INTRO:
The moving industry has remained relatively unchanged much over the years. However, during the last decade, the demand has increased for a faster, more convenient and all-round easier service. The moving industry recently has seen an influx of smaller, app-based companies including those that help to find movers in your area, which has led to the question where exactly is the moving industry headed?
The answer is that it is heading in a more convenient direction driven predominately by the customer, and at the head of this change sits technology. While it can sometimes be hard to implement and build, technology is there to ensure an easier life for the end user.
There are a huge number of ways that technology can benefit your business, and so we at Zipmover have created a list of the top 5 technological tools that can modernise your moving company and help you to stay ahead of the pack in a rapidly evolving industry.
1. Packaging & Digital Inventory
The act of packing can now be made simpler by using modern technology like your smartphone. Whilst packing, you can take a digital inventory by taking photos and labels. Apps like Boxnine are great at digitizing information by working with barcodes and voice memos in order to record and better locate specific items later. All you have to do is scan the barcode and record your voice stating what the boxes contents are and where they are going. When the time comes to find an item all you have to do is open the app and say the item that you are looking for and the app will tell you what box it is in. What could be simpler?
2. Mobile Driver Apps & GPS Tracking for Moving Trucks
Tracking doesn’t just have to be limited to your items, but can also be used on the transport that is carrying them. With the rise in modern technology comes the ability to have GPS trackers fitted on the moving trucks so that you can monitor their progress in real time. As well as trackers, mobile driver apps can be used in order to streamline the whole process by eliminating mountains of paperwork and forms. Instead, a simple app such as HQ Driver can be used to take care of all the paperwork from start to finish.
3. Ticketing Systems
No matter how well your run your business, if you are dealing with people then you are going to receive complaints. And if you are running a moving company, then chances are you are going to receive a lot of complaints! No matter how careful you are, items will occasionally get damaged. Therefore, you’ll need to handle complaints quickly and professionally, and automated ticketing can take care of this all for you. There are many softwares and companies like Help Scout that can support you in your customer complaints. They enable you to use template responses, live customer chats, or FAQ centres to help keep your customers happy and can be applied for minimal monthly costs. Unhappy customers and bad reputations can cost your business dearly in the long run, so it’s definitely worth implementing ticketing systems.
4. Accounting Software
Luckily, the accounting industry has been digital for many years and is only improving. New technologies have done away with the need for traditional (and sometimes very expensive) accountants. Small errors in accounting can cause large problems to your moving business, but with software continually improving, these errors can be all but eliminated. This means that you can get paid accurately and on time, and your cash flow carry on unimpeded. If your bookkeeping system is solid, then the savings on hefty accounting fees can definitely keep your bottom line healthy.
5. Social Media
Love it or hate it, social media is definitely here to stay. When advertising your moving company, you want to be where the people are, and so having a solid social media presence is key. Platforms such as Facebook and Twitter are essential any business because of the vast amounts of data that they keep on their users. That data can be used to really focus in on your ideal customer and target them with ads specifically, this in turn can generate solid leads and maximise your returns. These platforms know who is moving, so let them do the hard work for you and get your ads in front of the right people at the right time.