Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/446924
C o n s t r u c t i o n M a r k e t p l a c e T h u r s d a y, J a n u a r y 2 2 , 2 0 1 5 1 2 WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER: THREE TOOLS THAT WILL SIMPLIFY YOUR LIFE AND WIN YOU JOBS You've heard the old saying, "work smarter, not harder." But are you putting it into practice? With the proliferation of mobile devices, it's easier than ever to manage your business on the go. These days, there are a number of tools avail- able to help you multitask and manage your operations more effectively and efficiently. Given the quantity and vari- ety of tools available, it can be tricky to know which solutions will truly work for your business. Here are three tried-and- true tools sure to make your life easier and win you more jobs. 1. An effective lead tracking and management system. Advertising is expensive. An effective lead tracking system will help you keep a finger on the pulse of your business and ensure that your marketing dollars are working to benefit your bottom line. Tracking your company's progress helps you recognize opportunities for growth, improvement and an increasing profit margin. Use a lead tracking tool such as HomeAdvisor's Sales Lead Tracking Sheet to track the source, progress and outcome of each of your new business leads. Then, analyze your outcomes to determine which of your advertising sources are bringing you the most profit and where your money and efforts might be better spent. 2. Field service management software. Field service management software – software that allows you to manage scheduling, work orders, job tracking and invoicing with one user-friendly applica- tion – will save you time and money by streamlin- ing your business opera- tions, and it will help even the most disorgan- ized contractor keep things straight. HomeAdvisor's business operations solution, for example, simpli- fies scheduling by letting you and your crew access a centralized calendar any- time, anywhere, to schedule or change appointments; consolidates work order management by letting you view jobs, review work orders and assign tasks in one summary dashboard; and helps you store and organize all of your customers' details – including history, recent requests and contact information – so you can easily follow up and turn existing relationships into long-term clients and referrals. It even helps you get paid faster by enabling your customers to pay direct- ly online or in person with a credit card. 3. A top-rated mobile app. A quality mobile app is your ticket to successful multitasking in the field. To get the greatest bang for your buck, use it as an extension of your lead tracking and field service management solu- tions. HomeAdvisor offers a mobile app to augment its professional service offerings. The app is free to member pros, and it allows you to easily manage your account, generate ratings and reviews, and track your per- formance in addition to managing your leads. With HomeAdvisor's business solution, you can access your customer list, attach photos to jobs, create esti- mates and invoices, and track job loca- tions and field employees in real time. HomeAdvisor will help to ensure that you are organized and on top of your new business prospects, ultimately help- ing you grow your business and win more jobs. Visit HomeAdvisor at booth #C3065. For more information, go to pro.home advisor.com. SAM CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE DECREASES BUILD TIME, INCREASES PROFIT MARGINS SAM, the Superintendent's Automated Manager, is a construction management software package that decreases build time and increases profit margins, so that construction managers can spend their time dazzling and amazing their clients instead of struggling with software. SAM is very simple to use, combin- ing the latest technologies of the comput- er, tablets and smartphones. Automated Trackers, the company behind the soft- ware, does all the set-up for it at no addi- tional cost. Once it's set up, you'll get a simple training class that'll have you up and running in minutes. Best of all, this is the one construction management soft- ware package that truly is designed specifically to meet the needs of con- struction managers, and it isn't cluttered up with a lot of other accounting and cus- tomer relations management modules that do nothing to simplify construction scheduling. "I have built houses for years. This software looks and feels exactly like the paper schedules that builders use out in the field," said Automated Trackers Owner Danny LeBlanc, who will be in the Automated Trackers booth #C3059 during the International Builders Show. "What you hear over and over again from my competitors is that it was built by builders for builders. That's hogwash. It's usually a standard account- ing program that doesn't operate the way builders need to operate. With SAM, you have a complete tactical view of your organization and you can send hundreds of scheduling notices with a mouse click and know that everyone got the message you intended to deliver." Now in its tenth year on the market, SAM is widely used throughout the con- struction industry precisely because it's easy to use and it eliminates construction delays and excuses. "SAM gives you the complete tactical view of your organiza- tion," LeBlanc said. "No more, 'He said, she said,' in the field." SAM even includes real-time reporting, which eliminates the need to involve multiple people han- dling the data to produce the reports that construction managers need to direct projects efficiently. "We give them the eyes they need to do their job," LeBlanc said. "They're building houses blind if they don't have software in place. SAM can decrease build times on homes by 10 days, just by giving the project manager the tools to stay on schedule through every step of the construction process." For further information, visit Automated Trackers in booth #C3059. After the Builders Show, visit www.automated trackers.com. MORE ICC-ES BUILDING PRODUCT LISTINGS ISSUED ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES), experts in building product evaluation and certification, continues to grow its Building Product Listing Program. Insulation Solutions recently received ESL-1009 for Nu-Age Films™6+. This listing conforms to ASTM D4397-10, Standard Specification for Polyethylene Sheeting for Construction, Industrial and Agricultural Application. The product is plastic sheeting that can be used in a wide range of construction, industrial and agri- cultural applications. Nu-Age Films are designed and manufactured utilizing prime grade virgin resin and are available in widths ranging from 8 feet to 20 feet. "Insulation Solutions Inc. sought ICC-ES, the most recognized product evaluation and listing service available to issue our building product listing," said Dario Lamberti, CSI, Product Manager Insulation Solutions Inc. – Moisture Control Division. "The ICC-ES Building Products Listing is beneficial for Nu-Age Films by showing code officials that it meets the requirements as stated in con- sensus standard ASTM D4397-10, Standard Specification for Polyethylene Sheeting for Construction, Industrial and Agricultural Application. We are very pleased with the professionalism behind the ICC-ES Building Products Listing program and highly recommend this pro- gram for building product manufacturers seeking to show compliance with con- sensus standards referenced in the codes." ICC-ES also issued a second build- ing product listing (ESL-1007) to Loos & Co., for its Seismic Wire Rope/Cable™ Bracing System Components. This listing conforms to ASCE 19-10, Structural Applications of Steel Cables for Buildings, ASTM A1023-09, Standard Specification for Stranded Carbon Steel Wire Ropes for General Purposes and is in compliance with the requirements for tension-only bracing systems using the requirements of ASCE 19-10, as refer- enced in Section 2208.1 of the 2012 International Building Code ® . The new CSI sections included in ESL-1007 include Special Construction, Plumbing, Heating, Ventilating and Air- Conditioning (HVAC), Integrated Automation, Electrical, Communications and Electronic Safety and Security. "This ICC-ES Listing for Cable Type Seismic Sway Bracing of pipes, ducts, conduit and other non-structural building equipment pro- vides the best method for building offi- cials, design professionals and contrac- tors to verify compliance with the seis- mic brace requirements of the ASCE 19- 10 and ASTM A1023-09," said Dan Duggan, Seismic Technology, Manager Loos & Co. Inc. and a member of the NFPA-13 and ASCE-19 Committees and the UL 203 STP. "For those who comply, an ICC-ES Listing is fast and affordable through the ICC-ES Listing Program." "ICC-ES' respected reputation in innovative product evaluation is well known," said ICC-ES President, Shahin Moinian. "We are now using that experi- ence and reputation to list building prod- ucts to consensus standards. ICC-ES pro- vides a complete comprehensive pro- gram for our clients. Code officials look for our listing reports because of this rig- orous review." The new building product listing program offers manu- facturers an additional certification option that indicates to code offi- cials they are approving products in the follow- ing categories (www . i c c - e s . o r g / l i s t i n g / listing.cfm) that comply with consensus standards referenced in building codes. To qualify for the pro- gram, a product must meet requirements in a standard specifically listed in the applicable I-Codes. Products already ref- erenced in the IBC or the International Residential Code ® (IRC), and used as intended by the codes, also qualify for an ICC-ES listing. If the product successfully meets applicable requirements, ICC-ES will issue the listing within eight weeks or less of the initial application. To find out if your product qualifies for this program, contact Barry Johnson, 800.423.6587 ext. 5220/ bjohnson@icc-es.org, or Michael Temesvary, 800.423.6587 ext. 3877/ mtemesvary@icc-es.org. For more information, visit www .icc-es.org, call 800.423.6587 or stop by booth #C6347 at IBS and booth #N1639 at KBIS.