
Do Real-time Alerts Improve Customer Retention?
Think about the last time you booked a service - whether it was an HVAC repair, a maintenance check, or a plumbing job. Did you feel completely in the loop about when the technician would arrive? Were you confident that everything was progressing smoothly? Or did you find yourself calling the office for updates, waiting in frustration, or worse - dealing with a no-show?
For businesses in facilities management, field service, and maintenance, this isn’t just a minor inconvenience - it’s an existential threat that can make or break customer loyalty. Customer expectations are clear: fast response times, accurate scheduling, and complete transparency. If you’re not meeting those expectations, you’re on a fast track to losing your clients.
Why does customer retention matter?
If you’ve ever spent time and money acquiring a new customer only to have them disappear after one interaction, you already understand the challenge of customer retention. It’s no secret that keeping existing customers is significantly cheaper than acquiring new ones - in fact, studies show that acquiring a new customer can cost between five and 25 times more than keeping an existing one happy.
Consider this: If you increase customer retention by just 5% you could boost your profits by 25% to 85%. This isn’t new information (that link will take you to an article written 35 years ago, back before they even called people abandoning your business “churn”) but it still holds as true today as it did in the 90s.
Understanding where your industry stands can help you understand how much work you have to do. For instance, the average customer retention rate across all industries is about 75.5%, with sectors like IT services and construction boasting rates of 81% and 80%, respectively.
The good news is that where there’s a problem, there’s opportunity – if you’re losing customers but still surviving as a business, then if you manage to keep more of them there’s a very good chance that your growth will take off. There’s potential for a massive return on investment - especially when you compare it to the endless and exhausting cycle of chasing new leads, running expensive marketing campaigns, and desperately trying to convince people to give your service a chance.
Why do customers churn?
A big reason customers leave is that they feel like they’re being ignored. They might have booked a service, but frustration builds if they don’t know when to expect your technician, whether a job has been completed, or when they need to pay an invoice. And when frustration builds, they start looking for alternatives.
In fact, research from PwC found that 32% of customers will walk away from a brand they love after just one bad experience.
Want more stats? I thought you’d never ask! According to a report from Demandsage,
- Companies typically generate 65% of their business from existing customers.
- Existing customers spend an average of 67% more than new customers.
So, how do you stop them from leaving?
The answer is simple: Keep them informed.
Your customers want speed, convenience, and clear communication. And don’t think that providing these will even be differentiators that help you stand out! They’re basic expectations these days – this is what you need to be doing just to stay in the game.
Whether it’s an automatic text reminding them about an appointment, a notification letting them know a technician is enroute, or an invoice update helping them keep their finances in check... those small, helpful moments of communication build trust and loyalty.
Remember that your customers have more choices than ever. Unless you run a funeral service, earning their loyalty is the difference between thriving and ending up on the scrap heap. Plus, focusing on your customers doesn't just make them happy – it'll make your finance people happy too. Customer-centric companies are 60% more profitable than those that aren't.
How do you keep your customers informed?
It’s easy enough (and you’ve probably already guessed given the title of this article): Real-time alerts. See also: push notifications, automated email updates, online dashboards... I mean, were you expecting me to say, “carrier pigeons and shouting really loudly”?
Businesses that use real-time notifications to engage their customers typically see even clearer benefits. For instance, companies using regular, timely alerts have reported churn rate reductions of 10% to 25% - simply by reaching out instead of reactive.
The balance is delicate though. Over 42% of people in the UK would lose loyalty to a brand if they keep sending too many or spammy messages, according to a study conducted by Yotpo.
By finding that balance, and proactively updating your customers before they even think to ask where their damn technician is, you show them you’re reliable, transparent, and that you care about them. And when your customers feel taken care of, they won’t just stick around. They return, refer, and recommend – and you know how important word of mouth is, right?
How does Joblogic help improve customer retention?
Now, what does all this have to do with Joblogic - and, more importantly, your business? Well, 80% of consumers say that they consider speed, convenience, knowledgeable help, and friendly service to be the most important part of their experience with a company.
Joblogic helps you provide all of that and more... Though we can’t force your engineers to be nice!
Preventing communication breakdowns
If you’re in HVAC, plumbing, electrical contracting, or facilities management, you know how quickly customers lose patience when they don’t hear from you. Real-time notifications aren’t just a nice-to-have any more —they’re essential if you want customers who stick around and spread the word.
Imagine how a customer feels when they’re left wondering about the status of their service, or worse, chasing your office for updates. That kind of uncertainty can turn a satisfied customer into a lost one. With Joblogic, your customers are never left guessing. They receive automatic, real-time updates directly to their phones or inboxes, ensuring they’re always in the loop.
Keeping customers informed at every step
Joblogic’s software is built to provide comprehensive updates - from the moment a job is booked until it’s completed and invoiced. Here’s how it works:
- From booking to scheduling: Once a service is booked, your customer immediately receives a confirmation. This initial reassurance sets the tone for a positive experience.
- During the job: If there are any changes - say, an engineer is caught in traffic - Joblogic sends an immediate update with a revised ETA. This keeps your customer informed and reduces anxiety.
- After the job: Automated reminders for follow-up services, feedback requests, or even invoice notifications ensure that your customers are in the loop even after the job is done.
These touchpoints are central to keeping your customers informed. They reduce frustration and build a foundation of trust and reliability.
Enhancing transparency and convenience
Customers expect more than just a service. They expect transparency and control. Joblogic delivers on this by giving your customers access to a personalised portal where they can:
- Check job statuses: See in real-time what stage their service is at.
- Download service reports: Access detailed information about the work completed.
- Manage appointments: Reschedule or confirm appointments with ease.
- View invoices: Keep track of billing and payments without the hassle.
This level of transparency makes customers feel in control and valued, which in turn fosters loyalty. When customers know exactly what’s happening and when, they’re far less likely to feel the need to call for updates or, worse, switch to a competitor.
A smarter, more efficient way to do business
When your customers feel informed and valued, they’re more likely to trust your service and stick around longer. That’s not just good for customer satisfaction; it’s great for your bottom line.
The connection between customer retention and real-time alerts is a fairly simple one, when it comes to it:
- Communication builds trust and loyalty: Regular, clear communication builds a bond with your customers. They know what to expect and feel confident in your ability to deliver.
- Loyalty drives repeat business: Satisfied customers are more likely to book additional services, refer others, and even leave positive reviews.
- Profit!: The financial impact of retaining customers is huge. By reducing churn, you lower your acquisition costs and boost lifetime customer value.
At its core, Joblogic’s real-time updates aren’t just about sending messages. They help you create a seamless, integrated customer experience. By ensuring that every interaction is timely, transparent, and relevant, Joblogic helps you build a service reputation that stands out in a competitive market.
It’s not just better communication - it’s smarter business. Book your free demo today.