Every once in a while, I like to eat my own dog food, and this time it tasted like sweet justice. Just a few weeks ago I wrote a blog post, Photo Cliches Drive Sales and Retention for Service Contractors, wherein I identify the value pictures hold in their enduring ability to accurately and infallibly tell the whole story. Writing that blog post got me to thinking about how I could integrate this lesson into my own life, so I downloaded the Nexar app, a free mobile app that turns your smartphone into a dash cam. Other than draining my battery (which is easily resolved with a $10 car charger), this app is pretty fantastic and has saved me $550 in car repairs to date. Check out this video to see how:

I am not writing this post to suggest that service contractors should immediately go out and install dash cams in their entire fleet of trucks. Instead, I want to point out that there are other opportunities to reduce risk with cool, cost-effective technology. Equipped with a smartphone, technicians in the field can easily log pictures, photos, and audio memos that not only reduce risk, but also build trust and value with customers via a concept we call the Digital Wrap. By properly reporting the state of a customer’s equipment with rich media, contractors can capture immutable artifacts of service that can be used to avoid misunderstandings and legal liability long after blurry memories fade.

On a daily basis, we hear from customers who have avoided complaints and legal issues thanks to the pictures and audio notes their technicians took with the ServiceTrade mobile app. To see how ServiceTrade can help reduce your company’s risk, give us a call at (919) 246-9900 and tell them that you saw Shawn’s Misadventure.