Unexpected Software Value: The Hidden Benefits Your Kitchen & Bath Business Is Missing 💎

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Welcome to Elevated! I'm Brandy Lawson. When was the last time you bought something for one reason, only to discover it solved three other problems you didn't even know you had?

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Episode Transcript

(00:05):
Welcome to Elevated.
I'm Brandy Lawson.
When was the last time youbought something for one reason
only to discover it solved threeother problems you didn't even
know you had?
Well, that's what we're talkingabout today.
Those unexpected secondarybenefits of software that never
show up in the features list,but could end up transforming
your business.
Most kitchen and bath businessesmake software decisions based on

(00:27):
solving one specific pain point,but the smartest firms look
beyond the obvious and considerthe entire ecosystem of benefits
a solution might bring.
Today we're uncovering thosehidden gems.
Secondary benefits fall intoseveral categories, and they're
often worth more than theprimary reason you purchased the
software in the first place.
First, there's what I call theprocess Revelation.

(00:50):
New software forces you toexamine your workflows.
One design firm implementedproject management software to
track deadlines, but ended upcompletely revamping their
client onboarding process afterseeing inefficiencies they'd
never noticed before.
The result, client satisfactionscores jumped 30% and they saved
nearly four hours ofadministrative time per project.

(01:12):
Then there's the data gold mine.
Modern software capturesinformation, allowing you to
look for trends and see patternsin A CRM.
Knowing the sources of yourleads enables you to recognize
valuable partners or double downon ads that produce results in
project management software.
You can start to build timelinetemplates based on average

(01:32):
duration of projects in the lastthree months.
Third is the unexpectedintegration benefit software
designed for one purpose oftenconnects with other systems in
ways that create entirely newcapabilities.
Accounting software integratedwith A CRM can allow automatic
flagging of clients with paymentissues before booking new design
consultations, saving themthousands in potential di bad

(01:54):
debt.
Fourth, there's teamsatisfaction.
The right software doesn't justmake processes more efficient.
It makes jobs more enjoyablewhen designers can focus on
design rather thanadministrative.
Busy work retention improvesreducing designer turnover from
20% to under 5%.
After implementing bettersystems can save approximately

(02:17):
$25,000 per retain designer inrecruiting and training costs.
Finally, there's the ScalingEnabler benefit Software that
works for your current sizemight actually remove barriers
to growth you didn't evenrealize existed.
A kitchen and bath firm Iadvise, went from managing 16
concurrent projects to over 60and only added a drafter after

(02:41):
they implemented somecomprehensive project management
software, a capability expansionthey hadn't even anticipated.
The key is to look beyond thefeature list and ask how might
this change our entire businessecosystem?
That's where the real valuelies.
Let's look at a practicalexample.
A cabinet retailer implementedAI meeting recording software to

(03:02):
create accurate documentation ofclient requirements.
The obvious benefit was betterrequirement tracking and
enabling designers to be fullypresent in meetings.
But here's what they discovered.
Over time.
First designers were reviewingthe recordings to catch subtle
client reactions to differentdesign elements, helping them to
tailor subsequent presentationsto client preferences.
And reduce revision cycles.

(03:24):
Next, the marketing teamextracted client testimonials
and genuine reactions from therecordings with permission of
course, for case studies,creating more authentic
marketing materials thatresonated with prospective
clients.
Third project managers sharedspecific recording segments with
contractors to clarify complexinstallation requirements,
eliminating the telephone gameof information transfer, and

(03:46):
then the firm began offering apremium design journey package
where clients received editedhighlights of their project from
initial concept discussionsthrough to completion, creating
an emotional connection to theprocess.
And finally, new designers usedthe recorded meetings as
training material, acceleratingtheir understanding of client
communication techniques andlearning from the firm's most
successful salespeople.

(04:08):
None of these benefits appearedon the ROI calculation.
They initially used to justifythe purchase, yet collectively
they delivered more value thanthe primary benefit they had
targeted.
This week I challenge you to trythinking like a treasure hunter.
Go to fiery effects.com/chooseand download the worksheet.
Pick a software solution you'verecently implemented or are
considering, and brainstorm atleast five potential secondary

(04:31):
benefits beyond the primaryproblem you're trying to solve.
Ask yourself these questions.
How might this change how wecommunicate internally or with
clients?
What new services could thisenable us to offer?
Could this data help us makebetter business decisions?
How might this impact teamsatisfaction or retention?
And could this remove barriersto scaling our business?

(04:54):
Next week, we'll shift gears andlook at future proofing your
software choices so they growwith your business instead of
becoming limitations.
If you've experienced unexpectedbenefits from software in your
design business, I'd love tohear about it.
Send me a message or leave acomment wherever you get your
podcasts.