Sales and profit projections and the actual results are not squaring up because each member of your sales team has their own way of estimating your services. And those varying methods sometimes equate into inaccurate numbers. Can you relate?
The old way of doing things isn’t working. Endlessly plugging in names, dates and other sales data into multiple (and differing) versions of spreadsheets needs to stop. It is difficult to manage pricing standards, and it takes your salespeople a lot of time that could be used more effectively.
Landscaping sales software is the tool that will keep your entire company more accountable, increase profits and make all departments function better.
Before you implement software, it’s necessary to get the team to buy-in to the new solution, so everyone is estimating and selling the same way, in a manner that is profitable for your landscaping company. But can it be done?
Your sales team may resist this change because it’s new, and they’re used to the “old way of doing things,” even if it doesn’t work.
In this article, you’ll find useful tips to persuade your company that landscape estimating software will revolutionize how all of you do business.
If you’re like most sales teams, you’ll have some folks who’ll embrace landscape pricing software and others who’ll resist the technological change. Sometimes the sales force is more resistant to changing from hundreds of spreadsheets (or even handwritten estimates) to one software program--even if it improves their bidding or gives them better estimating information.
How do you get your sales team on the same page?
You can first name the benefits that the sales force gets right away for using this software:
Reassure your team--whether you’re a regular salesperson or the sales manager--that landscape sales software is easy to use. Many times it’s fear that holds people back from learning a new program.
Include Software’s support team will teach your entire company how to use the program--including the sales team.
And if anyone runs into trouble with the software--even if it’s midnight and they’re working from home---they can still reach technical support to solve their tech problem.
Salespeople always want to offer a competitive price so they can closer more deals and make more commissions. And conveniently, nothing makes your customers happier than knowing they could get a project done on time and under budget. Using an effective software platform can help accomplish that shared goal.
The database keeps track of all of the vendors and materials to help operations and management track costs better. This means they can purchase products at the best rates, so the ultimate mark-up of materials will only be as necessary.
This will build confidence in your company’s pricing structure as well as make your prices more competitive for your company’s customers. Plus, happy customers who save money are motivated to pass on that salesperson’s name to other potential customers.
You’ll also sense an improvement in company culture—especially toward the sales team—because the other departments won’t be wasting time duplicating information to maintain the databases.
Also, information is more accurate. So no one has to double-check anything due to the landscaping estimating software. Thus, everyone—including the sales team—are more harmonious in their work relationships.
All of a sudden your landscaping company is getting more calls, more proposals are presented and sales are skyrocketing because everyone is working together using one software program.
Less hands need to transfer less information from the sales team to operations, and then to the accounting department. Billing is more accurate and invoices are sent out on time, getting you paid more quickly.
Remember the story in the beginning where your boss asked you those questions about data inconsistency?
Now, let’s rewrite that story from the introduction. It’s a year later. Your sales team went through the training and have been using the landscape sales software for six months.
The owner comes up to you with a smile on his face. He asks you if you’ve seen the latest numbers in the database. He’s pleasantly surprised and glad that you made him aware of this new way of doing sales.
“Thank you for finding that software. We’re now making more profit than we ever had in the history of this company,” the boss says. “And this landscape maintenance sales software got us back in the black.” You’re so glad that you and your sales team implemented this software.
If you want that kind of feedback from your boss or you’d like to never see a spreadsheet again, check out Include Software’s Asset. The software’s sales and estimating program takes the hassle out of paperwork and makes your profits sing. Plus, improving your landscape company’s sales processes is just one of the many benefits of this integrated software tool.
If you’re ready to learn more about how Asset can help streamline sales and other processes for your landscaping company, call Include Software at 800-475-0311 or request a free demo.