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Plumbing NewsBusiness Management

Service Roundtable members learn how to stay out of productivity prison

By Bob Miodonski
Service Roundtable
PM0516_news_ServiceRound_Bob.jpg
BNP Media Plumbing Group Publisher Bob Miodonski (left) stands with consultant Chip Bell, the keynote speaker April 7, 2016, for the Atlanta International Roundtable meeting. Miodonski emceed the first day of the meeting, which was hosted by Service Roundtable. Photo credit Service Roundtable
Service Roundtable
PM0516_news_ServiceRound_Bob.jpg
June 3, 2016

Service Roundtable members learned how to avoid traps that reduce a manager’s productivity and strategies to inject innovation into the service experience April 7-8 during the Atlanta International Roundtable. The meeting also featured an idea-sharing session, small-group meetings with industry consultants, and a Preferred Partner Showcase with manufacturers and service providers.

Managers and owners frequently find themselves trapped in productivity prisons of their own making, said Terry Barrett, general manager of AirNow Cooling and Heating in Millbrook, Ala. Barrett also is director of technician training at Service Excellence Training.

Contractors need to embrace automation because it never gets tired, sleeps or calls in sick, Barrett said.

“Use technology for the good,” he said. “Utilize templates whenever possible. Document your training with video and audio recordings. The time invested when you automate something always pays huge returns.”

Consultant Chip Bell focused on strategies to provide an innovative service experience for customers. These include: Surprise, Mentoring, Effortless, Monogrammed and Partnering strategies.

Contractors must answer one more important question: “Just focusing on the experience, how can you demonstrate to your customers that they are clearly getting the best value?” Bell said.

Service Roundtable will produce the new Service World Expo industry event Oct. 26-27 in Las Vegas, co-sponsored by PM, Reeves Journal and the ACHR News. For more details and to register, visit www.serviceworldexpo.com.

Read here, for more on this event.

KEYWORDS: construction technology productivity

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Bob Miodonski is the former Group Publisher of BNP Media’s Plumbing Group, which consists of industry-leading print and digital magazines, websites and e-newsletters. Titles include: Supply HouseTimes, Plumbing & Mechanical, PM Engineer and Reeves Journal magazines; Bath & Kitchen Pro e-News; PVF e-News; Radiant &Hydronics e-news; and www.RadiantAndHydronics.com.

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