NMBS has worked closely with its members over the past year, using digital technology to stay connected despite the challenges of numerous lockdowns.
One year into the Covid pandemic, the entire industry has had to adapt quickly to remote working, with Microsoft Teams calls and Zoom meetings now part of our daily existence.
While the switch to digital meeting technology was borne out of necessity, it has become a valuable tool on everyone’s desk, and has likely changed the way the industry does business for years to come.
NMBS has worked closely with its members over the past year, using digital technology to stay connected despite the challenges of numerous lockdowns.
As the industry has adapted, however, the additional benefits of online interaction have become clear, and NMBS is now urging all its members to embrace Teams, Zoom, and other ways of communicating online.
Dean Hayward, Sales & Marketing Manager of NMBS, said: “Our sales teams have been working hard to keep in touch with our members via Zoom and Teams, and we’re seeing many benefits to using this technology that we perhaps hadn’t anticipated at first.
"Communicating online means our sales team are even better placed to answer any questions our members may have, as they have all their reports to hand and can use functions such as the ‘share screen’ option to share the latest rebate reports, special offers, and any other information that the Member might need.
“Using these systems means the calls are more structured, with agreements being reached quickly, and it gives members quick access to category and turnover reports. It has also proved particularly helpful for those members who are uncertain how to use our online systems, such as the Report Centre or OnePlace portal, as our sales teams can give them a live demonstration, which is much clearer than describing things over the phone.
“We are all looking forward to a time when it is safe to meet up as an industry, at events such as our NMBS Exhibition and Dinner Dance, but new opportunities are borne out of adversity, and it’s clear that this new technology will continue to be a valued tool for us to use going forward.”
Bob Fleetwood, Purchasing Director at Kellaway Building Supplies, is one of the NMBS Members who has seen the benefits of using digital technology to stay connected.
“Before Covid we all spent far too much time travelling and staying away for meetings – it was the accepted way of doing business," he said.
“Now, with everyone working from home for a large part of the year we have had to learn to communicate in a different way. Having mastered it, I believe the way we do business will change forever. The reality is that we can now stay better connected, and business can be done at a pace, with instant decisions and less time spent travelling, meaning we can all be more efficient.”
Any NMBS member who has not yet engaged with NMBS online, and would like more information on how to do so, should contact their Business Development Manager for support.
