Managing change orders can be a headache for any business, but especially for your contractor clients. Between juggling budgets, tracking modifications, and keeping projects on schedule, it's easy for things to slip through the cracks. This can lead to frustration for everyone involved, including your store.
Windward Software provides a solution specifically designed to simplify these challenges, especially for your contractors and, as a result, improve the experience they have when working with your store. Your mutual customers will be happier as a result.
The Business Problem
Here are some common issues contractors face when dealing with customer change orders:
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Budget Overruns: Without a system for managing allowances, projects can easily go over budget. This puts pressure on the contractor and strains their relationship with clients.
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Tracking Changes: Keeping tabs on every modification requested by customers can quickly become overwhelming, especially when relying on handwritten notes or spreadsheets.
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Timely Completion: Change orders have a nasty habit of disrupting project timelines, leading to delays and missed deadlines.
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Accountability: A clear record of all work and changes is essential for accountability and future reference. Without a robust system, this can be a major challenge.
The Software Solution
Whether your business is doing the installation or if you have external contractors, here’s how Windward System Five can help manage customer change orders:
Industry-Specific Functionality
Windward System Five is tailor-made for businesses that work with contractors, allowing you to track jobs and manage builder allowances. This ensures you have a clear view of each project's financial aspects, making it much easier to handle changes and charge accordingly.
Assigning and Managing Allowances
Windward System Five empowers your store to help contractors and builders:
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Assign Contractor Allowances: Define specific allowances for each job, setting a clear budget from the onset.
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Separate Extra Allowances: Easily distinguish between initial allowances and additional funds needed for changes.
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Track Job Records: Assign specific job records to invoices or create new ones as needed for enhanced organization and trackability.
Handling Payments and Invoices
Windward System Five was built to seamlessly manage payments and invoices in all cases, even when charges exceed the contractor’s allowances:
- Take Payments from the Ship-to-Customer: Any extra costs are covered by the end customer, preventing budget overruns for the contractor and keeping projects moving smoothly.
- Accounts Receivable: Bill your external contractors up to the amount of their allowances on their next Billing Cycle.
- Specify and Confirm Delivery Dates: Delivery schedules are tracked, ensuring timely project completion and clear communication with clients.
- View Part and Labor Breakdown: Contractors gain a detailed insight into costs, improving financial management and transparency.
Benefits for Your Store
By using Windward System Five, you're providing a solution that makes life easier for your contractor clients and strengthens your business relationships. Here's how:
- Support Your Store's Installation Services: The "Include Labor in the Allowance Amount" option helps streamline the process when your store handles installations, keeping everything neatly organized within your allowance.
- Improve External Contractor Satisfaction: Help your contractors stay organized, manage costs, and avoid headaches, making them happy to work with you and potentially refer you to others.
- Increase Sales: A smoother change order process means projects move faster, leading to more frequent purchases and potential upsells on materials.
- Boost Customer Loyalty: Happy contractors are more likely to remain loyal to your store, solidifying your position as a trusted partner. Plus if their end-customer has a good experience at your store, they're likely to become a customer for life.
How To Get Started:
To discover how Windward Software's ERP can transform your business operations, book a live system demonstration today and take the first step toward improved operational efficiency and profitability.
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