HVAC Contractor's Guide to Estimating Software

The need for sales force automation is a top concern for small- to mid-sized businesses.

In a study by Software Advice — an online reviews group — of 385 participants, over 78% of which happened to be small companies of 20 employees or less, 67% were still using “non-specialized methods” of managing contacts and tracking leads. In other words, spreadsheets and email clients are still a sizeable piece of the pie, while a shockingly large 22% of companies are admittedly doing nothing to aid their business’ efficiency in tracking lead generation and making sales.¹

The common problem at the root of it all is evident: small- to mid-sized HVAC contractors simply don’t know what to begin to look for when they start shopping for software.

Too many small- to mid-sized construction companies — HVAC contractors, specifically — are facing the challenge of implementing streamlined, sales-friendly software to aid customer relationships. Smaller sized HVAC companies typically have no systems in place, keep pen and paper notebooks, populate extensive yet inconsistent spreadsheets, or simply find themselves frustrated daily by oversized, enterprise customer relationship management (CRM) systems that don’t fit their business. The common problem at the root of it all is evident: small- to mid-sized HVAC contractors simply don’t know what to begin to look for when they start shopping for software.

In fact, too many contractors get burned because they choose estimating software that doesn’t really address their needs, solve their problems, and help them to make more money. They follow the path of self-proclaimed “best-in-class” solutions out there that just aren’t flexible enough for their business, or get overwhelmed by the uncertainty and simply do nothing.

Contractors: while it’s absolutely no fault of your own, you simply can't afford to stop looking for the right solution. You just need to know what to look for (and look out for) when shopping for estimating software. Use this guide to cut through the clutter of information surrounding sales force automation software. It will tell you the questions to ask when evaluating software, and make the process less painful, and result in your business coming out with a flexible, easy-to-implement, revenue-boosting solution right for your organization and its sales force.

The Search for Estimating Software
Let’s get clear on the shared goal of those who are spending time evaluating estimating software: contractors are looking for systems to help them run their business more efficiently.

The residual benefits of a more effective business are extensive. They include, but certainly aren’t limited to, a happier sales force with greater productivity and retention.

The residual benefits of a more effective business are extensive. They include, but certainly aren’t limited to, a happier sales force with greater productivity and retention, more satisfied customers ready to buy, and an increased ability to quote more work, thereby bringing in greater revenues.

In data supplied by Software Advice, 76% of more than 5,200 small- to mid-sized businesses shop for estimating software to aid in sales automation, easing the burden placed on the sales force and increasing efficiency in the office as a whole^.2

Simply stated, all research data and responses regarding why small- to mid-sized businesses desire some sort of software comes down to improving the sales process, better nurturing leads, and generating more revenues as a result.

But, when it comes time to shop, they’ve yet to prepare themselves to ask the right questions to make sure they don’t get sucked down the rabbit hole. That’s why we’ve compiled the most important things to consider to be sure you’re getting the best solution for your business.

Four Key Elements to Evaluating Estimating Software
We’ve identified four key elements that go into evaluating a software system that will help your business increase efficiency and make more money. These include:

1. Ease of use
2. Increased efficiency
3. Boost in sales
4. Price points

In the following sections, we’ll expand upon each of these elements, and arm you with the questions to ask and information to gather as you embark upon your exploration for the right estimating software for your business.

Key Element #1: Ease of Use
The first element is obvious, yet also likely the most overlooked. Usability has to be top of mind when shopping for estimating software, because, quite simply, if it’s not easy to use for your least tech-savvy salesperson who suffers from fat finger syndrome, it’s not going to help him or her sell more jobs because they will not use it.

Implementation time for a new piece of software is a good indicator of its ease of use. Remember, all time spent actually implementing the system and getting your staff trained on it presents an opportunity cost. The longer it takes to integrate the system into your business, the greater the adoption risk that exists. Software that takes months to implement, and promises “Success Coaches”, “Business Coaches”, “Dedicated Support Teams”, “Implementation Specialists”, and any other form of “support team” ready to help you implement the software, even at no cost, probably means it’s a whole lot of trouble to get it done.

If you need an outside IT team to step in and assist with technical specs just to get the software up and running, it’s probably not the easiest software to use.

You can also get a great idea of usability from the level of support the system offers. Oftentimes, if you have to pay for support, it’s probably because the software is complicated and the company who created it has to charge for the hours spent helping users, or otherwise risk losing money.

If you need an outside IT team to step in and assist with technical specs just to get the software up and running, it’s probably not the easiest software to use.

If you can easily get in touch with customer support for the software via phone, email, or online chat — and it’s free — you can rest assured that the company feels quite certain its product is so usable, their support will hardly be needed.

For all salespeople, usability is critical to adoption of new technology. If it’s not easier to use than their trusted spreadsheets or pen and paper, it’s likely they’ll lack interest in learning it. Ease of use means making their life easier, not adding another hurdle to the sales process.

Your "Ease of Use" Checklist

• How long do they say it takes to implement this software in my business?
• How much time will it take to train employees on this new software?
• Is support for the software free?
• Can I easily get a hold of support via phone, email, or online chat?
• Do I need additional IT support to make it work, now or in the future?

Key Element #2: Increased Efficiency
As mentioned, the top sought-after outcome of purchasing construction estimating software is increased efficiency.

Some of the most important aspects of efficiency in contractor sales include document storage, collaboration features and access, and mobile sales enablement. Let’s explore each of these further.

When it comes to generating proposals and making a sale, document storage is incredibly important to turnaround time and accuracy. When you have a customer who’s eager for a quote, you most certainly do not want to be hunting down pricing documents, materials lists, or proposal templates. Stop the chase, and make sure that your new estimating software has a document library that’s easy to organize, easy to keep up to date, and accessible at the tap of a digital button.

Now, if software improves each sales team member’s efficiency individually, you’ve only satisfied half of the equation. Team members must also be able to effectively collaborate with other team members, as well as those back in the office. Access to the document library should be readily available, and its mode of storage should foster collaboration so that team members can see updates, coordinate changes, and eliminate back and forth communication and overlap of work.

A huge piece of access and collaboration in increasing efficiency is the ability to take your software and use it anywhere -- from tablets and phones, in the field or in a coffee shop. This is referred to as “mobile sales enablement”, and it’s important to understand that mobile applications for estimating software are not created equal. While 96 % of business owners shop for a cloud-based solution rather than an on-premise system, they fail to realize that many “mobile” solutions do not allow you to access documents or generate quotes while offline, putting your team at risk of being on site and unable to deliver a quote because they don’t have mobile service, WiFi, or a reliable air card. It’s important to understand just how mobile your new software is -- and what its limitations are.

Your Efficiency Checklist

• Do your project files have a central place for storage and organization?
• Is it easy to update a standard pricing database or material list?
• Can you easily distribute new sales and marketing content (brochures, presentations, videos)?
• Can everyone on your team access the same info, anytime and from anywhere?
• Can you access your document storage and make updates to it while offline?
• Can quotes be generated and delivered in offline mode?

Key Element #3: Boost Revenues
While the number one goal in purchasing contractor estimating software is increased efficiency, it’s undoubtedly because of its residual effects, perhaps the most important of which is increasing revenues and watching the bottom line rise.

CRM thought leader Paul Greenberg says it best: “In their early days, CRM systems were really good at creating operational efficiencies. They still do this today, but now it’s also about how effective they can make each interaction in terms of actually growing revenue -- not just cutting costs.”

In addition to allowing your sales team to quote more work, contractor estimating software should have capabilities that allow them to better impress customers and more easily close the sale. This should be apparent from the first impression.

Keep in mind that we live in an experience-driven economy, where customers have come to simply expect great customer service. Beyond that expectation, they crave differentiation, and in more than snazzy uniforms and beautifully-wrapped service trucks. Your new estimating software should give you this edge, so that you can impress with clean, helpful technology from the very first customer interaction. Tech impresses prospects, from young, millennial entrepreneurs to experienced, Baby Boomer business owners.

The software you purchase should be capable of generating professional, customized quotes with your logo, slogans, terms and conditions, and product photos.

Once you’ve secured the first impression, your new estimating software has to be able to help your sales team close the deal. The software should be capable of generating professional, customized quotes with your logo, slogans, terms and conditions, and product photos. Customizable formats and templates that streamline work are important to delivering a polished, professional estimate.