Archive for category: Greg Grady

Equipment Labor Shortage Challenges and Solutions for 2024

October 31, 2023/in Greg Grady, Guest Bloggers/by Caroline Slee-Poulos

Equipment Labor Shortage Challenges and Solutions for 2024

Guest writer Greg Grady writes today about the new year just around the corner in “Equipment Labor Shortage Challenges and Solutions for 2024.”

Finding out how technology, including automation, can help address heavy equipment workforce shortages in 2024 and beyond.

In 2024, the heavy equipment rental and dealership industry will face an unprecedented challenge in sourcing, hiring, and retaining qualified personnel. For the past few years, businesses across the sector have been grappling with an alarming workforce shortage, and as part of the equipment business industry, we have witnessed firsthand the impact this shortage has on the market.

This shortage of skilled labor has far-reaching implications, affecting everything from equipment servicing to customer satisfaction. However, amidst these challenges, there is a beacon of hope in technology.

A Labor Crisis in the Heavy Equipment Industry

To understand the gravity of the situation, it’s critical to consider some recent statistics. According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s JOLTS report, nearly 4.3 million people quit their jobs in January 2022. The shockwaves from this massive voluntary turnover still reverberate in 2024, as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports that workforce participation remains below pre-pandemic levels. In fact, we are currently 1.5 million Americans short of the workforce that existed pre-Covid back in February 2020.

Scarcity Impacts Equipment Businesses

The shortage of qualified workers has significantly impacted equipment businesses. The demand for construction and infrastructure projects has surged, but the workforce needed to support these initiatives is simply not keeping pace. Equipment service technicians, in particular, have become exceedingly challenging to source. This specialized role requires a unique skill set that combines mechanical knowledge with executive function, creativity, customer service, and physical agility.

The Quest for Tomorrow’s Workers

Organizations like the American Rental Association have taken steps to address this issue, developing certifications, events, and educational initiatives to cultivate the workforce of tomorrow. While these efforts are commendable, there still exists a shortfall of skilled personnel in the industry today that must be managed.

Embracing Technology to Bridge the Gap

The answer to the equipment business labor shortage lies in technology, specifically automation. Many businesses are now deploying technology solutions to digitize their paper-based processes. This digital transformation is helping to streamline operations, reduce errors, and improve overall efficiency, all while requiring fewer full-time equivalent (FTE) hours.

Automation to the Rescue

One significant advantage of technology adoption is process improvement and automation, which allows equipment businesses to reduce the human FTE hours required for specific tasks. For example, automating the sales activity in the quote-to-order process can significantly streamline the quote-to-cash timeline while eliminating data entry errors. Ultimately, digital transformation creates “sticky” customers and reduces churn which industry analysts, including Associated Equipment Distributors (AED), estimate to be roughly 60 percent on average for equipment dealers and rental companies each year.

The Synergy of Education and Technology

By combining workforce education efforts with technology integration, equipment organizations can refine their business processes to weather the labor shortage storm. Skilled technicians, even if scarce, can become exponentially more productive when armed with the right digital tools. These tools not only help them perform their roles more efficiently but also make the work environment more attractive to potential employees.

Going Forward with the Right Solutions

The heavy equipment industry’s workforce shortage is a challenge that cannot be underestimated. However, by leveraging technology and a commitment to ongoing workforce education, businesses in this sector can address the crisis head-on. The synergy of these two elements can bridge the gap between the demand for skilled labor and its availability, ultimately propelling the industry forward into a more prosperous and sustainable future.

About Greg Grady

Greg Grady is the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) at Texada Software, a leader in equipment business management, delivering SaaS and mobile applications for equipment dealerships and rental companies. Learn more about Texada Software at http://www.texadasoftware.com.

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The Role of SaaS Platforms in the DMS World for Heavy Equipment Dealers

July 25, 2023/in Greg Grady, Guest Bloggers/by Caroline Slee-Poulos

The Role of SaaS Platforms in the DMS World for Heavy Equipment Dealers

This week, we are introducing you to a new guest writer, Greg Grady, with his inaugural blog post “The Role of SaaS Platforms in the DMS World for Heavy Equipment Dealers.” Greg Grady has served as the Chief Revenue Officer at Texada Software since January of 2023. Greg has led commercial teams in the heavy equipment, construction and building materials software industries for nearly 20 years. His experience includes working with leading industry-specific SaaS and ERP/DMS software providers worldwide. Greg is an avid NC State fan and lives in Raleigh, NC with his wife Jennifer and twins, Graham & Parker…and Mavis the dog.

Introduction:

In the modern digital era, the utilization of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platforms has advanced various industries, including the management of heavy equipment dealerships and rental companies. Dealer Management Systems (DMS) have played a pivotal role in efficiently managing the operations of heavy equipment dealerships for decades. What we are seeing from the leading companies in the space now is the marriage of SaaS platforms with DMS to enhance the overall functionality and productivity of dealers, ultimately increasing dealership profits.

I. Understanding SaaS Platforms:
SaaS platforms refer to cloud-based software solutions accessible over the internet, eliminating the need for costly infrastructure, which requires heavy lifting from the dealer’s IT department. These platforms provide businesses with the flexibility to access applications and services from any device with an internet connection. SaaS platforms typically incorporate mission-critical features such as data storage, advanced analytics, collaboration tools, and automated processes. SaaS solutions in the space are generally specialized, industry-specific solutions like CRM & Quoting, Field Service, Business Intelligence (BI), rental, and e-Commerce systems delivered on modern architected platforms and leverage data from the core DMS. These systems are acutely focused on the high margin departments of a dealership and provide functionality which typically surpasses that of the traditional DMS applications offering similar modules.

II. Dealer Management Systems (DMS):
Dealer Management Systems are comprehensive software solutions designed to manage the various aspects of heavy equipment dealers and rental companies, including inventory management, sales, service, and parts management. DMS platforms work well at streamlining core operations, increasing efficiency, and improving customer satisfaction by integrating multiple functions into one centralized system and dataset.

III. Integration of SaaS Platforms with DMS:
Enhanced Data Management: SaaS platforms allow heavy equipment dealers to manage large volumes of data generated by DMS effectively. The cloud-based approach of SaaS platforms ensures data accessibility, enhanced security, and fluid scalability. Through seamless integration, SaaS platforms can handle “anywhere you need it” data analytics, reporting, and accurate forecasting, enabling dealerships to make informed decisions based on real-time insights.

Mobility and Accessibility: SaaS platforms enable dealers and rental companies to access critical system functionalities from anywhere, using various devices. This ensures sales representatives, service technicians, and other personnel can retrieve essential information on the go, improving response times and customer service. Additionally, remote access to DMS data via SaaS platforms facilitates collaboration and communication among different departments within the dealership, creating a transparent operation.

IV. Benefits of SaaS-DMS Integration for Heavy Equipment Companies:
Cost-effectiveness: SaaS platforms eliminate the need for heavy upfront investments in hardware and software installations, reducing overall IT costs. Additionally, the pay-as-you-go model allows dealerships to only pay for the services they require, enhancing the ROI.

Improved Efficiency: Integrating SaaS platforms with DMS streamlines processes, reduces manual work, data synching issues and enhances overall operational efficiency. Automated workflows, real-time data updates, and centralized information enable faster decision-making and smoother operations.

Enhanced Customer Service: SaaS-DMS integration enables heavy equipment dealers to provide superior customer service through improved response times, accurate data, and personalized interactions. Dealerships can track customer interactions and preferences, allowing them to offer tailored services and build long-term customer relationships. This modern paradigm allows forward-thinking dealers and rental companies to become incredibly “sticky” for their customers.

Conclusion:
SaaS platforms have become integral to the functioning of DMS in the heavy equipment industry. The seamless integration of these platforms allows the DMS to do what it does best, act as the system of record, and the SaaS applications to exploit every business opportunity via optimized workflows in the key departments that drive every dealership and rental business. As heavy equipment dealerships continue to embrace digital transformation, the integration of SaaS platforms with DMS will play a crucial role in their success in the ever-evolving business landscape.

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TESTIMONIALS

Don't miss the final four webinars for the service department for the winter/spring period. Tuesday April 15th and Wednesday April 16th at 9:00 AM and Noon Pacific time. For more information please go to www.aednet.org or www.rjslee.com.

The time is now.

April 10, 2014

Creating Culture During a Pandemic

Today's guest blog is written by Colorado entrepreneur Laura Love. A passionate advocate for the culture of her companies, as well as her local community, Laura is joining us today to talk about all of the different ways we can work on creating culture during a pandemic. During a year that has brought numerous challenges to people around the world, this post offers a deeper perspective on the opportunities opening up to us through these times. As you will see when you read further, Laura teaches us what it means to run a business based upon relationships and connection with others. To connect with Laura, please reach out to her via her LinkedIn profile.

I often tell people that I have four children. Kirby, Jackson, Brooks and this pretty amazing baby that magically appeared on the scene when I decided that starting a business in my basement in the middle of a dot-com crash and months before 9/11 would be a stellar idea. This 4^th child — GroundFloor Media (GFM) and its sister agency CenterTable which joined the “family” in 2016 – has been nothing short of a wonderful, wild ride these past two decades.

However, this year has challenged us unlike any other year in our 20-year history. Like many other businesses, we are managing the ups and downs of COVID-19, the fight for racial justice, the challenges of employing working parents who are being asked to juggle work while managing remote classrooms (I know first-hand that Google has the answers to everything a 4^th grader – and his mom – should know).

When I woke up on Nov. 3, I nervously scanned all of my favorite newsfeeds in search of the latest political news, but I also encountered a silver lining – we were named No. 2 on Outside Magazine’s Best Places to Work for 2020. That honor marked the eighth consecutive year we were recognized in the Top 10 – the longest run of any company currently on the list.

This award is particularly meaningful this year. I have witnessed team members battling cancer, watching their loved ones pass away from this virus, coping with a spouse losing her job and a team member trying to be the cheerleader to his only child heading off to college in the midst of a not-so-normal freshman year. And each and every one of our team has shown up for one another and for our clients in very big and vulnerable ways.

Yes, I want to toot our own horn for winning this award because I am so proud of my colleagues who make our company such a special place. But more importantly, I want to use this forum to share with other business leaders because this can be a really scary time to be a leader. And if we can share ideas and best practices about how we have all gotten uber creative during these past nine months, we will be stronger together.

So, I will share a bit of our story. In 2019, we moved back into our Downtown Denver office after moving out for 11 months while we completely gutted the building in order to create a modern open-space concept. At the beginning of the pandemic, we once again shut the office down and added walls and glass to allow for proper social-distance practices for those who self-selected to work in the office. (We made the decision to utilize the office as a “mental health break” space for team members who need to work outside of their home occasionally, rather than moving forward with a full re-opening of the office.)

But it was so much more than remodeling our physical space. Our team member’s personal wellbeing is as important to us as their professional sanity and in an attempt to unwind and connect with one another, we’ve added “Get Connected to Stay Grounded” virtual sessions where we held classes including “Sip and Draw,” “Aroma Acupoint Therapy” sessions and a “Virtual Cocktail/Mocktail Class.”

We have always been focused on striving for a “work-life blend.” Our autonomous culture allows employees to work when, where and how it works best for their lifestyle (ski lifts and hiking trails included). That includes “Trusted Time Off” unlimited vacation days and mandatory meeting-free time “Zero-Entry Mondays” on Monday mornings before 11am. The advent of COVID-19 may have put a halt on most in-person gatherings, but our weekly (now virtual) beer club gatherings, $50 monthly “Active Lifestyle Allowance” and four hours per month paid time off for volunteering haven’t changed. Because this can be a really isolating and frustrating time, we encourage each member to take care of themselves by prioritizing times to get outside or stretch or meditate throughout the day.

As leaders in the company, we have tried to stay in front of team members with personalized check-ins, sending surprise and delight gifts of lasagna and wine from our friends at Attimo, allowing team members to Choose Their Own Online Adventure including offering a digitally interactive adventure camp for their kiddos through AVID4 or offering an online subscription to MasterClass for six months. We also provided a team of “resilience coaches” from Downstream Partners for all team members to utilize and organized “Pandemic Partners” as a buddy system for mental well-being and allowed team members to change their work status options (100%, 75%, 50% & contractor) based on changing family needs.

As an extension of GroundFloor Media and CenterTable’s Doing My Part Colorado effort, we launched a new podcast series, Good & Grounded, where Jim Licko and I work with our (kick-ass) producer Armand Piecuch to interview dynamic and passionate local Colorado leaders who are impacting our community during this time of uncertainty. I have always loved the quote by Winston Churchill – We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. The leaders whom we speak with are the ones making a huge difference in our state. Had the pandemic not hit, I am not sure we would have slowed down long enough to honor what these selfless leaders give to others during good and bad times.

We are not perfect. In fact, we make a lot of mistakes and the bottom line is this is just hard. But there are silver linings and when I see a ranking like the recent one from Outside, I know that it matters. It matters because it shows that our team members are valued, and that they consider themselves long-term partners at GroundFloor Media and CenterTable. That means that clients have access to our highly talented team members, and that team members with institutional knowledge remain part of their teams for years.

I would love to hear about the other innovative ways Colorado leaders are working to keep their teams connected and inspired. Maybe we can even interview those of you willing to share a few of your pandemic survival ideas with us on an upcoming Good & Grounded episode? If so, drop me a line at llove@groundfloormedia.com. Together, we can get through this.

Please visit us at Learning Without Scars for your employee development needs.

November 17, 2020