In the world of retail display installations, precision, efficiency and effective project management are paramount. Meet SJH Retail Installations, a key player in this industry, specialising in everything from in-store fixtures to brand showcases.

SJH is one-stop solution for retail display, offering design, value engineering and manufacturing. Over the past 13 years, the company has grown rapidly and when the time came for a more robust reporting and project management system, SJH turned to OPOC.

The Challenge
With an ever-increasing volume of projects for a leading UK electrical retailer, SJH faced a daunting task – how to streamline project reporting, track installation progress and manage the often-intricate branded reports and snagging. This situation prompted SJH to search for a game-changing solution.

The Swift Implementation
Enter OPOC, a field management and installation reporting software that would change the way SJH operated. The implementation was fast paced, as SJH needed to adapt quickly to meet their clients' needs. Since August 2023, SJH has completed a staggering 1,271 reports on OPOC.

These reports encompassed product surveys, display updates, graphic refreshes and full display installations. OPOC didn't just provide software; it supported SJH through training, employee and subcontractor setups, and shared invaluable tips and tricks on optimising use of the software.

Additionally, OPOC introduced a display ticketing system aimed at streamlining the sequence of events from recognising to resolving an issue. Staff can log maintenance requirements quickly and easily, allowing for speedy and efficient resolution of any issues.

The Goals
SJH's primary goal was to streamline its internal processes and offer an enhanced level of reporting to its clients. The fast-paced nature of the company’s work required a solution that could keep up with the dynamic project management requirements.

Overcoming Challenges
Change is rarely easy, especially within a company. However, OPOC, with its friendly support and guidance for both the field and office teams, managed to make the transition a welcome one. In fact, the SJH teams now prefer the new system over previous methods.

How OPOC Transformed Operations
The OPOC system boasts various features that have completely transformed SJH’s operations. For example:

Real-time reporting
OPOC allows SJH to access real-time reports directly from the field. On-site teams can enter information directly into the system, accurately and on time. Project managers can access a complete status report for every project and its sub-tasks in an instant.

Bespoke questionnaires
The OPOC system allows the creation of customisable questionnaires to ensure nothing is overlooked on-site. The mobile form builder allows you to create re-useable forms across multiple locations or create complex, site-specific forms.

Geolocation checks
With OPOC’s mapping tool, project managers can see who is on-site, when they arrived and what they are working on without the need to check in by phone. A GPS tagging function makes sure jobs are completed in the correct location.

Image-led sign off
OPOC’s image function allows field teams to share updates, photos and videos, as well as key documents such as statement of works, risk assessments, assembly instructions or plannograms. SJH can provide its clients with comprehensive sign-off reports.

Issue resolution  
The issue tracking feature empowers SJH to stay on top of any challenges that arise and discuss these issues with its clients for swift resolutions. OPOC software also provides instant visibility of any recurring issues, so they can be identified and rectified quickly.

The Results
Due to the volume of visits scheduled in the last few months, SJH Retail Installations couldn't have done it without OPOC. The software allowed its teams to manage projects more efficiently, saving time and reducing stress. The company remained on top of all projects, used its resources efficiently, and delivered 'right first time' for its clients. The one-click reporting feature streamlined client updates and received positive feedback.

Measurable Benefits
In just three months of using OPOC, SJH saved significant administrative time that was previously spent chasing field teams for reports and photos. Manual sign-off reports for its brands became a thing of the past.

The Client's Perspective
"OPOC was implemented at the right time for us and has played an important role in SJH's success this peak. The project reporting has helped the office teams stay on top of every detail, and the easy-to-use app has kept the field teams on track to deliver right first time."

Future Plans
SJH Retail Installations plans to expand the use of OPOC across all clients starting from January 2024, highlighting its confidence in the software's ability to meet its diverse project management needs.

This case study exemplifies the power of technology in revolutionising the way businesses operate. OPOC transformed SJH Retail Installations' project management, delivering efficiency, accuracy and client satisfaction in a dynamic and fast-paced industry. It's a testament to the positive impact that the right software solution can have on a business's success.

 Gone are the days of delayed updates and manual data entry. With cutting-edge technology and software like OPOC, you can streamline your communication channels to ultimately exceed your clients’ expectations. In this blog post, we will explore the numerous benefits of real-time reporting and how it can revolutionise your client delivery process. Get ready to unlock a new level of efficiency and client satisfaction.

Fast and Relevant Reporting

Traditional reporting methods are notoriously slow, with laborious paper-based reports and time-consuming spreadsheets. Project managers are often left waiting on updates from different team members to piece together an overall picture of a project’s status. With complex jobs across multiple locations, these updates can easily become impossible to manage and are more than likely out-of-date by the time they arrive.

 Real-time reporting eliminates these delays, empowering field teams with the ability to collect and transmit data instantly. By leveraging mobile devices and dedicated software applications, field teams can enter information directly into the system, accurately and on time. Project managers can access a complete status report for every project and its sub-tasks in an instant, significantly improving operational efficiency and client satisfaction.

Clear and Open Communication

Inefficient reporting processes can result in poor communication between field and office teams, which is one of the most common causes of conflict in the workplace. If everyone is left frustrated, productivity will almost certainly be affected. By introducing field management software with real-time reporting, businesses can avoid this situation, fostering seamless collaboration and creating a synchronised workflow.  

 OPOC’s Scrapbook function allows field teams to share updates, photos and videos, as well as key documents such as statement of works, risk assessments, assembly instructions or plannograms. An instant chat feature provides office and field teams with a constant line of open communication. This all leads to better coordination, ensuring that projects are executed according to client requirements first time, reducing the risk of rework or delays.

Smooth and Efficient Resourcing

When a project manager oversees multiple projects across several locations with numerous employees and sub-contractors involved, it can be difficult to keep track of staff movements, schedule jobs and monitor the status of allocated tasks. Real-time reporting provides organisations with improved visibility into field operations, enabling better tracking of resources, personnel and progress.

 With OPOC’s mapping tool, project managers can see who is on-site, when they arrived and what they are working on without the need to check in by phone. Long email trails and time-consuming calls are eliminated, and each entry is time-stamped to ensure deadlines are met. A GPS tagging function makes sure jobs are completed in the correct location. This transparency helps build trust with clients, giving them confidence in project progress.

Proactive and Swift Issue Resolution

A client’s confidence in an organisation can easily be lost, not simply because an issue has arisen but due to the way it’s handled. Real-time reporting empowers field teams and project managers to address problems proactively, reducing the likelihood of errors or client dissatisfaction. With instant access to data and information, field teams can identify potential hitches early on and take corrective actions swiftly.

 By promptly reporting issues, such as equipment malfunctions, supply shortages, non-compliance or emerging risks, organisations can initiate timely interventions, minimising the impact on project timelines. OPOC software also provides instant visibility of any recurring issues, so they can be identified and rectified. Proactive issue resolution strengthens client relationships, demonstrating a commitment to delivering high-quality service.

Quick and easy client reports

In the modern world, we’ve all become accustomed to having the information we need instantly available, and it’s no different when it comes to field team management. When a client requests an update on project status, they expect it without delay. Real-time reporting enables this speed of service, with access to the very latest project data via a desktop or mobile at any time.

 OPOC’s project and field service management software includes a one-click reporting feature, allowing organisations to email a comprehensive project report directly to the client. Project data can also be exported to spreadsheets or PDF formats, so project managers can tailor reports to their client’s needs. This level of visibility and speed of service instils complete confidence that an organisation is fully in control of a project.

Prompt and Informed Decision Making

With traditional reporting, it can often take organisations a long time to gather the information required to analyse a project’s overall results and make informed decisions about improvements for the future. Real-time reporting enables organisations to make more immediate, data-driven decisions, leveraging actionable insights derived from field data.

 By analysing real-time performance metrics, businesses can identify trends, patterns and opportunities for improvement, such as optimising workflows, identifying training needs, and fine-tuning delivery. All this works towards offering clients a more streamlined project that utilises time and resources in the most efficient way, cuts down on redundant tasks and ensures they are receiving the best possible value from your company.

 If your organisation is stuck in the dark days of endless paper trails, frustrating communication channels, delayed updates, tardy client reports, inefficient resourcing and uninformed decision making, it’s probably time to invest in field management software with real-time reporting. By embracing technology like OPOC, these issues can be turned around quickly and easily.

 Your field teams and project managers are given the tools they need to enable seamless communication, improve visibility, maximise resource allocation and ensure proactive issue resolution. In turn, your organisation can streamline operations, make data-driven decisions and ultimately achieve long-term success in delivering exceptional client service.

To chat to us about how working with OPOC can improve your field and project management, get in touch with our expert team today.

There is no doubt that well-designed visual merchandising increases sales, but let’s just flip that for a moment. When your retail display is poorly managed and maintained, you risk losing customers – and therefore your ROI – before they’ve even got a hand on their wallet.

If your website crashed, you wouldn't leave it to languish unfixed. The same rule should also apply to your retail concessions. Even the most robust of fixtures and fittings can succumb to wear and tear over time, leaving them non-compliant or non-functioning. 

Effective maintenance is often easier said than done. With multiple displays in multiple retailers across multiple locations, each with its own in-house escalation process, jobs can often get lost in a long line of administration. And that’s if they are even reported at all.

Rest assured that your maintenance programme can be transformed with good retail management software, but don’t just take our word for it. OPOC’s most recent project with long-standing client, Channel Assist, has done just that for Google Chromebooks.

The benchmark system, which won an FMBE Gold Award for the Most Effective Tactical Campaign, features a bespoke portal using OPOC’s field management software with mobile forms. It allows issues to be reported easily, and fixes to be carried out with peak efficiency.

"Partnering with OPOC enabled us to provide Google with effective, real-time visibility of in-store issues," says Channel Assist’s Alain Brissimitzakis. "It has improved response time and significantly improved compliance of the Chromebook fixtures across multiple retailers."

Read on to find out how the programme has benefitted Google and how it can do the same for you and your business.

Streamline the process
No matter where you sit in your brand’s structure, it’s a safe bet that you want to tick off everything on your to-do list as quickly and efficiently as possible. The same can probably be said for store managers, retail assistants, display manufacturers and parts suppliers.

One of the main aims for the Google Chromebook maintenance programme was to streamline the sequence of events from recognising to resolving an issue. The bespoke, easy-to-use portal saves time and effort at every step for all parties involved.

It does so by funnelling the maintenance requirements from all 400+ Google Chromebook concessions into one easy-to-manage system. This allows stress-free reporting, efficient allocation of resource, rapid sourcing of parts and ultimately, a far speedier resolution.

Implement standardisation
As a brand, you are often relying on your retailers’ in-house escalation processes when it comes to maintenance. This is fraught with challenges including delays in reporting issues, insufficient detail being reported and a process that is not uniform across retailers.

The Google Chromebook portal features a user-friendly interface and process. It enables store personnel to create a support ticket, enter the relevant information and submit it to the Reactive Maintenance Team with minimal interruption to their time.

The portal allows the quick and easy upload of annotated photographs to accurately illustrate the issue in hand. By making it so simple, retail colleagues are far more likely to act on any issues, so your displays remain compliant and in pristine working order.

Deploy the right resources
Differing escalation processes in-store also make it difficult for brands to identify the complexities of an issue. Assigning the correct parts and the right person to resolve it can often take multiple unnecessary and unproductive store visits.  

Within 24 hours of ticket submission via OPOC’s software, the Google Chromebook reactive team can identify the fixture, understand the issue, source component parts, and assign the most appropriately skilled resource to complete the task in the most cost-effective manner.

The system allows the team to match the issue to one of three types of resource, depending on the level of skill required to do the work. This ensures that the right person is sent to carry out the work first time, saving time, money and resource across the board.

Create a centralised stockpile
Even if you have overcome the hurdles of receiving an accurate and timely issue report and identified the best course of action to rectify it, your team may still have a job on their hands to source the correct parts for the job from the relevant supplier in time.

Your displays are likely made up of differing component parts from various manufacturers, with availability not always guaranteed as and they are required in-store. This can lead to long delays in issues being solved, and loss of potential sales on the meantime.

During the set-up for the Google Chromebooks programme, Channel Assist developed a display-supplier matrix, sourcing inventory of each component of every display and all POS materials to store within a centralised warehouse, always making parts readily available.

Establish a real-time asset register
Like Google, you are likely working with hundreds of retail sites, each one containing hundreds of fixtures built and installed by various suppliers. Without a standard process in place, it is virtually impossible to keep track of your assets and their current state.

The Google Chromebook portal uses unique QR codes to tag every individual fixture and fitting across every single retailer concession. It is the scanning of this code that initiates the issue resolution process, but it also allows the brand to keep a real-time asset library.

The portal logs stores key information on each fixture, such as who manufactured it, when and by whom it was installed, if and when any issues have been logged and if the subsequent maintenance work has been carried out – all at a glance and easily accessible.

Turn reactivity to proactivity
Reactive maintenance is so important as it keeps your current fixtures in good repair and creates the best first impression of your brand to potential customers. But if this maintenance is properly tracked, it can also provide invaluable data going forwards.

By providing a real-time overview of which fixtures are failing and how, Google Chromebook can build up a picture and recognise patterns. For example, if a certain part is being reported more frequently, the team can decide to proactively service it across all sites.

Similarly, these patterns can be used when it comes to future-proofing any new fixtures. Parts that caused regular issues within the current designs can be tweaked or even eliminated entirely to ensure the same weaknesses are not repeated.

Improve sustainability
Sustainability is now at the forefront of the retail industry, with increased focus on the environmental impact of business. For brands, this not only includes the production, delivery, installation, and end-of-life disposal of its fixtures, but also effective maintenance.

If your current maintenance programme relies on the in-house processes of your retailers, it could be that your displays are beyond the state of repair by the time an issue makes its way back to your team, meaning they need replacing sooner than expected.

By investing in a bespoke portal that standardises the process, Google is now able to avoid this situation, increasing the longevity of its Chromebook displays and reducing the need for premature replacements. Good for the environment and good for the bottom line.

Managing your retail displays needn’t be stressful, and with the right process in place, it can bring multiple benefits to your business. OPOC’s software can also be used for fixture installation reports, merchandising reporting, scheduling field visits and field marketing reporting. To chat to us about how working with OPOC can improve your operations, get in touch with our expert team today.