Communication: The Key

To Service Excellence and

To Your Success

Communication. It is powerful, when done right. How important is it? We think it is as vital as giving directions. Bad directions can keep you going in circles. Good directions get you to your destination, successfully. Saving you time, money, and a headache. At OnForce we know how important effective communication practices are, especially in a service business.

Effective communication will help with all aspects of your service events. Not only will it enhance trust with service buyers, but also it will facilitate consistent, positive experiences for end-users. Equally as important, effective communication will help you win repeat business for long-term success. This is why OnForce provides you with a variety of tools to help you fulfill your service events on time and on budget – no compass required.

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Based on your feedback and that of service buyers, OnForce continues to incorporate enhancements to the marketplace that are designed to promote communication best practices. These enhancements help to ensure the successful completion of work orders, while enabling you to capture more work opportunities. For example, did you know that we have streamlined the "check-in" feature to ensure consistent and accurate communications with your service buyer when you are on a job site? Or, that we now have an improved spend limit increase process to better alert service buyers when a price adjustment is requested? For additional information about these latest feature updates, please see the Marketplace and Tips & Tricks sections.

Communicate That You Have Insurance – In early April, OnForce began verifying insurance. By highlighting that you have insurance coverage within your OnForce profile, service buyers who are in need of insured OnForce Pros, will be more apt to extend work opportunities to you. If you carry insurance but are not highlighting this in your profile, simply let us know and we will update your profile accordingly. If you currently do not have insurance coverage but would like to get it, we offer comprehensive and cost-effective insurance programs with Wells Fargo for you to take advantage of today.

Training Bench

There are several Microsoft opportunities that the OnForce Pro community can benefit from. Due to our close relationship with Microsoft, there are two notable opportunities for you to consider:

  • Windows 7 Training: You can now take advantage of training opportunities that will enable you to become Windows 7 certified professionals. By completing Windows 7 training, you will learn several invaluable skills, including how to install, upgrade, and migrate to Windows 7.
  • Microsoft Small Business Specialist Community: Join the Microsoft Small Business Specialist Community (SBSC) of trusted SMB technology and business advisors that can help you grow your business. You will gain access to exclusive resources, promotions, training, and special offers. Currently, SBSC members are eligible to obtain marketing development funds to help expand their businesses. For more details, visit the Small Business Specialist Community site or call 1-877-254-6825.

Certifications

Earlier this month, OnForce began verifying several Windows 7 certifications including MCTS: Windows 7 – Configuration; MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator 7; and MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Support Technician 7. To learn how to obtain Windows 7 training, please see the Training Bench. Adding these certifications to your profile will help distinguish you in the marketplace among service buyers.

Events

June

June 29th, 6 PM ET
July 1st, 11 AM ET
OnForce Pro Town Halls

Spotlight: PowerPro

Anibal Villacisa (Pro ID: 42657)
Anibal is a bi-lingual PowerPro who has been in the marketplace since 2006. As a background checked and drug tested PowerPro, Anibal has completed more than 1,200 work orders with a near perfect rating. After receiving very positive feedback from the service buyers he works with, we knew that Anibal exemplified service excellence.

Marketplace Stats

We released our Q1 2010 OnForce Services Marketplace Index (OSMI.) The top four states in terms of work order volume the quarter includes:

  1. California: 12.72%
    (of total work orders)
  2. Texas: 8.02%
  3. Florida: 7.65%
  4. New York: 4.98%
Click here to see additional marketplace statistics.

OnForce News Marketplace Tips & Tricks
On The Record with Robert Cohen & OnForce CEO Peter Cannone
eChannelLineUSA, May 13, 2010

OnForce Announces Q1 OnForce Services Marketplace Index
Shows Promising Signs for Upcoming Year

Partners Relieve Technology Headaches by Recycling Laptops, Electronics
Channel Insider, March 1, 2010

Staples Dives Into Managed Services With New Division
ChannelWeb, February 16, 2010
Below are some recent OnForce marketplace enhancements that support OnForce Pro and service buyer communications.

New Feedback Functionality: For service buyers who wish to use OnForce exclusively for work order management, we have implemented product enhancements designed to support service excellence. One enhancement is the feedback functionality which allows you to receive feedback regarding your ability to effectively and accurately set appointments.

Schedule Appointment Windows: To help you successfully set buyer and end-user expectations regarding on-site time arrival, you will now be able to schedule appointment windows, in addition to setting exact appointment times.

Formalized Spend Limit Increase: In order to organize and streamline the price adjustment process, OnForce has now created a "request spend limit increase" link beneath a work order price, which allows you to request an increase from a service buyer. This will alert the services buyer to the spend limit increase, along with the amount and reason for the request.

Effective communication is critical for ensuring service event success. With several ways to foster better communication skills, our March and April OnForce Pro Town hall focused on best practices when working with service buyers.

TIP: We continually update the platform to encourage new ways for OnForce Pros to connect with service buyers. Refer to your PCC or OnForce Pro Help topics for updates to learn about our most recent enhancements. Some include:

Using "Check-In" Requirement: For service buyers who require that an OnForce Pro check-in when they arrive on-site, we have created a new sub-status update, which allows you to easily update the service buyer when you arrive on the customer site. You can check- in by using the WAP site; update the IVR system; go through your PCC; or simply click the sub-status links within the Acceptance email notification.

Setting Sub-Status Updates: We have made it easier for OnForce Pros to update the sub-status of any work order throughout its entire duration. Like the "check-in" requirement, you can update the sub-status in four different ways.

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