With new research suggesting that at least 54% of plumbers work 48 hours a week, finding the time to keep up to date with what’s going on in the industry can be tricky, let alone having enough time to sift through paperwork to check payments have been received on time. With that in mind, Debbie-Sue Price, Customer Programmes at Graham Plumbers’ Merchant looks at how online services can help you keep on top of things when the going gets busy.
When you’re out and about all day, your smartphone and tablet can often become your best friends. Helping you to keep in touch with the world at the touch of a button, getting online to check out social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter offer up a great way to find out more about what’s happening within the industry.
From a knowledge perspective, using Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date with industry news, reviews and updates is a great idea and can really help you stay one step ahead when it comes to building and improving your awareness. It can also be a great way of finding out about new training courses too.
Of course, online services are not only useful from a knowledge building angle but can also be quite handy when it comes to keeping on top of administrative tasks. Logging in directly to The Plumbers’ Club for example means you can gain access to services such as PayPal Here. Members of The Plumbers’ Club, from Graham Plumbers’ Merchant, are given access to a simple and secure way of accepting payments on a smartphone. Consisting of a pocket-sized Chip and PIN card reader and a free mobile app, PayPal Here is a complete mobile payment solution that allows you to accept PayPal, credit and debit card payments, log cash and cheques and even send invoices and receipts wherever you do business.
With upcoming jobs in mind, ordering spare parts can also pose a drain on time too – put simply, there are sometimes not enough hours in the day to get down to your local merchant to order what you need for the next big job. Etrade services really come into their own in this instance – allowing you to quickly and easily order what you want, wherever you are. You can then choose to have items delivered or ready for collection from your local merchant.
With time a precious commodity, online services can really help to take the strain out of your day. By joining The Plumbers’ Club and taking advantage of its associated online services, you might even have time for a quick cup of tea!
Debbie-Sue Price, Customer Programmes at Graham Plumbers’ Merchant.
