We talk to Managing Director of Business Pilot Elton Boocock about why keeping up to date with your software keeps your business running smoothly and efficiently.
The Installer (TI): If I am an installer working off Excel spreadsheets, would it matter which CRM (customer relationship management) tool I chose? Surely, they are all the same?
Elton Boocock (EB): No. Actually, when companies view their options for the first time, they are very demanding when it comes to features and benefits. In fact, Business Pilot was created because co-owners Jim and Ryan Breslin (Cherwell Windows), and Ryan Schofield (Thames Valley Windows), struggled to find something that met their requirements.
Together, we devised a modern alternative that was flexible and reactive, and that was different to anything else on the market.
And because it is built from the ground up, Business Pilot is modern and bang up to date. And not only does it look good – and is very straightforward to use – it is designed to work with the other software that you are already using to run your business efficiently.
TI: Why is it important that Business Pilot can work with other pieces of software?
EB: Businesses today have separate software that manages different parts of the operation – accountancy, competent persons scheme, sales tools. By integrating them with your CRM software, you can create further efficiencies that save time and money, and reduce the possibility of errors.
For example, within Business Pilot, users can register their FENSA installations without leaving the software. At a click of a button window installers can register an installation by using the information that has already been recorded. This removes double-entry, speeds up the registration process, and significantly reduces error. All of which improves an installer’s profitability.
A lot of businesses use Xero for their day-to-day accounting, and with Business Pilot, there is no more exporting data, import sorting data, or double entry. There’s just a button – you simply connect the two systems so everything stays up to date.
And it’s the same with front-end pricing tools such as Tommy Trinder and Windowlink. Again, there is no more room for discrepancies because there is no need to export or import the data. It is connected and live.
TI: With all these updates, won’t the Business Pilot software become out of date soon after buying it?
EB: No – the opposite is true. Business Pilot is constantly being revised and updated. And because it is cloud-based, this happens in the background, so that your businesses can keep running uninterrupted.
We release hundreds of updates each year – small tweaks and big developments. We make it easy for you to introduce these new features into your business, through help guides and videos. We can even arrange for you to receive ongoing additional training at your office, so that you can make the most of every new feature.
Our latest update includes a function for multi-site businesses and multi-company groups.
Where companies have more than one branch, with each operating as a separate business function, Business Pilot now allows users to have access to the operations of all sites, or just a specific one – depending on the permissions given.
Similarly, a manager of a group of companies can study the profit and loss of each subsidiary business with a single log-in, while managers of each company will only have access to their own operations. This creates an extra level of control, giving business leaders an up-to-date view of the health of the group, and the ability to find immediate efficiencies, if required.
To find out more please visit www.businesspilot.co.uk, email info@businesspilot.co.uk or call 0333 050 7560.
