Builders: Buyers are Expecting an Enhanced Sales Office Experience

Consumer Expectations Are Changing Rapidly

Our Blog has focused on SST recently --  that's self-service technology (read here and here).

Your Buyers are Looking for Information!

Self-service hasn't always had the best of reputations; however, attitudes, preferences, and expectations change quickly. One reason is changing demographics; another is technology.

In other words, today, self-service is not only a solution but a preference for many. 

Customer Satisfaction is Driving Kiosk Implementation

SST isn't happening in a vacuum, however.

Improving customer satisfaction and customers' perception of the business are top reasons for deploying digital signage. Enhancing the customer experience, improving the customer journey, is driving the transition from a static, pre-set experience to a dynamic, immersive sales office environment fueled by interactive kiosks. 

Meet Your Home Shoppers Need for Information and Lifestyle

CPS has been providing interactive touchscreen kiosks to homebuilders for the last 10 years. We understand what's involved in providing an exceptional, end-to-end experience (in this case, that includes the customer and technology).  

Encourage Your Buyers with an Intuitive Process

Here's what we've learned about improving the customer experience and interactive kiosks:

1. Interactive -- coupled with dynamic creative -- engages shoppers from the minute they walk in. 
2. Home shoppers want your product to meet their needs so give them the information to make that happen!
3. A recent Metrostudy Consumer Insights series affirmed Location & Home Design to be the most significant motivators so use interactive floorplans, drag 'n drop furniture and interactive local area maps with great-looking graphics to tell your story!
4. The kiosk process needs to be so intuitive that your home shopper wants to engage.  Don't make it too complicated or geared towards sales agent operation!
5. Interactive is age-agnostic! Boomers and Millennials want information -- the type may vary but they're both trying to visualize how to your community and homes meet their objectives!

Visit CPS at PCBC 2019

We'll be at PCBC 2019 in San Francisco starting May 29; visit us in Booth 141 or contact us for a one-on-one demo to see how we can work together to create an enhanced customer experience!

Why Implement Interactive Kiosks in Your Sales Office?

SST: Attitudes are Changing About Self-Service Technology

Our Blog has been talking quite a bit about SST recently --  that's self-service technology (read here and here). Self-service hasn't always had the best of reputations; however, attitudes, preferences and expectations change quickly. One reason is changing demographics; another is technology.

Interactive meets the need for fast & concise information!

So far, we've focused on the operations side of homebuilding as technology provides builders with a new way to make information available 24/7 to their vendors, homebuyers and staff within their organization as they're able to leverage cloud-based solutions.

It's communication without conversation!

Interactive Kiosks are Self-Service and More!

Interactive technology provides many of the customer service benefits associated with self-service.

Whether your demographic is Boomers or Millennials, your home shoppers want fast and concise information. And, they're interested in content that's tailored to their specific situation: that's personalization! That type of information delivery adds up to a new level of customer service that's actionable and personable!

Interactive reaches across demographics!

Interactive technology goes a step further as it delivers content that's engaging, exciting and impactful.

Why Interactive is a Must for Homebuilders!

First, it's engaging! Take a second to ponder what are you more likely to look at and consider: a static sign with pre-determined messaging or a screen that offers you a choice of content (and that's designed to be tailored to your objective)?

81% of survey respondents say interactive displays grab their attention more effectively than static. 

CPS has been providing interactive touchscreen systems since 2008 and we've always said: interactive grabs your home shopper's attention from the minute they walk in the sales office door!

And, it's not just that there are gorgeous graphics! Grab your attention means providing the type of information your home shopper is seeking!  They're able to drill down beyond those gorgeous graphics to the details behind your floorplans (yes; there's a Jack and Jill bath; yes: the bonus room can turn into a 5th bedroom!), drag 'n drop furniture to see how your plan fits their lifestyle and email/print the results!

They're locating actionable and personalized information, in other words.  That's what interactive digital technology is designed to provide.  Our next Blog will focus on how exciting and memorable signage will further your sales efforts.

New Homes Marketing Ideas: Highlighting Aging-in-Place Elements for 55+ Buyers

We noted, in a recent Solutions Blog, that today's home buying population includes three distinct demographics: Millennials, Gen X'ers and Baby Boomers.

And, we talked about the challenge for today's sales and marketing professionals: how to incorporate the shifts in economics, demographics and technologies into a meaningful sales office experience.

SalesTouch puts technology to work to suggest new life patterns!

Today's 55+ Boomer buyer is particularly interested in considering how their new home will offer quality aging-in-place.

In a sense, builders are evaluating and incorporating ways that design elements can change the pattern of life for homeowners -- thus helping homeowners live in their home longer.

What sort of design elements should be considered? Bonnie Lewis, founder of 55+ TLC Interior Design, LLC, notes in a recent 50plusbuilder article, "Key elements include creating open space..." She goes on to mention the importance of finishes, counters/countertops and overall planning for wider entries and more spacious rooms.

Lewis also mentions that furniture is a key element (both planning and type). 

Why not incorporate the importance of considering these design elements into your sales/marketing process with an interactive touchscreen system.  CPS' SalesTouch allows home shoppers to explore available floor plans, encourages them to evaluate structural choices (maybe the den option with double doors?) and try out new furniture configuration ideas with drag 'n drop furniture selection and placement.

Put technology to work and offer the sort of meaningful sales office experience your Boomer buyers want as part of their homebuying process!

Get Proactive: Bring Your Interactive Tools to Your Buyers

Have you ever thought to yourself: is my sales office the only place  for me to meet home shoppers and sell new homes?

Take Your Marketing Tools & Meet Your Buyers 

Sales cultures are changing, it seems.  If you've looked for a new car recently, it isn't that unusual for the dealer to bring a car to you to test drive and, hopefully, purchase.  There are all sorts of "trunk" operations that bring clothes out to individuals and groups to try on and, hopefully, purchase, as well.

Everyone's busy; there's always a lot going on in people's lives.  Depending on customers driving out to you might seem a bit old school!

Take a look at MAG Builders' idea to get proactive and bring marketing tools outside the sales office to their home shoppers. They grabbed their 46" SalesTouch system (which included a movable stand) and took it to the Denver Home Show to meet potential home buyers and show their available floor plans and lots!

The Home Show reaction? MAG representatives "were so swamped with interest there was hardly a minute to take pictures!"

Take Your Interactive Tools Out of the Box!!

What about heading out to your local co-op broker's office and taking an iPad or two with you?  Co-op agents need to sell homes -- and you can stand out by providing unique, easy-to-use and effective marketing tools to them.

Take the agents on an interactive virtual tour of the surrounding area highlighting schools, shopping, dining and recreation -- they will see something new, even if they live in the immediate area.

Show off your interactive floor plans along with the ability to drag 'n drop furniture into the plan -- and email a couple of brochures while you're at it.

Think outside your sales office box; take the product out and meet buyers where they are!