Getting Started Videos
Prior to launch, I created a handful of screencasts to get people started with the site. I decided to put them in a job report so that anyone out there can go and watch them. Some of the site might look a little bit different than it does today, but there isn't enough difference to confuse anyone.
The topics cover the basics of a job report, setting up co-workers, sharing reports, managing contacts, uploading media and a few other topics. If you have not signed up yet, this is also a great way to see what is inside the site.
Your Customers Will Sell You on This!
The decision to buy RIDGIDConnect is unlike every tool decision you made in the past (depending on how you classify that cell phone you carry). That is because it is something different for everyone. It might better organize your business, improve customer communication, make you more efficient, protect your business or many other things. As my marketing team says: Share Store Simplify!
On the surface, this is just a replacement for DVDs. Sure, if you record enough of them, then this might save you some money there. If you ship them around, it might save you money there too. If all I could do is re-coup some costs, I would have a very tough time justifying paying for this product.
So what will convince you? Your customers! Just about every participant in our beta program struggled to see the value in RIDGIDConnect after their first log in. After a little nudging they would decide to share this with a customer. BINGO! Almost always, I would get a call back describing how well received this was with their customers. One that stands out involved 3 long days of inspection work! Jason calls me and says: I'm sold. I would normally spend hours worth of calls back and forth and visits with the customer to explain that much video footage. I got ONE call, and get this. It was only to tell me this was the most professional experience he has had with a contractor! He went on to say he understood all the issues and what needed to happen next and that he was going to share this with other key decision makers.
I have some other stories like this I will continue to share. For now, go on RIDGIDConnect and do these few things so that you "get it".
- Create a job. If it has videos, bookmark them and create a snapshot.
- Take whatever images you have and highlight whats important with the mark up tool we provide.
- Share the job with a customer!!!
- Encourage them to use the follow-up tool that is built into the reports.
If you have a customer story to share, I would love to hear it!
Help, I have an old DVD\VHS System!
You may be ready for RIDGIDConnect, but not ready to upgrade all of your hardware. Dont worry! I am going to share a few ideas on how to get started. I am going to assume you have a DVD or VHS system already or you wouldn't be reading this.
Lets start with DVD. The RIDGIDConnect Client that comes free with RIDGIDConnect has a piece of software included that can convert the DVD to a format we can use on the site. With this option, you will take the DVD from your recorder and put it in the PC. When you open the client it will ask if you would like to grab the files from the DVD. You can choose to leave a copy of them on your PC, or just copy them up to the site. NOTE: If you are using one of the older RIDGID DVD Monitors (cat#23668) , you will need to record your DVDs in one chapter only to use this software. Most ripping software will not recognize all of the chapters from these units.
Ok, if you have a VHS player, or older DVDs that are not able to be ripped for some reason, there are still ways to get files to connect! The easiest way is to connect your playback unit to a DVR (digital video recorder). There are some consumer grade DVR options out there from companies like Archos that won't stand up in the field, but might work for you in the office. However, RIDGID made this easy to do in all environments. You can add the SeeSnake® Digital Adaptor to any system with a video out, and get started in seconds. Simply connect the microEXPLORER™ digital inspection camera to your system with the adapter; hit record on your microEXPLORER and then hit play on your VHS or DVD. That's it. Then the files can be copied to your PC just like from any other digital camera.
With both of these solutions, you don't need to upgrade all of the devices you have in the field today. You can keep the setup in the shop or office for your team to share.
There is no doubt that these processes will add some time to the job over a completely digital solution, but you may find it saving you time in making copies or shipping DVDs around. Above all, you will be able to impress your customers with the level of service and communications you can now provide with RIDGIDConnect.
We're Live! …and looking for feedback
Thanks for signing up for this powerful new product offering from RIDGID. This is just the beginning of a very exiting time for us, our customers and your customers. This is unlike any product that you have ever purchased from us before. What you see today is only going to get better as we move forward, and you have an opportunity to influence that.
Our development team worked with a great beta community that taught us a lot about what RIDGIDConnect needed to be for our customers. With each new customer we learned something new. More often than not, it benefited the entire user base. While they did an awesome job for us, I expect we left a lot of opportunities for you all to get your signature on a feature of RIDGIDConnect.
At the bottom of every page of RIDGIDConnect there is link to leave us feedback. Use it! Any time you see something in the site that we could do better, or that you hate, or even things you really like, click the link. All you need to do is leave us a note ...no surveys or long contact forms to fill out;-)
Keep in touch,
The RIDGIDConnect Team