What’s the right approach to digitalisation in the flooring industry?
Although it is a less pressing, urgent conversation than the one happening in the contract sector, the topics of digitalisation and AI continue to spark many discussions in flooring and retail.
There are many benefits to the use of these technologies, particularly when it comes to selling products. Room visualisers have been a mainstay tool of the industry for several years now, spearheaded by companies like Roomvo and Floori, and the advent of AI has only made these applications more powerful. Floori, for example, describes its tech as “Built by tech professionals, superpowered by AI,” claiming that its “sophisticated algorithms” can crop out the surface from any photo.
In addition, platforms like Chat GPT and Google Bard have proven themselves game-changingly efficient in pumping out reams of text for applications such as marketing and social media networking. These can be especially useful for retailers and small businesses who don’t have the time or resources to devote to writing original copy in between the rest of their tasks.
However, it’s important to be aware of the limitations of these technologies. Social media is awash with comedic examples of AI chat bots getting factual information incorrect or missing crucial context, and unfortunately there’s no way to 100% verify the information these tools produce without checking for yourself. This means that while these tools are powerful and useful aids for many businesses in the flooring industry, there’s still a vital need for the human touch.
Fortunately, speaking of the human touch, the companies featured in this Digitalisation feature have put all of their expertise and intelligence towards creating tools and services which aim to reduce the risks to near-zero!
Company Dynamics offers integrated software solutions
With more software tools becoming available to the flooring industry, to help you expand and grow your market, it can be difficult to get all of these in the one place. Even at Company Dynamics, the company can’t include all of these options in one package.
However, it has integrated them and introduced some exciting new features into its package, to help streamline the use of your customer data and process orders. Whether you use floor planning software, online marketing, sales website, feedback analysis, SMS, and online diaries, Company Dynamics’ system can bring all this information together and manage the flow comfortably, so you can get on with your daily business needs.
The company’s latest integration sees it teaming up with the floor planning experts at MasterPiece and Measure Square, giving users the ability to plan and process the customer from quote to invoice in a simpler integrated way. Manage appointments, stock to be ordered and allocated, and organise fitting, all from one place. The ability to access information within one business system is not just a time saver.
The ability to share data with those that require it and more importantly, your customer, can help streamline the way you operate. The company’s additional links to feedback, marketing, and SMS can be used for communication with customers, letting their experience with you become simpler and informative, which helps with the whole flow from booking to installation and gives you an opportunity to receive that all-important feedback.
A happier customer is one that is going to be open to your marketing. Company Dynamics believes that embracing technology and linking up your business tools with your back-office system allows for the correct management of customer data, which will help you to improve and streamline your business and communicate in a professional manner. This is what the company provides with its Company Dynamics System. Running your company with the right tools is a sure route to growth and success.
MasterPiece is renowned for the ease of take up of its measuring, planning and estimating software for use by the estimator in the home and subsequently in the store for costing revisions. A hands-on two hour session over Zoom equips the new user to tackle real jobs. It’s easy to set up on iPad/Android/Windows/Mac. MasterPiece has developed answers to questions that commonly arise:
Customer payments management: To support the interaction with an accounting software such as Xero, QuickBooks or Sage, a ‘bookkeepers’ login streamlines by ‘checking off’ that payments have been entered into the accounting system. Eliminates time creating estimates and invoices in the accounting system itself.
Import floor plans: This impressive facility enables floor plans from Rightmove or from a builder/architect to be brought into MasterPiece and then traced over to scale. ‘Is your property available on Rightmove?’ becomes a standard question to ask.
Part fits facility: Part/Split Fits are typically handled by a messy process of marking up plans and fitting sheets with a coloured pen. With MasterPiece, Part Fits can be specified via dashboard and a separate set of ‘info for fitter & warehouse’ is generated for each Part fit: what to put on the van and what the fitter needs to do.
The fitter and estimator scheduling diary: This supports the fittings manager by automatically assessing the duration of fit, enabling more than one team on a fit; with texting in advance. The fitter sees their own schedule on their phone, capturing the customer’s signature and any notes.
Handling simple in-store sales can be supported; eg remnants, special order supply only.
After the successful launch of the Associated Weavers customer portal in late 2023, it is clear to see that this has become a huge asset for their UK customer network with more and more registrations being made every month.
“The ease of use is fantastic and the aesthetics and quality of the product images are some of the best around,” says Barnes Flooring, Bishops Stortford
Stores have been quick to take advantage of its numerous features including 24/7 order entry with anytime access to the entire product portfolio of wall-to-wall carpet and luxury vinyl flooring. Live stock availability and immediate access to invoices and statements are other key benefits available to AW customers.
This portal is a significant component of the impressive developments in improving AW service levels and meeting customer expectations in a rapidly evolving market. A track and trace facility offers higher transparency and reliable up to date status of live orders.
Since its launch in 2011, Cormar Carpet Company’s award-winning Trade Portal has continued to evolve, providing carpet retailers with 24/7 access to order processing, stock checks, invoicing, and statements. Today, more than 68% of Cormar’s customers utilise the Portal for efficient online trading.
As part of its ongoing enhancements, Cormar have introduced improved delivery notifications, ensuring Trade Portal users receive timely email and text updates about their orders. Whether for collection centre pick-ups or standard deliveries, users are informed when their order is delivered or ready for collection, with follow-up reminders if it remains uncollected.
Designed to streamline operations, the Trade Portal also offers an industry-leading after sales area, allowing users to register their post-sales problems, with the option to upload supporting imagery for a more efficient resolution process. Additionally, the Portal features a dedicated marketing materials area, enabling users to download a variety of marketing assets and imagery for promotional use.
With a commitment to continuous improvement, Cormar works closely with its customers to develop new features and refine existing ones, ensuring the Trade Portal remains an invaluable tool for retailers looking to manage their orders and operations with greater convenience and control.
For more information
Company Dynamics • www.cdsupport.co.uk
MasterPiece • www.masterpiece-system.com
Associated Weavers • www.carpetyourlife.com
Cormar Carpets • www.cormarcarpets.co.uk
klipboard • 01488 662000 •
www.klipboard.com
