Using the Sales and Marketing Tools

Here is a general invitation to all the Point2 Manager and Express users for training on the site.  So whether it’s ADDING/EDITING INVENTORY, PHOTOS or using your MARKETING TOOLS (quotes, brochures, inventory lists and Manager Mobile), contact Support.  We’ll get you and your people trained on all the latest.  Eve Marshall, Point2 Customer Support eve @ point2.com 888-955-7900 / 306-955-1855

How SCRUM Can Help Your Business

SCRUM is an advanced software development process that will help your business, albeit working its wonders from behind the scenes. 

Technology innovation is what helps heavy equipment dealers around the world better manage equipment inventories and market their used machines effectively on the Internet. It allows dealer teams to access up to date product inventory, photos and detailed information on their Blackberry devices or other PDAs, essentially leaving a less equipped competitor in the dust.

Point2 just appointed Zach Scott to the position of CTO, which means more such innovation at an even faster pace can be expected by our customers.

 

And how does this directly affect you?

 

Software development lies at the heart of building and maintaining cutting edge technology, like Point2’s Manager Mobile. Scott has recently introduced to Point2 the SCRUM software development process, which promises just that.

 

We’d love to hear your questions or thoughts on how you are using technology in your dealership. And if you’d like an online demo of how dealers across North America are using Point2 Manager to streamline inventory management and enhance sales and marketing, drop us a note at mfuller @ point2 . com.

Trade In Headaches

Heavy Equipment dealers across the board are always looking at increasing productivity and profits, as the market is not helping much lately. It seems equipment trade-in assessments and valuations are turning into a real business pain. In talking to a few dealers over the past few weeks, many still have to suffer through duplicate data entry on their business system and website. Sales and admin teams each have their own way of capturing trade-in equipment condition information, stats and specs. I still can’t get over the fact that some sales people still write up trade-ins on a sheet of paper and haul it into admin to enter the information into the system. The assessment of the vehicle and hence its value / price is done purely based on experience and judgement. Often too, someone else then enters the machine data into the company’s website. Needless to say, data is inconsistent and the process is tedious and counterproductive at best.

Any real war stories related to vehicle/ equipment assessment you’d like to share? One dealer seems to have the issue sorted out, using simple technology [click here to read...] Keen to hear what others have done and what systems you are using.

Mark

T. Mark Fuller
Point2 Technologies Inc.
888.955.7900 ll 604.675.9393 X 226
mfuller @ point2 . com

Refresher Courses available on Sales and Marketing Tools

This is a general invitation to all our Point2 Manager and Express users to contact Support for additional training on our software.  So whether it is:

- ADDING/EDITING INVENTORY

- PHOTOS

- QUOTES

- BROCHURES

- INVENTORY REPORTS

- EXPRESS REPORT

- DATA EXPORT FILES

- SALES MANAGEMENT TOOLS

Contact Support, and we’ll get you and your people to get you up to speed.  Eve Marshall, Point2 Customer Support eve @ point2.com 888-955-7900 / 306-955-1855

How Important is Your Company Website?

What kind of emphasis and importance do you place on a website for your business? Your customers and prospective customers will get a distinct impression of your business from your online presence.  So what is your website telling people about your company?

 

Consider your website as your Online Store Front.  What does the customer-facing area of your business look like? Put that same level attention and effort into your website.  Your customers are going online more and more, and they expect you to be there. If you’re not, you can be sure that your competitors are.

 

Often I get the impression that a Website is not at the top of a dealer/contractor/business’ priority list, and I wonder why? I know the answer is that it doesn’t generate immediate gains and returned value.  However, if you think big picture and consider the long-term and potential increased business, it’s enormous! Those companies that have a well-designed, advanced website were industry leaders. Their site’s look great because they’ve taken time to mature and build content and stay with or even ahead of industry trends. 

 

So where do you begin? As you may have noticed, I like making things simple, easy tips or tricks that require a small effort but can have a huge impact.  I found the following articles very informative and straight-forward. 

 

This article describes the importance of a website to small and local business – they say “people expect it”: http://design.networksolutions.com/article-35.php.

 

And when considering the content of your site, this article give 7 items to keep in mind: http://ezinearticles.com/?7-Features-Of-A-High-Impact-Corporate-Website&id=477276

 

Finally, remember that you’re in business to build, sell equipment, source equipment, etc, not to do Web Design.  Save yourself a lot of time and headaches and leave it to the experts! Do you think a web designers would try to build their home themselves? Unlikely!

 

Good Selling!

 

Laura Watson

Commercial Manager

Point2 Technologies, Inc.

888.955.7900 North America

306.955.1855 International

lwatson @ point2.com

www.Point2.com

Google Maps introduced

Point2 Technologies is pleased to introduce Google Maps to its construction equipment marketplace - http://usediron.point2.com/.  View the exact location of the seller in Google Maps by clicking on the ‘Map’ link under each seller’s contact information.

For example: Brandt Tractor (John Deere dealer across Western Canada) - http://usediron.point2.com/Xhtml/Equipment/Details/P2/Excavator-Crawler/JOHN-DEERE/690E-LC/494720/ViewEquipmentDetail.html?src=www&vid=236  (note: this link will only remain active until machine is sold.  Visit the site for over 27,000 up to date listings from construction equipment sellers across the world)

P2HE Team - about us

Contractors and housing starts

Does your construction business operate in a market where you are experiencing a decline in construction starts?  Or is your market strong?  If you’re in the United States or Canada it certainly depends on what state/province of the country you are in; or which markets you serve.  Some areas might be booming and need to source machines for upcoming projects (such as here in Western Canada) while other areas may need assistance disposing of surplus machines.

A myriad of major news sources reported on September 19^th that “US Housing starts fell to their lowest level in 12 years last month, while permits for new construction also declined, pointing to a further weakening of an already battered housing market.“

Washington Post - http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/19/AR2007091902243.html

CNNMoney - http://money.cnn.com/2007/09/19/news/economy/housingstarts/?postversion=2007091909

If your jobsite is full of Caterpillar dozers, John Deere excavators, Komatsu wheel loaders, Volvo articulating trucks, Case backhoes, or Bobcat skid steers …

1. Look to online marketplaces (such as http://www.usediron.com/) to dispose of machines to a large audience of buyers…

2. Talk to your local dealer to consign machines (try www.aedauthorized.com/ for factory authorized dealers… or call the dealer you know best)

3. Contact an auction company that is active in moving machines globally (175 auctions a year with Ritchie Brothers http://www.rbauction.com/)

For some who you operate in a market where general construction is booming (such as our backyard in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada), you may be in need of sourcing machines… try those same three options listed above!

Since our Blog is titled the future of heavy equipment marketing, we feel that online marketplaces will continue to be a solid means of connecting buyers with sellers (and vice versa).  If you use an online marketplace… we would suggest a couple things:

1. When procuring machines, the door should be wide open allowing you to communicate and deal directly with the seller

2. If you’re selling, the advertising rates should be competitive and no commissions should be charged

3. Ask for details on traffic from the marketplace as many might claim to be able to drive traffic and leads but it’s always nice to see proof (note: at Point2 we post UsedIron.com’s monthly traffic numbers on our Blog …see August stats - http://manager.wordpress.com/2007/09/05/usediron-august-stats/ )

4. Do some searches on Google (and other search engines) to see how the marketplace ranks

Call or email us today if you have any questions or would like to discuss any of the options available in procuring or disposing of machines. 

Chester Hagen

Vice President Sales

Point2 Technologies Inc. - http://www.point2.com/
888.955.7900 toll free || 306.955.1855 outside N.A.
We create innovative technologies that empower our customers to lead their field  

AED Exec Forum Sept 13-14

Members of the Point2 Heavy Equipment team will be attending the Association of Equipment Distributors Executive Forum September 13-14 in Chicago Illinois (Westin O’Hare, Rosemont IL).  We look forward to meeting industry leaders and executives from the most progressive dealers and manufacturers. If management and executives from your dealership or manufacturer are attending this event, let them or us know and we’ll connect for a chat or meeting.

Visit AED’s website for more information: www.aednet.org/execforum

Chester Hagen chagen @ point2.com

Point2 Technologies Inc. - http://www.point2.com/
888.955.7900 toll free || 306.955.1855 outside N.A.
 

 Powering progressive dealers! - http://manager.point2.com/ 

UsedIron.com; over 29,000 machines for sale, thousands of buyers a day 

We create innovative technologies that empower our customers to lead their field  

Simple is not easy

Building software and online solutions that are intuitive and extremely easy to use is NOT an easy feat.  At Point2 Technologies we strive for this in every piece of web-based software (also known as Software as a Service SaaS), and online marketplace we develop… we know our audience appreciates software and online applications that do not take a computer wizard to use.  We have dedicated “Usability Experts” that are trained in Human Computer Interaction (HCI).  These individuals demand a lot from our developers when it comes to ease-of-use.

On this note, our staff of 100 watched a TED talks video this week that really hit this fact home… New York Times technology columnist David Pogue talks about When it comes to tech, simplicity sells.  http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/7 .  It’s a playful and fun ~20 minute video that I think you’ll not only get a kick out of, but you will also learn something from.  And it may not just be tech that needs to focus on simple… maybe machine manufacturers can glean something from this ‘simple’ concept.

Chester

Regards,

Chester Hagen - chagen @ point2.com
Vice President Sales || Point2 Technologies Inc.
888.955.7900 toll free || 306.955.1855 outside N.A.
 

  Powering progressive dealers! - http://manager.point2.com/ 

UsedIron.com; over 29,000 machines for sale, thousands of buyers a day 

We create innovative technologies that empower our customers to lead their field  

Excavator or Backhoe?

Looks like Excavators wins!

Whether you have an entire fleet or a single unit to procure or dispose of; you’ll find it very interesting (and maybe a bit surprising) as to what are the highest volume search terms that bring 2,500+ visitors a day to Point2’s http://www.UsedIron.com/ marketplace.  With Google.com as the largest source of traffic to the site, here are the top 25 search terms that bring people to UsedIron.com:

1 - Mini Excavator

2 - Backhoe

3 - Tractors for sale

4 - Mini Excavators

5 - Excavator

6 - Skid Steer

7 - Timberjack

8 - Dozer

9 - Wheel loader

10 - Used excavators

11 - Used bobcat

12 - Used heavy equipment

13 - Excavators for sale

14 - Bobcat 753

15 - Backhoes for sale

16 - Grader

17 - Backhoe for sale

18 - Used Backhoes

19 - Heavy equipment for sale

20 - Water Trucks

21 - Heavy Equipment

22 - Loaders

23 - Backhoes

24 - Bobcat 773

25 - Skidder

So whether you sell (or are trying to source) Caterpillar machinery, John Deere equipment, Case / CNH, Komatsu, Volvo Construction, Hitachi, Bobcat or any other brand of heavy equipment, you know where to find it or sell it - http://www.UsedIron.com/

Please don’t hesitate to call or email us for more information on any of our solutions; for equipment dealers, manufacturers, rental companies, and contractors. 

Chester Hagen

Regards,

Chester Hagen - chagen @ point2.com
Vice President Sales || Point2 Technologies Inc.
888.955.7900 toll free || 306.955.1855 outside N.A.
 

 Powering progressive dealers! - http://manager.point2.com/ 

UsedIron.com; over 29,000 machines for sale, thousands of buyers a day 

We create innovative technologies that empower our customers to lead their field