Service Management

Three emerging business software trends are impacting the Weights and Measures service industry on a daily basis. Companies that adopt these trends early can get ahead of the competition....and stay ahead! WHEN YOU’RE ON THE MOVE! Mobile Computing remains one of the most important trends today, and can result in a dramatic ROI improvement. According to a field service report by the Aberdeen Group, a top-ranked U.S. research firm, 58% of incoming calls requesting service result in a service rep being dispatched. In the majority of cases...

Over the past few years, there has been a marked difference in the way OEMs have designed their products. Most workgroup and desktop models are now marketed as “serviceless.” Newer model printers are ushering in new technologies such as low cost per page (1 cent mono/5 cent color) ink, and low-cost, high-speed multifunction hardware (under $500). This certainly makes the business logic for repair much less compelling than it once was.

How often do you get a call from a client looking for some information, or backup related to their scale certificates? Chances are if they are calling you, it means they are being inspected, audited or are in the midst of compiling some regulatory paperwork. Like most scale dealers, you have probably developed a system to retrieve and send certificates to customers. Does your system include giving customers access to their certificates online 24/7? In the age of information, more and more customers are beginning to expect this service. What would this approach tell your customers about your business?

If you could ask your clients just one question, would it be “How likely is it that you would recommend our company to a friend or colleague?” Established by Bain & Company in 2003, the Net Promoter Score was created to help companies measure customer loyalty, using a single question survey conducted by phone, email or web, with a 10-point rating scale and a short answer section. How willing your customers are to recommend your services to others determines which category they fall into: promoters, passives or detractors.

Recently I was approached by a scale dealer who recounted to me that he has spent $100K and 12+months developing a certificate management program that, even once complete, will not have the capabilities of software that is readily available for his industry today at a fraction of the price. This is not uncommon for us to hear.

Why do you need a service management program when you already have an accounting system? Accounting systems are central to your business, but one thing they cannot do is help you manage your service department...