This past weekend the NFL Combine was held, which is the last big showcase for new NFL recruits before the draft in April. Scouts from every football team are there to assess the incoming players. Over the course of three or four days, they try to measure and appraise the attributes and abilities of every player. The potential recruits are weighed and measured, even down to their hand size and arm length. They have contests of athleticism like the 40-yard dash, the bench press, the vertical jump, and the 60-yard shuffle. There are even interviews and tests.
NFL teams then take all this data and use it try to pick the players that are going to be great. What’s the best indicator of greatness? Hand size? The speed of their 3-cone drill? Height plus weight divided by their split on the 40-yard dash? NFL scouts spend their careers figuring it out.
It made me wonder about our industry. What are the measurements we should be looking at to really compete? What are the true indicators of great performance? Job cycle time? Close ratios? Average A/R days? One of the biggest frustrations for contractors using outdated technology is that it is difficult to get hard numbers on your Key Performance Indicators.
Among the best features of Xcelerate’s innovative software, is that all of this information is always at your fingertips, ready and waiting for you. When you open the dashboard you know immediately how you’re performing and how each person is measuring up and progressing on his or her targets. It’s like a restoration company scoreboard that has all the information you need for your team.
Beyond KPI’s, you can see with confidence what jobs are profitable and what jobs are stealing your time and money. Make yourself nimble and adaptable, call an audible, and shift your focus when Xcelerate alerts you to missed opportunities. Having really accessible and relevant data analytics is a game changer.
I know that so many factors ultimately contribute to our success as contractors, and just like the NFL Combine, people will tell you the numbers can’t necessarily tell you everything. But it’s definitely the place to start. In fact, I think it’s the best place to start. So, let’s get started already.
