The Challenge
Allied Insulation is a commercial and residential construction subcontractor. As with any construction company, Allied relied on printed work orders and a combination of multiple different resources to execute its work. Several years ago, Allied undertook the initiative to build an internal CRM system. The system ended up being clunky and ineffective for all the nuances necessary in Allied’s business.
Because they were utilizing so many different tools and having to do so much manual work, they weren’t operating as efficiently as possible. With such a volume-based business, it becomes inefficient, time-consuming, and confusing to bounce between multiple online tools in addition to dealing with print work orders.
Because of these inefficiencies, Allied Insulation sought a partner to help them improve their CRM and integrate many of the online tools they utilized. While searching for a new software development partner, they discussed this with Wes Queen of ShipOGRE, and at his recommendation, Allied started working with ConcertIDC.
The challenge was to automate necessary tasks to help eliminate inefficiencies and create an easy-to-use tool for Allied Insulation’s employees to facilitate their work process. A new solution meant overhauling their CRM and, down the line, creating a mobile application for Allied employees to facilitate their jobs. ConcertIDC undertook the original project and has begun other new projects with Allied because the experience has been so positive.
The Solution
The solution was to build a mobile app version of their CRM, allowing Allied Insulation’s employees immediate access to all details of a specific job, including the location, materials needed, estimate details, invoicing capabilities, etc. Because construction is constantly moving, it is beneficial for their employees to access their CRM from an iPhone or iPad.
We started work in the spring of 2023 to modernize their custom CRM solution. The CRM is the lifeline of the business for scheduling, quoting, etc., so its functionality needed to be improved. Allied’s old CRM contained bugs that needed fixing and a number of inefficiencies due to the volume of the business. Before starting development on the mobile app version of the CRM, Allied wanted to update its infrastructure and completely fix its web-based CRM. Once that was done, development would start on the mobile app.
With twice-weekly meetings, ConcertIDC has modernized Allied’s CRM and built a mobile application. These meetings and our implementation of Agile methodology have allowed ConcertIDC to implement new features as Allied requested. It has also enabled us to ensure Allied is getting what it needs from a practical standpoint to improve its efficiency.
Because Allied works in construction, utilizing various equations and formulas required much trial and error. Implementing the necessary equations and formulas proved to be a challenging but necessary task as it enables the solution to consider the numbers needed to provide the best resources for Allied employees. The automation of estimation is one such component that required this intense attention to detail.
While ConcertIDC is still updating the CRM with minor changes in the background, the mobile application has been developed and is approaching its go-live date as of this writing.
Technology Used (Desktop):
|
Application type |
Tech stack |
Project tools |
|
Type: Web Platform: Azure |
Frontend: NetMVC Backend: .Net Core |
|
Technology Used (Mobile):
|
Application type |
Tech stack |
|
Type: Mobile Platform: iOs/Android |
Frontend: ReactNative Backend: .Net Core |
Product Description
Because this solution is specifically designed for Allied employees, the features are tailored to their needs. Each feature is designed to reduce inefficiencies that are inevitable in a volume-based business.
The first such feature is the automation of estimations. Within the solution, Allied employees can now input the measurements of a specific job, select the type of insulation to be used and more. With those inputs, the solution calculates an estimate.
This feature means Allied employees can produce an estimate on-site for each job. It eliminates the need to write everything down, travel back to the office, calculate the estimate, and send it to the client. The updated CRM does the heavy lifting, even enabling employees to send estimates via the new mobile app.
In addition to automating estimates, the new CRM integrates QuickBooks, Allied's online invoicing tool. Allied employees can send invoices via the mobile application.
The solution also features scheduling capabilities with color coding to help Allied employees track where they are on each job. This organizational component allows employees to check statuses without having to check in multiple places and communicate with multiple people.
The Results
The solution ConcertIDC has built for Allied Insulation has provided many benefits, such as:
- Improved Customer Communication: The updated CRM system centralizes customer interactions, allowing Allied to easily track communication history, follow up on inquiries, and provide timely client updates. This enhances customer satisfaction and helps maintain long-term relationships.
- Streamlined Project Management: The updated CRM, with integrated project management features, enables Allied to track project progress, allocate resources efficiently, and ensure that tasks are completed on time. This can lead to increased productivity and better project outcomes.
- Better Collaboration and Coordination: The updated CRM centralizes customer data and project information, facilitating better collaboration among team members, subcontractors, and other project stakeholders. This reduces the risk of miscommunication and ensures that everyone is on the same page.
- Mobile Accessibility: The updated CRM mobile application will allow Allied employees to access customer information and project data on the go. This is especially useful for field staff, enabling them to stay connected and update records in real-time, improving efficiency and responsiveness.
- Scalability and Customization: The updated CRM can be scaled up or down to accommodate Allied Insulation's changing needs as it grows. Additionally, it can be customized to fit specific workflows and processes, ensuring that it aligns perfectly with the company's evolving operations.
While Allied is not a technology company and could run without this proprietary software, the software that ConcertIDC has built allows Allied to do what they do best: install insulation in the best way and provide the absolute best customer service.
“The biggest thing for us has been the constant communication. When we have a problem, [ConcertIDC] is very responsive, and having someone dedicated to helping us dive into our business, look from a different perspective, and learn what makes our business tick from a CRM perspective has been valuable.”
Dawson Brady General Manager, Allied Insulation
Background
Client: Clay Pitman/Dawson Brady
Industry: Construction
Solution Highlights:
- Modernization of custom CRM solution
- QuickBooks integration
- Customer email/invoicing functionality
- Mobile App for employees to access customer and job information while on job site improving efficiency and accuracy
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