It was fantastic to attend the Business Benchmark Group Summit last week as a gold sponsor, where we had the privilege of engaging with an incredible lineup of speakers and making valuable connections across the trades and construction industry. The summit was a melting pot of knowledge, with a strong focus on how businesses can adapt and thrive in today’s evolving landscape. A standout moment for me was the presentation from Simpro, which shared some eye-opening statistics about the current challenges faced by trades businesses.
According to Simpro’s 2023 Voice of the Trades report, the industry is grappling with several inefficiencies, impacting profitability, timeliness, and customer satisfaction:
• 84% of trade businesses reported that scheduling issues have left them either overstretched or overstaffed. The ripple effects include double bookings, late arrivals to jobs, and frequent rescheduling.
• 45% said challenges with invoicing and payments have led to cancelled jobs, with many businesses also struggling to track and collect payments efficiently.
• 68% believe that time wasted on tedious administrative tasks directly frustrates customers and slows down project progress.
• 66% of trades businesses indicated that acquiring new customers has become more difficult over the past year, with many experiencing changes in both customer and employee retention.
These insights highlight some of the compelling concerns within the trades industry today. Of particular interest to us at Uplift 360 is the figure that 66% of businesses are finding it harder to attract new customers—a clear indicator of the challenges ahead. This is exactly where we can make a difference.
At Uplift 360, we understand the importance of attracting new inquiries through search engines and offering a compelling website presence that converts leads. As a gold sponsor of the summit, we were eager to demonstrate how we can help trades businesses overcome this downturn and start generating more inquiries with strategic online solutions.
The data from Simpro’s research only reinforces what we’ve observed anecdotally—there’s a shift happening, and it’s more important than ever for businesses in the trades sector to ensure their online presence is optimised to attract new clients. It was insightful to see these findings validated, and we’re excited to continue helping trades businesses thrive in the face of these challenges.
For anyone in the industry looking to bolster their online presence and drive more business through their website, feel free to reach out to us at Uplift 360. We’re here to help navigate these uncertain times and turn challenges into opportunities.