Accessibility is Key
A key need is for existing information to be more accessible. “There’s a lot of attention being turned to increased functionality,” says Jason Bolstad, director of software at DMSi. “A big differentiator for dealers will be having a platform that offers more functionality and more accessibility and transparency across software programs.”
Gathering information for estimates and responding quickly to requests for quotes are key functions where technology can help. “Dealers want to create synergies between departments to cut time and increase communication to generate more estimates faster and more accurately,” says Brian McCormick, director of business development for the residential supply chain at MiTek. “But communicating information between departments isn’t always easy because they use different systems. Dealers are asking us if they can shrink time by capturing information once and letting three departments use that same information so they don’t have to replicate it. They want to leverage fewer resources and take less of each department’s time to generate quotes that are more accurate and provide a higher hit rate.”
Accessibility across platforms has become a driving force for technology companies. Epicor, for instance, in August introduced a new version of its Eagle system that brings together all of a company’s business intelligence into one system. “It allows users to analyze their data and optimize their business, which will help them grow their bottom line,” says Graham Rigby, product manager. “Our goal is to deliver one version of the truth—which can be accessed from anywhere.”
The use of integrated, accessible programs aids every level of the business, Maiuri says. “We’ve seen a high deployment of these tools at all levels within our customer base, from owners to midlevel managers and even yard positions.”