A JOB WORTH DOING - A CONTRACTOR’S BLOG
C&M
Letting apps take the strain Lee Andrews, CEO of DOC Cleaning, reports. NOT a day goes by without a
to email or phone our office, from
reminder of how smartphones,
where we then manage the issues
along with the technology loaded
through our own helpdesk software
onto them, have raised the bar
- TemplaCMS in this case.
of communications in contract
There are a couple of other
cleaning. Nowhere is this more
issues here. For example, clients’
obvious than in client-contractor
own systems tend to use FM-style
relations. In the subtle way the
standard language that isn’t so
Internet has of demanding your
user-friendly as the bespoke
attention and action, not only do clients now
cleaning helpdesk software. It also means we now need to consolidate the
expect our contract managers to
activity of various apps
respond instantly
into one area when we
to their requests,
do our own internal
they’ve also latched
reviews of client interaction. Again, that’s
on to technology as a way of verifying activity,
all fine if it means clients are
whether it be cleaners arriving
getting the reassurance they need
and departing, or completion of
that we are looking after them. And
specialist work like window cleaning.
we mustn’t forget that apps also
Last but not least they want to view
work in our favour. The ability to
up to date contract documentation,
attach ‘before and after’ photos is
whether it’s quality audit results,
an absolute godsend in the way
KPIs or financial information,
it provides evidence that we are
through secure client portals – all
carrying out work to standard.
at a time convenient to themselves.
The final question is what
Technology has made these
approach contractors should take
improved service levels possible.
to issuing staff with phones in order
The difference with a couple of years
to use the apps. It’s a difficult one.
ago is the way these requirements
On the one hand, if an employee
are now best managed through
can’t do their job without a
specific apps, rather than what is
smartphone, then a company issued
fast becoming ‘old’ technology, in
phone is the only fair approach.
other words email or, heaven forbid,
On the other hand, if they need a
actual phone calls!
smartphone to be able to take part
Nothing wrong with any of this, of
UhUb, or if they need a smartphone
as contractors, we now need to stay
to access an employee portal in
on top of things in a slightly different
order to view their payslip, then it’s
way, ensuring that we have effective
close to becoming a condition of
systems in place to manage the flow
employment. Frankly, technology is
of information. Take helpdesks, for
moving so fast in this area that it’s
example. At DOC, we have some
not easy to say for definite just what
clients who like us to use their own
the answer is right now.
WWW.ECOBATINDUSTRIAL.TECH Worlds largest producer of lead (840,000 tonnes/p.a.) Over 3,500 skilled employees QM system certified to quality standard ISO9001 ISO18001
One thing’s for sure. It’s just good
our field managers and office staff
to see that our industry is making
need to log on to those systems
such effective use of technology in
and track response through them.
a way that seems unimaginable five
Compare that with the simpler
years ago.
solution, which is for our clients
WWW.DOCCLEANING.CO.UK
WWW.CLEANINGMAG.COM
As the UK’s largest independent battery sales and service supplier, the success of ECOBAT Industrial has come as a result of listening to the needs of its customers and offering them effective and efficient solutions that provide the answers they require. Through this process, which is applied across all aspects of its business, ECOBAT Industrial is able deliver on its sales, support and innovation ethos.
in training, for example through
course. However, it does mean that,
helpdesk software, but that means
To enable businesses to maximise the usability and efficiency of their batteries and chargers, ECOBAT Industrial has developed the ECOBAT charger app, which allows the user to connect the charger to any mobile device – android or iPhone – and, through its WiFi capability, remotely adjust voltage, amperage and profile settings to ensure the charging procedure is optimised to its full potential. This innovation provides a genuine added-value service to the customer.
MAY 2019 19 15/03/2019 10:44:31