On Track For Technological Success

March’s Building Service Contractors Association International Convention (BSCAI) in Chicago aimed to put or keep building service contractors “On Track for Success.” Technology has always been an integral part in contributing to a business’s success, or at least easing the process.
At the show, cleaning-supply manufacturers were not shy about showing off their innovations, but they were not the only ones with new tools and toys.

Building blocks
When technology is integrated successfully, a business can run more smoothly with increased productivity; taking care of the basics should be first and foremost. Brad Winslade, partner for Network Specialists in St. Louis, Mo. spoke at the show about different areas where a business can utilize technology. Setting up an internal or external network to connect individual employees and branches is a good place to start. Having all employees connected to the same information helps to increase productivity and ease communication.
“It’s a necessity now, not a luxury anymore,” says Winslade. “It puts information at fingertips and is much quicker than the paper routine.”
Most businesses have an Internet site, but they also can benefit from having an intranet site. Intranet works like the Internet except that the former is blocked to the public and only accessible to employees, customers or suppliers. Companies use intranets to post forms and newsletters instead of printing them.
Internet and intranet sites and connections are great technology additions for a company, but employees on the go may have trouble finding a phone or T-1 line on the road. For BSCs with a lot of information only available on the Web, wireless Internet is a possible option.
“Wireless technology [is] great for sales and marketing. It gives you major accessibility,” says Winslade.
But when going wireless, one must remember to encrypt the data. Otherwise, anyone could pick up the signal.
“Without encryption, you can drive around and pick up other company’s data,” says Winslade. “You can sit in the parking lot and it will be just like sitting inside their company.”
Encrypting data is a simple procedure. Encryption, built in to many programs, just needs to be enabled and then set at its highest level.

Help is on the way
If BSCs want to integrate technology into their offices, but feel they are not skilled enough to do it themselves, they can outsource it to a technical support company. Small companies should outsource from the start, says Winslade. An outsourcing company can set-up and monitor the technological aspects. Once the company begins to grow, an information-systems staff can be set-up inhouse later.
Another option other than outsourcing is to use an application service provider (ASP). An ASP not only manages the technology, but keeps all the company’s data at their location as well. Company users log in to the system to access the data.
“The advantage is you don’t have to invest in your own network and servers,” says Scott Gauger, regional sales manager for Team Financial in Omaha, Neb. and also a show speaker and exhibitor.
Team Financial handles telephone timekeeping and financial and labor management applications. Its sister company, TangoPoint, is an ASP that allows users to share data online. Certain people can gain access to the data based on their rank. Those not qualified are kept out. BSCs have been using TangoPoint to share inspections and work orders with their clientele.
“You can show your clients what you’ve been doing at their specific facility,” says Gauger.
When choosing whether to outsource or use an ASP, customers need to think about their comfort level with their information.
“A lot of companies aren’t comfortable with giving someone else control and possession of their data,” says Winslade.

Tracking success
Another option for BSCs is industry-specific software. Rimrock Technologies in Billings, Mont., debuted JobCostPro at the BSCAI convention. JobCostPro is the sixth module to their Executive ToolKit software. Each module is designed to track a specific aspect of a business. For example, JobCostPro keeps track of profitability for a job while InventoryPro keeps tabs on supplies and equipment. Other modules are used to track schedules, chemicals or work orders and customer complaints. Modules can be purchased and used separately or as a bundle.
“With any module you should be able to recoup the money invested in a month or two through savings in your own labor or by tracking labor or supplies,” says Rimrock Technologies president Scott Smith.
This is just a small roundup of some of the technology exhibitors at the BSCAI show. When looking to integrate new technology into a business, there are numerous companies and devices to seek out in the market. Since technology is constantly advancing, attending conventions is a simple way for BSCs to check out the latest applications—cleaning or business related—and find out what works for them.