Benefits of Digital Communication for Lighting Project Status

Mike Seifert | May 4, '23

In a world as connected as ours, it’s easy to take good communication for granted. From watching your Uber approach on the app to tracking a shipment from Amazon, we’ve come to expect real-time updates on the products and services we buy.

But good communication is no accident, and there’s a reason successful companies like Uber and Amazon invest in the digital infrastructure necessary to keep their customers informed. Communicating updates with your customers builds trust, demonstrates your reliability, and helps you stand out from other contractors.

The good news is that digital tools like SnapCount provide you with an effective way to share updates without becoming overwhelmed. Here are some reasons you should consider digital communication for sharing lighting project status updates with your customers.

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10 Ways Spreadsheets Fall Short For Retrofit Projects

Jeff Seifert | Apr 28, '23

As a business owner, you understand the value of a dollar. While there will always be someone trying to sell you on the “latest and greatest” or some new bells and whistles, you need a pretty compelling reason to change what you’re doing, especially when you’ve got a solution that works.

It’s this line of thinking that accounts for why many auditors still rely on spreadsheets to complete their work. But while spreadsheets might seem like the most inexpensive solution, on closer inspection, you might be surprised to discover they come with plenty of costs of their own, both in terms of your time and your money.

To explain what we mean, here are 10 reasons your spreadsheets cost you far more than you think.

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How Collecting More Audit Data Helps You Win More Business

Lewis Hughes | Mar 20, '23

Conducting an audit is the first step in any lighting retrofit proposal. But your success hinges on how much information you capture, and how accurately it is recorded.

When details are missed or measurements are off, it can lead to proposals that don’t meet the needs of your customer. Even if you manage to win the business despite those errors, you could still face expensive mistakes that need to be fixed down the line.

Where are the weak spots in your audit process?

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What Really Goes Into Building Your Own Lighting Audit Software?

Jeff Seifert | Mar 14, '23

Conducting a successful lighting audit is no simple feat. But in an industry where time equals money, the most savvy auditors are always looking for ways to streamline the process for greater efficiency. Some even go so far as software design in an attempt to create their own custom tool that can quickly resolve the most common problems they face.

But that’s no simple thing, either. Just ask Ty Clark, the founder of LightBids. LightBids is a lighting audit software Ty developed in his quest to help auditors overcome the most common challenges they face on the job. The lessons he learned in the process are invaluable for anyone thinking of going down the same path.

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How Orion Energy Systems Helps Customers Achieve Sustainability

Kevin Springer | Feb 22, '23

Over the last few years, there’s been a tremendous push in the business community to meet sustainability goals. Many of these companies are now enjoying the fruits of their efforts, achieving their commitments, and reaping the benefits of energy efficiency.

But make no mistake: There’s still a tremendous need in the market. One study by Princeton University revealed that it will require an investment of more than $2 trillion for the United States to achieve true energy sustainability. Much of that capital will be spent to upgrade lighting, controls, and HVAC — and to install electric vehicle charging stations.

For a company like Orion Energy Systems, this represents a huge opportunity. Orion’s mission is to help customers accomplish their sustainability goals through innovative technology and exceptional service. But to get their products into the hands of more retrofitters, Orion needed a partner like SnapCount. Here’s why.

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How Quality Energy Audits Maximize Profit and Minimize Risk

Jeff Seifert | Feb 15, '23

Call us ahead of our time: While we’ve always understood the incredible impact efficiency measures have on energy operations, we’re seeing the mainstream take notice in a big, big way. As corporations work to achieve significant sustainability goals, it has led to a reality where energy efficiency has become a de facto obligation for leading business and their facilities.

Given the nearly 6 million non-residential buildings in the United States representing over 100 billion square feet of space, energy and electrification represent a $2 trillion opportunity over the next 10 years.

Yes, that’s a lot of opportunity for our industry, but we’re also putting our own dollars, reputations, and human capital and energy at stake on these projects. With so much work on the horizon, now is the time to make sure our energy audits are the best they can possibly be. If we don’t, there will be a high price to pay.

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Retrofit Software ROI Explained

Jeff Seifert | Feb 8, '23

When we talk about return on investment in the retrofit business, it’s usually because we’re talking to customers. Guiding them through the ROI of retrofit projects and explaining the most meaningful metrics is one of the best ways to get them on board with a project. Who could turn down the opportunity to save money and even increase their margins?

Great question. Because today, we’re going to talk about how you can see a great return when you invest in retrofit software.

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How Energy Retrofitters Can Maintain Productivity

Jerry Harrell | Jan 12, '23

As a retrofitter, you care about your productivity rates. They can mean the difference between a successful energy retrofit business and serious financial trouble.

Yet across almost every sector of the economy, experts are reporting that productivity is down. Try as you might, you’re likely also feeling the effects of this drag and starting to wonder what can be done. In an environment in which there are so many challenges, and all of them hitting at once, is there anything that can be done to improve — or at least maintain — your productivity rates?

Let’s take a closer look at those challenges, a few common mistakes, and the single best choice you can make to keep productivity high.

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Expert Tactics to Increase Your Project Close Rate: Part 2

Mark Jewell | Dec 13, '22

We recently sat down with Mark T. Jewell, author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller Selling Energy: Inspiring Ideas That Get More Projects Approved!, to get his expert opinion on how contractors can increase their project close rates.

In Part 1 of our conversation, Mark highlighted the importance of understanding each prospect’s “why,” sharing success stories, and making sure to factor in all variables to show your lighting project’s true value. But Mark also raised questions about one of the most challenging aspects of closing a project:

“In a typical company with 100 employees, you’ll see an average of seven people who have to say ‘yes’ — or at least not say ‘no’ — to your lighting project. In most cases, the person you’re pitching to initially is not in a position to make a unilateral decision.”

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Expert Tactics to Increase Your Project Close Rate: Part 1

Mark Jewell | Oct 27, '22

One of the things that sets SnapCount apart is that we’re constantly making improvements based on conversations we have with our users. In all of that feedback, there’s one question we hear again and again: “How do I improve my close rate?”

Getting a prospect to say yes to a lighting project isn’t always as simple as demonstrating the energy savings they’ll enjoy with LEDs. In many cases, the person you’re pitching to isn’t even the final decision maker. How can you get the right information in front of the right people in order to close on more projects?

To help us answer these questions, we turned to Mark T. Jewell, author of the Wall Street Journal bestseller Selling Energy: Inspiring Ideas That Get More Projects Approved. Mark is a much sought-after speaker, but he took time from his travels to share his wisdom with us. Here’s part one of our two-part conversation with Mark.

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