Contractors and developers trade on their reputation whether they are an SME or a major UK Contractor. When word-of-mouth spreads a bad reputation exponentially faster than good, it’s crucial to reduce risks at all stages and protect your brand image. John Harris, Head of Sales – Housing at Wienerberger, discusses how selecting a reliable, end-to-end delivery partner helps build a strong and long-lasting reputation resulting in overall brand positivity, and repeat business.
At a time when nearly every individual can access the internet, it is our prime responsibility to manage both our online and offline reputation. 86% of consumers use the internet for research before making a purchase decision, whilst 90% of consumers say positive reviews have influenced their purchase decisions.
This is the same for any company within the construction industry, and the need to build strong and positive relationships with customers has never been more important. By aligning sales with the wider construction process, it enables a single customer journey, offering greater efficiency and agility in your operations.
Reputation is key
Customers want partners that can complete their project on programme and on budget. Time is, after all, money. But even beyond this, customers are seeking partners that can add value and make life easier, streamlining and simplifying everything from start to finish.
Trust, quality and reliability are the key components of reputation. A quality product or service creates unshakeable customer loyalty that generates increased leads. When customers find a company they trust, they return and recommend the product or service to others.
Bringing in a partner that can offer solutions for the full building envelope and introduce innovative products to minimise snagging and defects at your final stages, can be hugely beneficial to managing your reputation. One partner can maintain complete, single-interface control over trusted consultants to safeguard the quality of your build, whilst providing assurances that all required products are available when needed – in turn, bringing the building blocks of reputation together.
Beyond this, though, investing in customers and communities shows that commitment and loyalty are at the heart of your values. When companies invest in communities, they aim to deliver positive impact in three ways: by creating economic opportunities, enabling inclusive urbanisation, and fostering environmental sustainability. At Wienerberger we want to invest in our customers and communities with quality products to enhance not only the nature and speed of build but the efficient delivery of schemes and to support communities in the long-term.
Plan with sales in mind
Integrating the sales function with planning and construction can build efficiency and flexibility into your general operations – as well as, ultimately, reducing costs, delays, warranty claims and ongoing lifecycle costs, due to planning ahead before the build.
One way to reduce risk when it comes to choosing products and building services is to select one manufacturer that can provide all the products needed for the building envelope of your project – providing a single source for relevant guarantees for peace of mind and getting you watertight quicker. Using one provider for the whole project from design and specification to materials and technical support reduces delays and snagging issues, thanks to the enhanced control over systems and products working together from the design stage.
Putting this into context, Wienerberger takes a holistic approach to building design, developing sustainable products and switching to energy-efficient processes, enhancing not only the quality of the build but also quality of life. Advising and supporting customers through the whole construction process via our Archigility methodology, the team combines architecture with agility to create a smoother, more effective pathway to completion – and to long-term reputation and sales improvement.
Guarantee quality
When customers buy products, they want to be reassured that they’re making the best decision. They need to know that what they spend their money on will last, and that if it doesn’t, they can reach out to the company for support. Variable product liability periods from multiple manufacturers takes time and money to establish a chain of custody and responsibility, resulting in maintenance delays – and unhappy customers…
A construction project doesn’t always end when the contractor hands over the keys to the client and moves off site. That’s why it’s often best to see the guarantee period as a full-scale continuation of the build project.
Theoretically, bringing in a supporting partner to deliver an ideal, complementary mix of products and systems wrapped within a single guarantee framework safeguards quality, enhances longevity and provides peace of mind that just one manufacturer is available and accountable to support, rectify and protect in the long run.
However, putting this into practice demands an ability to keep multiple plates spinning, to project-manage consultants, and keep information and communication flowing. So, a partner guaranteeing quality needs to take an agile approach – something that Wienerberger provides through complete BIM support, with all data available for project handover, all in one place, to make ongoing maintenance easier and more responsive.
With the UK Government promise of 300,000 new homes a year and new measures to improve building safety standards, the pressure in the construction industry is mounting. However, Wienerberger is on hand to support projects every step of the way, whether that’s from the beginning with Archigility, from our Architectural Services team, or post-specification, through our product allocation and guarantee offering.
The whole package
Having a partner to support throughout the build, end to end, can streamline the process, solve and simplify miscommunication and project delays, and ensure reliability and focus – the impact of which, reputationally, can be felt long after handover.
Independently tested and certified, Wienerberger’s full building envelope solution comprises a bespoke project specification, onsite support and design services where necessary – all supported by a 15-year guarantee. If Wienerberger materials are specified and installed in accordance with the specification, we also instill complete peace of mind through fully guaranteed materials.
Quality services and materials are essential, not only to prevent additional costs, but also in building a reputation for delivering quality projects – leading to a tangible uplift in sales, and an increase in clients willing to pay a premium. All of which is why, from vision to execution, concept to construction, there’s a clear advantage in having one partner accompanying you through the whole build process, to deliver benefits long after it.
