TECH TALK
UNTIL last year when I joined the waste and recycling industry, I worked in promotional products – a sector struggling even now to learn the lessons of its neighbours and fully digitise.
A mere 15 years ago, the neighbouring world of print was largely made up of face-to-face service companies until Vistaprint monopolised online web-to- print purchasing and became an industry colossus. Cheap prices and convenience drove shoppers online and print shops had to follow in Vistaprint’s wake and compete online or simply go bust. It was a stark cautionary tale for SME promotional products distributors.
In truth, it is a lesson all B2B sectors can learn from. Fully digitising our businesses is simply essential for keeping them running efficiently and competitively. And that does not simply mean creating an impressive and welcoming website – efficient and up-to- date Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Fleet Management systems can offer unparalleled organisational control over the key aspects of your business.
“We are helping people to become digital for the first time,” explained Mark Hearsey at Quick Consign, which specialises in Waste Management Software. “The waste industry tends to be very paper based at the moment – it’s fairly shocking that a good number of companies operate like this.
“Obviously many companies are all up to speed with emails and online accounting but the actual
documentation for the transfer of waste from one source to another is pretty much paper based. Our solution has now been in operation for five years and we are still coming across even large companies that very much rely on paper-based solutions.”
The advantages in terms of efficiency and convenience these systems can bring are hard to overstate. Being able to easily store and retain data hugely increases searchability and allows important files and information to be shared at the touch of a button.
“The number one benefit is time saving,” said Andy Dyble from Midsoft UK. “Not only do these systems dramatically lower the amount of time skip companies spend trying to find skips that are not on site, they also save users from having to duplicate customer details. With a good CRM system they can put in the information once and it can be used over again.”
However, what’s important to realise is that, while there are a good number of companies offering usable CRM software, not all of them will be a great fit for your business. “There are a number of online solutions being created by large companies, such as Microsoft, that have a generic CRM system," added Mark. "With enough technical know-how, the user can get it to fit their requirements but it’s never a neat fit.”
Indeed, some companies specialise in software solutions for the skip hire and waste industries. Read on to find out how they can give your business a boost.
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