Many factors play a role in customers not returning, like product availability and price as well as the quality of customer service. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown a wrench in the supply chain, causing headaches for custom home builders. Higher material prices coupled with low availability have reduced a custom home builder’s ability to complete profitable construction projects.
But, what if you, the dealer, could tear down these barriers? Doing so creates the right environment for sticky customers – customers that return to you for construction materials.
Dealers and builders can collaborate for better profitability
Dealers can work more effectively with their customers by publishing price files via a secure integration—allowing builders to access up-to-date pricing at any time.
A new dealer integration feature recently launched in Buildxact project management software provides this integration. It connects builders directly into the dealer’s ERP system. Dealer customers using Buildxact can now create and send an order that passes through the dealer’s integrated BisTrack ERP system in a swift, transparent and accurate manner and at any time convenient to the customer. Sharing price files in this manner removes existing friction in the builder-dealer relationship and minimizes communication barriers.
With this streamlined communication, you can establish more effective processes that help increase revenue. It also allows you to respond to RFQs faster than before, saving more than 50% of the time it typically takes.
Also, it increases quote efficiency. A majority of dealers spend two to three hours per quote, but with Buildxact, that number drops dramatically. Less time spent on quotes allows dealers to save money on outsourcing the quoting process.
Finally, by sharing pricing via a digital connection, dealers can place greater focus on growing the overall business relationship with the customer rather than on transactional tasks. This leads to happier, more satisfied customers, who return to their dealer with difficult questions or situations they regularly deal with on the job.
Collaboration leads to builder loyalty
Problem solving allows dealers to genuinely make a difference in the work of their customer. Using their expertise and knowledge, dealers can present builders with the best options for materials needed for specific construction projects. Once a custom home builder sees the added value that the dealer brings to the table in the form of their subject matter expertise and thoughtful recommendations, the sense of partnership and customer loyalty will continue to grow with time.
Now, when there are product shortages or inflated prices, the dealer and custom home builder can work together to find the best possible solution. This solution can be in the form of sharing knowledge of suitable substitutes for specific building materials, good workarounds, share insight into when more material should arrive, among other things. The custom home builder will truly appreciate a dealer who cares about their success. That is how you create a customer for life.