that a few trade-specific challenges, such as fluctuations in seasonal demand and ever-changing regulations and advances in technology, and it becomes clear these businesses need a reliable way to streamline operations, improve efficiency and keep everyone on the same page.

While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for growing a service business, there are several common pain points we hear over and over again in the field that must be addressed in order to get to that next level:

Pain Point #1: Issues Empowering Technicians in the Field

We often hear that it can be hard to track a technician’s time when they are in the field, or to outfit techs with all of the tools they need on their phone or device. When the software you’re using is lacking in features or functionality for the field or the back office, it can mean missed job notifications, slowly processed invoices and lack of customer history – all causing day-to-day headaches for the technician team.

Pain Point #2: Navigating a Mobile App vs. Back-End

Does your business have a user-friendly mobile interface for field technicians but grapple with back-end infrastructure that’s inefficient and disjointed? You are not alone. There is often a disconnect between a strong mobile app and an outdated back-end system, and a lack of integration between the two can cause communication delays between field and office staff. The unhappy result is missed appointments and disappointed customers, which leads to a tarnished company reputation.

Pain Point #3: Juggling Software Systems

Using multiple software systems that rely on an API or data sync to move data from one platform to another doesn’t always work as planned. Maintaining multiple software packages can create compatibility issues and numerous software updates that cause downtime and disruptions to critical business operations. It also adds on costs for licensing, training, and support. For technicians, switching between multiple apps to access customer details, job updates and invoicing is frustrating. Their productivity takes a hit, and the risk of error increases with manual data entry.

Prescription for Pain Relief

Fortunately, it’s possible to have a unified business management platform that streamlines day-to-day operations. Look for one that is tailored to meet the unique demands of your industry and allows for customized workflows, reports, and processes to align with your specific business requirements. Today’s best software has features designed to streamline processes, enhance business operations, help your employees make informed decisions and provide excellent customer service to your clients.

To specifically address empowering technicians in the field, provide them with a mobile app that allows them to collect payment, input customer opportunities or equipment, and invoice right from their phone or device at the jobsite.

It’s definitely time to say goodbye to paper and embrace custom digital forms that techs can access right from their mobile app. Another way to make techs (and back-office staff) happy is by eliminating the paper timecard. Time tracking in a mobile app is a must, as are digital invoices. No more waiting for the back office to email or mail an invoice; your customer can get it right away from the tech. Customers have a better experience too because they won’t have to call into the office with their payment information or wait days for an invoice to be mailed.

Once you have all that convenience in a mobile app, you want to make sure it’s connected with a powerful back-end system that answers all of your software needs in one package. A few key features to look for include:

• Accounting: integrated accounting features should be robust enough to eliminate the need for third-party accounting software or hiring an accountant to create your general ledger. The functionality should also eliminate the need for double information entry and reduce admin time by including tools like one-click digital invoicing. More accurate financial data can be at your fingertips. For instance, Successware’s accounting functionality lets users defer revenue from agreements to the period the visit occurred, leading to increased accuracy.
• Agreements: Agreement management built directly into the software will save time for call takers and dispatchers. For instance, when call takers are on the phone with a current customer, you want them to be able to see if they have an active agreement for which they need to schedule service. Dispatchers can more easily fill in jobs on the dispatch board when they can see agreement visits that need to be scheduled.
• Reporting: When operational and job data reside in the same platform as your financial data, it can do wonders for reporting. You won’t have to export data from multiple platforms to create robust reports, and if you have multiple businesses on one platform, you can consolidate financial reporting to see all data in one report. Reports in the new Successware Platform are run using Microsoft® Power BI, an industry leading platform.

There will always be pain points in business, but your business management software doesn’t have to be one of them. Do your research and find the right all-in-one solution that will reduce expenses, simplify processes and increase your revenue and profits so you can grow and scale your home service business.

Paul Carmody has over 20 years of experience as a senior executive in Software-as-a-Service, technology-enabled services, internet infrastructure, and supply chain/manufacturing industries. He has served as a key executive in five successful exits and one IPO. He is currently President of Successware, an Authority Brands company. 

Managing a construction fleet involves a unique set of challenges that can significantly impact efficiency, cost and project timelines. From dealing with equipment downtime to navigating complex compliance requirements, fleet managers in the construction industry face numerous hurdles. Understanding these pain points can help professional tradesmen optimize their fleet operations and improve overall job site productivity. Here, we explore the top pain points for construction fleets and offer insights into addressing these issues.

Equipment Downtime

One of the most critical challenges for construction fleets is equipment downtime. When machinery breaks down or is unavailable, it can halt projects, leading to delays and increased costs. Several factors contribute to equipment downtime:

1. Maintenance Issues: Regular maintenance is essential, but unexpected breakdowns still occur. Without a proactive maintenance schedule, minor issues can escalate into significant problems, leading to prolonged downtime.
2. Lack of Spare Parts: Delays in obtaining necessary spare parts can extend the time equipment is out of service.
3. Operator Error: Inadequate training or operator mistakes can lead to equipment damage and downtime.

To mitigate these issues, fleet managers should implement a robust preventive maintenance program, ensure a steady supply of spare parts, and invest in comprehensive training for equipment operators. Using asset maintenance software can also streamline these processes and reduce downtime.

Rising Maintenance Costs

Maintenance costs for construction fleets are on the rise due to several factors, including:

1. Aging Equipment: Older machinery often requires more frequent and costly repairs.
2. Complex Technology: Modern construction equipment comes with advanced technology, which, while improving efficiency, also increases the complexity and cost of maintenance.
3. Labor Costs: Skilled technicians are needed to perform maintenance, and their labor costs are rising.

Fleet managers can address rising maintenance costs by strategically planning equipment replacement, negotiating better rates with suppliers, and using data analytics to predict costly repairs.

Fuel Management

Fuel is a significant expense for construction fleets. Inefficient fuel use can lead to increased costs and environmental impact. Key fuel management challenges include fuel theft, inefficient fuel use, and lack of monitoring. Implementing fuel monitoring systems, educating drivers on efficient driving practices, and securing fuel storage can help manage fuel costs effectively.

Driver Management

Managing drivers in a construction fleet comes with its own set of challenges:

1. Driver Shortage: The industry faces a shortage of qualified drivers, making it difficult to find and retain skilled personnel.
2. Training and Compliance: Ensuring that drivers are properly trained and comply with regulations is critical for safety and efficiency.
3. Performance Monitoring: Tracking driver performance to ensure adherence to safety and operational standards can be challenging.

Fleet managers can overcome these challenges by investing in driver training programs, implementing driver incentive schemes and using telematics to monitor driver performance.

Compliance With Regulations

Compliance with regulations is a major concern for construction fleet managers. Regulations cover a wide range of areas, including:

1. Safety Standards: Ensuring that all equipment and operations meet safety standards is essential to avoid penalties and accidents.
2. Environmental Regulations: Compliance with emissions standards and other environmental regulations is increasingly important.
3. Record Keeping: Maintaining accurate records for inspections, maintenance and driver hours is mandatory and can be time consuming.

Staying updated with regulatory changes, using fleet management software to streamline compliance tasks and conducting regular audits can help manage regulatory compliance effectively.

Data Management

In the modern construction fleet environment, data plays a crucial role. However, managing and utilizing data effectively can be challenging:

1. Data Overload: The sheer volume of data generated by modern fleet management systems can be overwhelming.
2. Integration Issues: Integrating data from various sources into a cohesive system can be difficult.
3. Actionable Insights: Turning raw data into actionable insights requires specialized skills and tools.

Fleet managers can address data management challenges by investing in advanced fleet management software that offers data integration and analytics capabilities, and by training staff to interpret and act on data insights.

Construction fleet managers face numerous challenges, from managing equipment downtime and rising maintenance costs to ensuring compliance with regulations and effectively managing drivers. By understanding these pain points and implementing strategic solutions, tradesmen can optimize their fleet operations, reduce costs, and improve efficiency on the job site.

Sam Kraft is Content and Communication Manager at Whip Around. Kraft brings 13-plus years of copywriting experience to Whip Around, where he’s immersed in “all things fleet” on a daily basis. He’s the go-to guy for fleet technology insights, breaking down industry trends and making sure fleet managers get the information they need to keep their equipment safe, compliant and productive.

By Heath Betts, Nexstar Network Leadership & Culture Coach

The hardest expectations to manage are the ones we don’t know about

As a Nexstar coach, I have the enormous privilege of traveling across the United States to visit our members’ shops. Most companies, I’ve noticed, have a lot in common – especially when it comes to success and struggles! The largest challenges I see most often are those surrounding clear communication.

If you lead a team, you might feel that you’ve done a great job of communicating your expectations to everyone. But now, your people aren’t performing, or they aren’t accomplishing the things that you think they should. However, I’d be willing to bet your team thinks they’ve accomplished a lot. In fact, right now, they’re saying, “I went above and beyond; I did more than what I was supposed to do.”

So, now what we have is this enormous expectation gap. An expectation gap is the space that lies between what we expect to happen and what actually happens. And in the middle of that gap, there’s anger, disappointment, and a lack of trust from both sides. We need to do everything we can to get rid of that gap! And the only way to do it is to attempt to reset expectations in a clearer way.

Everyone on your team should know exactly what’s expected of them in the role that they perform. They need to know what their goals are, and the clearer we can be about those goals, the more effective your team is going to be. That way, when things start getting crazy and ideas start flying in and people want to go in all different directions, you can bring them back to what’s expected, what the defined goals are, and what things need to be accomplished for those goals to be met. Then your team gets to focus on the work that they know they need to be focused on, instead of going all over the place and getting into other people’s lanes.

Sounds easy, right? It can be, if we’re intentional about how we go about this. A great exercise to help you clear up your expectation gap is to sit down with your team members and conduct an Expectations Exchange. Ask them, “What do you believe is expected of you?” Then, you can share what you expect of them. Compare notes and get clarity – this will go a long way towards eliminating that gap.

Another thing that you can do is have your team write down answers to the question, “What do you expect from me as a leader?” You, as the leader, can write down what you believe they expect from you. Now, compare notes. Read all the answers out loud. I guarantee it will be an eye-opening experience; you’re going to discover a lot of things. And the things you’ll discover will help you get rid of that expectation gap. Imagine that: Getting rid of that anger, frustration, disappointment, and lack of trust. Moving forward with your team to work more effectively. With that expectation gap removed, you’re going to have lots more fun coming to work and accomplishing great things together, too!

Heath Betts has owned and operated successful businesses in five different states. During his career, he has taught HVAC technical classes for a local community college and for manufacturing companies. Heath has coached more than 300 HVAC companies and provided mainstage presentations to thousands. He loves to see organizations succeed, and helps Nexstar members understand how culture and leadership affects the health of their companies.