Survey: Use your SmartPhone for business?

Are reconditioners using their Smartphones for business?

These new phones (Droid and iPhone) are EXTREMELY handy for detailers, PDR techs, and other reconditioners for GPS, scheduling, photos, videos and more. I wanted to find out how many reconditioners own these phones, and more importantly, if they used them for business.

The results

Method

Posted polls in the following forums: http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/how-make-money-detailing-cars/45771-poll-use-your-smartphone-business.html http://www.autopia.org/forum/professional-detailer-general-discussion/139432-use-your-smarthpone-business.html http://www.doording.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/73739/post/new/#NEW

Conclusion.

Smartphones are surprisingly POPULAR among reconditioners. Roughly 90% of responders indicated that they do use their phones for business, compared to 49% of all business owners.

Some quotes:

Don't do everything on my phone...but, it definitely keeps me on the ball with customers. Getting my emails straight to my phone is SO handy. Customers really appreciate a quick response through email. in fact, I've gotten regular long time customers simply because they enjoy dealing with me, and I'm so easy to get a hold of. I hear all the time about people calling, or emailing shops and getting no response. I keep all my calls forwarded to my cell, and use it all day in the shop. I update my facebook page with it, and take most of my photos. Certainly makes life easier. Oh, and not to mention...now my schedule can be accessed right on my phone. Awesome!

I do everything except for invoicing and plastic transactions. Most of my customers are young and have the latest gadgets. They can schedule an appointment on my website with the service if it's basic (Wash and Wax and Decon), they can schedule a consultation for paint corrections. I have rules on my availability (Lunch breaks) what combinations of services they can do(2 decons a day, 5 wash and wax etc..) and add-on's if they wish (Head light restoration with any service, permanent wheel protection with a decon package etc). I can also set it to send them a e-mail automatically or text message ( but costs like 5-10 cents per notification), booking fees, cancellation fees, no-show fees. I also update my website, so clients can see what I am working on and where.

What it means for you.

If you aren't using an iPhone or Droid...START. Detailers and reconditioners are more organized and efficient than ever thanks to these great devices, and you can't afford to be "behind the curve" on mobile technology.

Original article on smartphone use among detailers.