Porch now offers loyalty promotions from Lowe’s, Wayfair, Square, Weebly and more to Porch Guaranteed professional Porch.com, the home services platform, today announced the expansion of features to help home improvement professionals grow their business, as well as Porch Perks, a loyalty program that provides exclusive business and entertainment discounts for Porch Guaranteed professionals. The Read more
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Porch now offers loyalty promotions from Lowe’s, Wayfair, Square, Weebly and more to Porch Guaranteed professional
Porch.com, the home services platform, today announced the expansion of features to help home improvement professionals grow their business, as well as Porch Perks, a loyalty program that provides exclusive business and entertainment discounts for Porch Guaranteed professionals. The new features make it simpler than ever for home service professionals to connect to homeowners by providing businesses with more flexibility and choice. Some of the new product enhancements that Porch unveiled include:
Enterprise Direct Connect: Porch is announcing an easier way for national and regional service providers to access projects through Porch. With Direct Connect, larger companies can integrate into our project marketplace and have requests flow directly into their CRM systems. Porch has already launched the Direct Connect experience with hundreds of the largest national and regional home service companies across the country.
Flexible Features for Local Professionals. Local professionals across the country wanted more flexibility and control in how they worked with Porch. The following capabilities were announced today: · For professionals who prefer little up-front commitment, “Pay As You Go” is an easy way to get started. By adding a credit card, professionals can browse a list of homeowner projects in a desired area and choose who to connect with. This feature is great for test driving the Porch project marketplace or for filling an occasional hole in a professional’s schedule. · Instead of browsing projects, professionals can set criteria based on type of work and a monthly budget. Projects that meet the criteria will automatically be “reserved” and delivered to the pro each month. This feature is for professionals who want a steady stream of project requests from the Porch marketplace. This is an evolution of the Premium product that was launched 2 years ago. Porch has thousands of active professionals already reserving projects. “Professionals can now decide the best way to grow their business through the expansion of our pro product suite. With our new offerings, Porch caters to every home service professional across the country, big or small, by providing features that are tailored to their business. for homeowner demand. Over the past year, project request volume on Porch from homeowners has exploded so now is the right time to accelerate the connection with all types of quality professionals,” said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Matt Ehrlichman. The new features accompany the Porch Guarantee, a free program for homeowners that guarantees a quality experience with Porch professionals to homeowners. Guaranteed professionals have passed a 30-point check system that includes pre-screening, a comprehensive background check and accepting the Porch Pledge, a commitment to making it right for every customer. Also launching today is Porch Perks, available immediately to all Guaranteed professionals. These high quality professionals will now be able to receive dozens of business discounts and hundreds of local deals to help them operate and grow their business. “Professionals are core partners in building Porch with us. For the past two years, we’ve been working on increasing the amount of qualified service requests that come through Porch. With the quality and value of these requests at an all-time high, we want to reward our professionals by helping them grow their business in other ways. Access to discounts for home products, legal services, payment processing benefits, or food for their crew are just a few examples of how Porch will give time back to professionals so they can continue to focus on doing the work they love,” said Chief Customer Officer, Matthew Neagle. First wave Porch Perks partners include:
Lowe’s: “Lowe’s partnership with Porch continues to demonstrate our commitment to helping customers find solutions to their home improvement needs,” said Jay Rebello, Lowe’s vice president of new and emerging business. “Participating in the Porch Perks program is a great way to extend that commitment to our ProServices customers and provide exclusive offers and discounts from LowesForPros.com on the products and tools Porch’s Guaranteed Professionals need every day.”
Wayfair: “Earlier this year, Wayfair partnered with Porch.com to further enhance our customer experience by offering the ability to add superior installation and assembly services to orders at checkout,” said Steve Oblak, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Wayfair. “Now we’re giving Porch Perks members access to Wayfair Pro, where they will enjoy competitive pricing and volume discounts across our extensive product catalog, as well as personalized service from industry experts.”
Square: “At Square we want to make sure that every home services professional can get paid and grow their operations,” said Mike Cieri, Services Lead at Square. “Working with the Porch platform is a win-win for contractors who can connect directly with their customers and manage their entire business through Square Invoices and Appointments.”
Weebly: A beautiful website is key to growing your business to a new audience online. Weebly allows you to power your site and gives you all the tools you need to build a thriving online business. We’re proud to partner with Porch to help professionals get started and be their partner as they grow.
Capella University: “We are proud to be an educational partner for Porch’s Guaranteed Professionals,” said Barbara Butts Williams, PhD, executive dean of external relations and partnerships, and dean emeritus, business, at Capella University. “Our professionally-aligned, competency-based programs will provide their professionals the opportunity to advance their education and skills, which we believe can further prepare them to advance their businesses forward.”
Intuit: “At Intuit, we’re on a mission to change the financial lives of self-employed people, such as the professional contractors who work with Porch,” said Liz Baker, Senior Business Development Manager at Intuit. “We’re proud to be able to offer QuickBooks Self-Employed as part of Porch Perks, empowering professional contractors to take control of their financial lives with an easy-to-use solution that simplifies tax time and provides clear visibility into their income throughout the year.”
ATGStores.com: “Joining Porch Perks is a natural fit for us as a local Seattle business that’s also part of the larger Lowe’s home improvement network,” said ATGStores.com President Michelle Newbery. “We treat every customer like family even if they live across the country, and our dedicated account executives provide the kind of product expertise, pricing and high-touch service that can take a Porch Pro’s business to the next level.”
Avvo: “We’re thrilled to be involved in Porch Perks and the opportunity to provide Avvo legal services to the highest quality home improvement professionals and their businesses, said Sachin Bhatia, Chief Product Officer at Avvo.
Taunton Publishing: “Fine Homebuilding is the most trusted and authoritative resource for residential construction and remodeling professionals, and we’re committed to sharing the industry best practices and advancements that help building professionals succeed in their trades. We are pleased to provide an exclusive subscription discount to Fine Homebuilding Magazine to Porch Professionals, a community of builders and designers that share in our commitment to the pursuit of quality craftsmanship and the advancement of home building,” said Renee Jordan, Publisher of Fine Homebuilding.
Hanley Wood: We are pleased to participate in the Porch Perks program. At Hanley Wood it is our mission to provide construction professionals with the information they need to be successful. We are happy to offer discounted subscriptions to our JLC magazine, and the online JLC Field Guide reference platform to Porch Guarantee Professionals. JLC has a 40-year tradition of providing construction professionals with how-to best practice skills information and we are thrilled to partner with Porch,” said Rick Strachan, President, Hanley Wood Contractor Group.
Wintac: “Taking part in the Porch Perks program is an exciting opportunity for Wintac to work with contracting professionals who are committed to providing the highest quality and best customer experience possible.” Seth Hauben, Chief Marketing Officer at Wintac.
Ruby Receptionists: “We know how busy home improvement professionals are between managing projects, producing quotes, and meeting with clients,” said VP of Business Development, Kevin Gillam. “We’re thrilled to partner with Porch Perks to provide these professionals with some well-deserved relief through our live, virtual receptionist service. We offer peace of mind by providing friendly, professional receptionists who handle all calls with care, making callers feel special!”
About Porch.com Seattle based Porch.com is a home services platform that helps homeowners maintain their home and get projects done by connecting them with quality home improvement professionals. Porch is available nationwide online and serves as the exclusive in-store resource in over 1,720 Lowe’s stores across the U.S. For more information about Porch, visit https://porch.com.
Dynamic Systems, Inc., a Redmond, Washington software developer specializing in barcode data collection systems has updated the Barcode Tracking Scanners used in the construction industry, resulting in improved traceability and reduced tool and equipment loss. About CheckMate Toolroom Software CheckMate software increases productivity and saves money by reducing the time it takes to locate equipment Read more
Dynamic Systems, Inc., a Redmond, Washington software developer specializing in barcode data collection systems has updated the Barcode Tracking Scanners used in the construction industry, resulting in improved traceability and reduced tool and equipment loss.
About CheckMate Toolroom Software
CheckMate software increases productivity and saves money by reducing the time it takes to locate equipment and by assuring that items will not be lost or left behind after a job. Based on fast, accurate barcode technology, CheckMate records where the item is, who has it, and when it is due back. The Maintenance Scheduler option records repairs and schedules regular periodic maintenance and records warranty expiration dates. The systems an also track vehicle service and registration renewals.
About Dynamic Systems
Dynamic Systems has been a national leader in Barcode Tracking Solutions since 1981, providing flexible, complete and configurable programs for: tool and equipment tracking, inventory control, document tracking, fixed asset management, work order tracking and job costing. Barcode Data collection has been proven to be the most accurate and efficient method of tracking/counting items.
“Loss of tools or equipment and damaged or non-working equipment are major overhead costs that can be contained with a well-designed tracking system. Our customers see a typical payback for the CheckMate Equipment and Tool Tracking System within 3-4 months,” states Alison Falco, President of Dynamic Systems.
It only takes one minute to check a tool out or in, and if the company’s staff spends even 20 minutes a day searching for tools or tracking maintenance, the overhead savings is dramatic, and improves employee productivity and moral.“
The Commander™ Handheld Programming Unit from Chicago Faucets allows users to easily program, monitor and maintain Chicago Faucets HyTronic® and E-Tronic® electronic faucets from the palm of their hands. The diagnostics are easy to read, and step-by-step adjustment procedures are provided. Users can scan for faucets requiring attention, and when a faucet needs service, Commander Read more
The Commander™ Handheld Programming Unit from Chicago Faucets allows users to easily program, monitor and maintain Chicago Faucets HyTronic® and E-Tronic® electronic faucets from the palm of their hands.
The diagnostics are easy to read, and step-by-step adjustment procedures are provided. Users can scan for faucets requiring attention, and when a faucet needs service, Commander will alert the user to perform diagnostics and field maintenance.
Facility and maintenance personnel can change and customize operating modes, adjust sensor range, monitor battery levels, identify serial numbers, settings and usage information, access the troubleshooting guide and obtain product information.
“The Commander is a useful tool to monitor water usage and maintenance data in any setting, from commercial buildings to hospitality and healthcare. For example, a major Midwest hospital uses Commander successfully to monitor faucet use and even to indicate where new faucets may be required,” says Adam Molberger, Product Manager for Chicago Faucets.
Commander comes with software pre-loaded for immediate faucet control. A touch screen interface gives the user access to multiple field-adjustable ranges and modes, making it easy to program a HyTronic or E-Tronic faucet to meet application requirements or user preferences. Optional desktop software allows data transfer via USB connection from the Commander unit to a PC to create usage and maintenance records.
The Chicago Faucet Company is part of the Geberit Group, a European market leader and global provider of sanitary technology. Since 1901, The Chicago Faucet Company, located in Des Plaines, Illinois, has offered commercial faucets and fittings built to stand the test of time. A combination of the best engineering, finest materials and quality workmanship has made Chicago Faucets the specified choice in healthcare facilities throughout North America.
As European market leader, the Geberit Group is a global provider in the area of plumbing technology with sales of CHF 2.4 billion and more than 12,000 employees in over 40 countries worldwide.
For additional information, contact The Chicago Faucet Company at 2100 South Clearwater Drive, Des Plaines, IL 60018, or call 800-566-2100. You can also visit Chicago Faucets at chicagofaucets.com.
Viega solutions are now included in Revit, a design software which provides building information modeling tools for architects, MEP engineers, structural engineers and designers within the construction industry. Viega solutions are also included on AutoCAD® MEP software for drafting, designing and documenting building systems. Revit and AutoCAD MEP are the most recent building design programs Read more
Viega solutions are now included in Revit, a design software which provides building information modeling tools for architects, MEP engineers, structural engineers and designers within the construction industry. Viega solutions are also included on AutoCAD® MEP software for drafting, designing and documenting building systems.
Revit and AutoCAD MEP are the most recent building design programs to use Viega solutions. AutoCAD MEP is used by mechanical contractors to design their systems prior to installation and generate material lists. Among many other purposes, Revit can be used to complete 3-D building designs for piping, ducts and other materials. Other uses include creating building performance renderings for sales presentations.
“These programs help determine any potential issues that may arise during installation on a job before they can occur,” said Jason McKinnon, director of technical services, Viega. “This reduces the need for change orders as well as trade interference. Much like Viega’s solutions, these programs are meant to save time and money for jobs in the building design and construction industries.”
Programs like Revit and AutoCAD MEP are a part of Viega’s CAD and BIM download library and provide free drawings and models for a number of applications. Viega’s own Technical Services Department offers training, technical support and design services for nearly any type of plumbing, radiant and fire protection project. Viega also offers solutions such as LoopCAD, a radiant design and drawing software preloaded with Viega components and installation methods, as well as apps which provide supplemental readings and estimators.
For more information on Viega Design Services, visit viega.us and select “services.”
According to the National Equipment Register, construction jobsite theft costs the industry up to $1 billion each year.1 Professional contractors rely on their tools to get the job done, and without the necessary equipment, it can cost companies significant time and money. “Simple security measures and practices can help keep jobsites protected,” said Mike Bykowski Read more
According to the National Equipment Register, construction jobsite theft costs the industry up to $1 billion each year.1 Professional contractors rely on their tools to get the job done, and without the necessary equipment, it can cost companies significant time and money.
“Simple security measures and practices can help keep jobsites protected,” said Mike Bykowski, Senior Product Manager at KNAACK®, LLC. “After hours, construction sites can become an easy target for theft and vandalism, but there are measures that professionals can take to ensure expensive tools and equipment are kept safe.”
According to the Great American Insurance Group, “an estimated 90% of equipment thefts take place between 6 p.m. on Friday and 6 a.m. on Monday.”2 There are many ways that tools and material goods can be kept safe, from extra lighting around the jobsite to storing tools in a locked storage box.
Safety Tips to Guard Against Theft
One of the most secure measures a company can take includes keeping tools and equipment in a safe and secure location, like a jobsite storage box. Additional tips include:
- Signage: One of the number one and lowest-cost deterrents is adding a simple sign. Consider adding a sign that reads, “24 Hour Video Surveillance”. Another sign offering rewards to those who turn in thieves or provide valuable information on crimes is also a helpful deterrent.
- Security Lighting: Motion-censored lights or extra lighting can deter crime. Darkness often invites crime so the more light, the better the protection.
- Barrier protection: Adding some type of barrier protection, like a fence or guardrail, makes it tougher for thieves to get in and take supplies out. Look for ways to keep the important items properly secured and protected with barriers.
- Controlled access to the jobsite: Having just one entry point in and out of the jobsite will cut down on crime. Geo-Fencing, a virtual barrier using GPS to track behaviors using mobile phones, has proved helpful for both crime prevention and inventory.
- Documentation: Always photograph, document and record the serial numbers for equipment, tools and material goods for insurance purposes in the event that something is stolen. This will be extremely handy if a company or individual wants to claim any stolen items with an insurance company.
- Jobsite Box Protection: Tools and equipment should be kept in a safe and secure location. With the extra security of a jobsite box, like the KNAACK® 4830-D, criminals do not stand a chance of getting to the most valuable tools on a construction site. The KNAACK® 4830-D is both weather and theft resistant and features an integrated, three-point locking system and secondary locking drawer.
While these tips will not guarantee important items are always safe, it will strongly deter theft and vandalism. Construction jobsite crime can not only cause financial hardship, but also delay production schedules. If a jobsite does fall victim to theft, having a contingency plan in place can make replacing stolen tools much easier. Both local police numbers and jobsite owner name and number should be on file and accessible to all on the jobsite. In addition, always ensure equipment and tools have the proper warranties and have been registered with the manufacturer.
In support of the International Code Council’s (ICC) Building Safety Month in May and the National Safety Council’s (NSC) National Safety Month in June, KNAACK® will be kicking off a new campaign entitled Can’t Crack A KNAACK®. The goal is to promote awareness of jobsite security and the value of protecting tools and equipment. KNAACK® will be hosting contests on their Facebook page to feature customers and fans who #ShowUsYourScars. KNAACK® boxes are recognized for their security and durability and users are encouraged to share their stories of how their storage boxes survived damage from attempted theft, automobile accidents or weather. Visit www.facebook.com/knaackstorage to share photos and stories for a chance to win cool KNAACK® prizes.
ABOUT KNAACK®
KNAACK®, a WernerCo brand, is the industry leader of jobsite storage equipment, including storage chests, field stations, rolling work benches and hand tool boxes. KNAACK products are designed and built to the highest standard. Well beyond traditional tool storage and security, KNAACK innovation takes jobsite protection to the next level. KNAACK products are manufactured in Crystal Lake, Illinois. For more information, visit www.knaack.com.