ServiceChannel’s Formation of the Contractor Advisory Board Gives New Voice to End Users
ServiceChannel
The ServiceChannel Contractor Advisory Board’s mission is to explore and identify issues and topics that are important to contractors and to make recommendations to continuously improve the quality and relevance of ServiceChannel products and services as well as provide input that leads to the strengthening of ServiceChannel’s relationship with the contractor community.
The Contractor Advisory Board (CAB) is comprised of at least 15 different contractors, all from different companies including contractors who are self-performing as well as those who use subcontractors. We have participants who are national, some who are regional, and even one member from Canada. Consisting of larger and smaller users, the diversity of the Board helps ServiceChannel deliver a stronger product.
ServiceChannel wants the input and involvement of these contractors who use our technology every day. In the past, new features and functions were developed to meet a retail or restaurant client’s specific requirement, but we really have two customers. Contractors are a crucial part of our business and their input is vital into the success of the facilities management process. The Contractor Advisory Board ensures that we are taking a 360 degree look at our eco-system and getting everyone involved.
ServiceChannel is the first facilities management platform to really ask contractors:
- What do you need?
- What do you want?
- What could we do differently or better to make your jobs easier?
The CAB in-person meetings and online webinars have already yielded valuable discussions, leading to projects which are already underway – such as adding quicklinks in key places, and revamping the entire Contractor Scorecard system. The webinars enable ServiceChannel to get live reactions to new features prior to releasing software that may be difficult to use or that no one’s ever seen. Not only do we have meetings with the Board, we’re also having ongoing phone calls and demonstrations with them, getting feedback as part of our product development process.
Another CAB development is the formation of a User Group for contractors. It will be regional at first, and planning conversations are already underway.
At the end of the day, what we want is to ensure that our products and features work well for everyone who is involved in the facilities management process. The Contractor Advisory Board is exciting because it opens the door for more opportunities. It has already proven to be a valuable endeavor, and we’ve learned tremendously. ServiceChannel wants our users to be happy and comfortable with our systems, but if we can be the best and also help grow the industry, even better.
Eric Schechter
President, Fixxbook
eschechter@servicechannel.com
