Take Stock! Presented by Commusoft: Recent Episodes
Commusoft
Take Stock is the podcast where diverse industry leaders share the top trends, ideas, and strategies used in the field service industry and beyond. This podcast is presented by Commusoft - educating and empowering field service companies to provide world-class customer journeys. Episodes feature conversations and stories from thought leaders to help field service companies succeed.
Welcome back to Commusoft's regular roundup: the audio version of our fortnightly newsletter! Today, we're gearing up for Connect & Preview, it's going to be a huge showcase happening on the 25th September. We'll soon be able to share all about the exciting features we've designed to help service businesses thrive.
Today, though, we're highlighting features and updates that are available right now: Opportunity Management, a game-changer for managing sales pipelines and cash flow. Then, vehicle tracker assignments for enhanced fleet management. Finally, customizable digital forms, including two new templates for air conditioning services and F-Gas records available via our in-app marketplace.
Stay tuned for more updates and don't miss out in the weeks and month to come!
In this episode, we highlight payment integrations, as well as reporting, and home service plans: these are 3 fantastic tools and feature that will help your team do more and enhance customer relationships. Learn more about them by visiting Commusoft, or reach out to our team to discuss how we can help.
In this episode, we look at features we've designed to help field service businesses cope better during the upcoming busy season.
From recent product updates that include an update to Shift Patterns, as well as SMS Templates, we're also highlighting our Asset Maintenance software. Altogether, these tools are designed to give your team back time, stay organised, and grant them access useful data that's ready to use in the palm of their hand!
Have a listen and for more information, explore our website or reach out to our team.
Explore more on our website: https://www.commusoft.co.uk/
In this episode, we share a quick look at 2 powerful features clients may have overlooked: job costing and timesheets. You can find out more about these features and the plans they're available on by visiting our website.
In this week's audio newsletter, we're look back as we look ahead!
In 2024, we hosted Connect & Preview, a special client event in the UK where we showcased the future of Commusoft. It was a brilliant opportunity to network with our clients and reveal a roadmap of incredible features for them to use.
As we prepare for Connect & Preview in 2025, we've looked back at the features we launched last year, including the Jobs Dashboard, Proposal Builder, advanced Fleet Management Software, and the Commusoft Academy.
We're super excited to reveal more about the 2025 event soon, so stay tuned for more updates, later this year.
Welcome back to a TakeStock! presented by Commusoft. Today, we explore Instant Bank Pay—https://www.commusoft.co.uk/software-integrations/gocardless/—featuring Pat Phelan, Chief Customer Officer of GoCardless!
Pat is an experienced CCO and has shared his wealth of customer knowledge with us. Have a listen and learn all about how GoCardless and Commusoft have partnered to make taking one-off payments easy, with Instant Bank Pay!
Our first 2-guest episode is live! Rhys has been speaking with Kevin Graham and Joshua Wells about Tools in the Trades. Based in Niagara Falls, Canada, these two trade experts are helping to train new generations of Tradesmen and Tradeswomen across the country. Discover what they have to share about mentors, motivation, and much, much more!
Apply to be a guest by filling this form!
The great painter Henri Matisse once said: “Creativity takes courage.”
Fortunately, trades businesses don’t need to design a masterpiece to have a positive effect on sales. This week, Courteney Lockley, Graphic Designer and Product Designer with trumpet joins us to discuss the impact of great branding and how a little bit of effort can go a long way.
In this episode, we’ll discuss:
- The importance of consistent design
- The impact of great design in the sales cycle
- Visual first impressions
- Why mobile content matters
- Simple, effective design strategies
Want to learn more? Follow Take Stock on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen!
Be sure to check out more of our content on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and at our website.
Community engagement is essential.
Working with your community can take many forms and is a crucial part of growing your service business. For Jordan Dietsche, Marketer with BugTussel Wireless, community engagement is not just a task, but a way of life.
In this episode we'll cover:
- A/B testing social media strategies
- Enhancing your marketing strategy with both traditional and digital methods
- The Bears/Packers football rivalry
- Serving niche markets and communities
- Consultative, educational selling strategies
Want to learn more? Follow Take Stock on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen!
Be sure to check out more of our content on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and at our website.
Climate change. If you have a heartbeat and access to news, you’ve heard about this global issue.
So how does this impact field service? Specifically, the heating and cooling industry?
This week, we’re thrilled to have Mark Nabong as our featured guest. Mark works in renewable energy and telecom infrastructure and will guide us through the complex issue of climate change and its impact on field service.
In this episode we’ll cover:
- Climate change: what it is, it’s impact on the environment and the field service industry
- How heating and cooling companies can stay competitive in a warming world and a changing industry
- Why keeping the environment top of mind is important for HVAC businesses
- How the Inflation Reduction Act will affect HVAC companies
Want to learn more? Follow Take Stock on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen!
Be sure to check out more of our content on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and at our website.
Resources
Environmental Protection Agency
ACCA: Inflation Reduction Act
Congressional Summary: Inflation Reduction Act
Energy Star
IPCC Report on Climate Change
EPA: Clean Air Act Section 608
Department of Energy: Heating and Cooling
The U.S. Department of Labor states that women make up almost half of the national workforce but represent only 13% of Registered Apprentices. Fortunately, change is coming to the trades. This week, we’re excited to host Shannon Tymosko, 3rd year electrical apprentice and motivational speaker who speaks on how women and young folks play a critical role in the field service industry.
In this episode, we’ll discuss:
- The importance of training new hires and knowledge transfer
- Using social media as a tool to recruit talent
- The value of gender bias training
- How to reach the younger generation
- The significance of representation
Want to learn more? Follow Take Stock on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts or wherever you listen!
Be sure to check out more of our content on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and at our website.
Inflation has swept through the global economy. The causes of inflation are multifaceted, interconnected, and it affects us all. The outcome? Our purchasing power has decreased.
In order to maintain a healthy, profitable business, it’s necessary to raise rates. This week, Wayne Bettess, business coach and founder of Off The Tools, illustrates how to raise rates and why it leads to a better business and happier customers.
In this episode we’ll discuss:
- Why and how to raise your rates responsibly
- The Three B’s (Body, Business, Balance)
- The importance of consistency
- Community building and passing on knowledge
Want to learn more? Follow Take Stock on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google podcasts or wherever you listen!
Be sure to check out more of our content on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and at our website.
Resources:
Wayne's Guide on Raising Prices
Off The Tools Podcast
There’s a saying: “You become the people you surround yourself with.”
When starting a trades business, this is especially true! In this episode of Take Stock, CEO of Service Emperor and host of the Service Business Mastery podcast Tersh Blissett joins us to share his thoughts on who to have in your inner circle when launching your field service business.
In this episode we’ll discuss:
- The five must-have relationships when starting a business
- “If it’s normal, do the exact opposite.”
- Challenges facing new field service businesses
- Why communication is key
Want to learn more? Follow Take Stock on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google podcasts or wherever you listen!
Be sure to check out more of our content on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and at our website.
The Great Debate. Is the customer always right? Some agree, some disagree.
Regardless of the answer, we do know the customer is important. Building an experience with a customer-centered approach is paramount to creating a successful business. In this episode, Jason Morjaria, CEO of Commusoft, joins us to speak on his passion for creating excellent customer journeys.
We’ll touch on:
- How “Qualification is Key”
- Building a successful sales strategy
- Creating an excellent customer experience
- Tools for growing revenue and scaling your business
- How to qualify leads and sell to the right person
Want to learn more? Follow Take Stock on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google podcasts or wherever you listen!
Be sure to check out more of our content on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and at our website.
There’s a shift taking place in field service. Trades companies are moving from quoting and estimating - to formal sales processes. Ross van Dijk, Territory Account Manager at Fortinet joins us to discuss his tried and true sales techniques, his humble beginnings selling CDs at the Choir Olympics, and how to avoid “commission breath”.
In this episode we’ll cover:
- “Be brief, be brilliant, be gone.”
- Establishing trust and respect with potential customers that build last relationships.
- The benefits of “upselling” for the company and customer.
- The importance of repeatable processes.
- and much more!
Want to learn more? Follow Take Stock on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google podcasts or wherever you listen!
Be sure to check out more of our content on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and at our website.
Introducing - Take Stock! A new field service podcast presented by Commusoft.
Our first series, debuting Wednesday, June 29th, features our host, Charles Kay, and an all-star group of professionals from the trades and beyond. Join us as we dig into the challenges and ideas shaping the modern field service industry.