Last year 35% of contractors reported turning down work due to skilled labor shortages. Couple this with a lack of resources due to supply chain issues and an industry that doesn’t seem to be slowing down, despite a short stall at the beginning of the pandemic, and construction firms are finding themselves in a position of putting the focus on running a more efficient business. Ultimately, this focus can help determine ways to save money or ways to reinvest in either hiring or retention and training. Read on for some strategies that will ultimately help you save time and money.
Provide Consistency
Consistency across the span of a project builds client trust and customer satisfaction, and building the importance of consistency into staff training can produce cost-effective results.
- Be sure your employees work by your company’s mission and core values. They should serve as touchstones throughout the duration of the project, whether anticipating customer expectations or meeting any unforeseen circumstances, including a shortage of staff.
- Hold on to returning customers by training employees to be responsive, helpful, and consistent with their answers.
- Employees who have the most interaction with customers should be trained in a way that provides consistency in addressing any questions and issues throughout the project. They should be proactive, empathetic to concerns, and solutions-oriented.
Prioritize Communication
As a business owner, if you feel that you lack the communication skills necessary to see a project through to the end, consider outsourcing a service to answer incoming calls. This can save time, and you can focus your energy on more pressing matters. Also think about establishing a company website as a means of interacting with current and potential clients. Use extensions like live chat, interest forms for gathering contact information, and online sales and specials to hook new customers and drive sales.
Invest in Software for Efficiency
Technology in the construction industry has the power to save time, improve workflow, attract skilled labor, and provide optimal customer service. Because efficiency in customer scheduling has proven to be a challenge for many construction firms, consider investing in software that focuses on customer and project management. Technology that can provide efficiency and capture project details can have a positive overall effect on your business.
Construction firms in today’s economy are faced with widespread labor shortage and supply chain issues, as well as skilled workers aging out of the workforce. This all culminates in an industry-wide lack of resources that is only growing. For an industry that is no stranger to labor turnover, focusing on consistency, time investment, and customer attention is paramount, and will allow you to run a more efficient operation and save money in the long run.
