search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube instagram Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts Spotify Podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • TOPICS
    • Cool Roofing
    • Event News
    • Latinos in Roofing
    • Low Slope
    • Legal
    • Metal
    • Project Profiles
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Roofing Safety
    • Steep Slope
    • Sustainable Roofing
    • Technology
  • EXCLUSIVES
    • Best of Success
    • Contractor Profile
    • IRE Show
    • Roofing Contractor of the Year
    • Top 100
    • Young Guns
    • State of the Industry
    • Century Club
  • MULTIMEDIA
    • Videos
    • Podcasts
    • Interactive Spotlights
    • Roofing Quizzes
    • IRE Videos
    • Webinars
    • Photo Galleries
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Featured Products
  • COLUMNS
    • Editor's Note
    • Exit Planning
    • Legally Speaking
    • Safety Advice
    • Technical Details
    • Guest Column
  • EVENTS
    • International Roofing Expo
    • Webinars
    • Best of Success Conference
    • Industry Events
  • DIRECTORY
    • Associations
    • Distributors
    • Manufacturer/Supplier
    • Business Services
    • Get Listed
  • MORE
    • Roofing Contractor eNews
    • Techos y Más Advisory Board
    • RC Store
    • Roofing Supply Pro
    • Custom Content & Marketing Services
    • Market Research
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Company Spotlights
    • Classifieds
      • Auctions
      • Business For Sale
      • Business Opportunities
      • Equipment For Sale
      • Positions Available
      • Products
      • Safety
      • Software
      • Services
      • Training
    • Contact Us
  • EMAGAZINE
    • eMagazine
    • Advertise
      • Media Kit
      • Editorial Calendar
      • Contact
    • Archive Issues
  • SIGN UP!
ColumnsSustainable RoofingRoofing Technology

Building a Sustainable Roofing Business with Software

Many roofing contractors are taking advantage of today’s business software tools.

By Jim Hoff
computer software
Computer software offers a tremendous opportunity for the long-term success of roofing contractors.
computer software
computer software
computer software
July 10, 2017

Sometimes it doesn’t seem possible, but I’ve been involved with the roofing industry for over forty years now, with my first ten years as a contractor, over twenty years with a major materials manufacturer, and the last ten years as an independent consultant. Looking back over those forty years, I think the biggest change I’ve witnessed is  the tremendous business opportunity that today’s computer software can offer for the long-term success of roofing contractors. 

During the years I spent on the manufacturing side of the industry, I was deeply involved in the use of software to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and create a positive and uniform experience for customers. In particular, I remember working on a very large project nearly twenty years ago to automate all of the company’s transactions, including sales, production, accounting, and customer management into a single mainframe computer platform. The cost ran into the hundreds of millions of dollars and the results weren’t always what we expected. In many cases the software made us change time-proven procedures rather than make the software change to meet the unique needs of our business. And sometimes revising even one line of a computer-generated report required several months and thousands of dollars. Thankfully, this type of experience is now mostly in the past; and the effort required to combine all of a company’s important business transactions under a single software umbrella has become much more reliable — and a lot less expensive.

In fact, the emergence of simple web-based business solutions covering almost every key business activity has become so economical that small businesses can now obtain the same level of computer know-how once reserved for only the largest companies. Using the many popular software programs now available, roofing contractors across the country can empower employees to provide a consistent customer experience and continually increase sales and quality to make their businesses as profitable as possible.

Responding to the benefits available with today’s business software, many roofing contractors are taking advantage of some of the tools available, especially in the area of estimating and project management. But, in my opinion, too few contractors are taking a comprehensive approach to computerizing every aspect of their businesses and combining all of these important business functions into a single software umbrella.

That’s why I hope you will take a closer look at all of the articles in this month’s issue of Roofing Contractor, which focusses on the many ways software can make your business more successful and sustainable. To help you get started, here are a few key areas where software can make the difference in achieving an outstanding roofing business.

Take-Off and Estimating.

With the latest estimating software, take-off options include satellite, aerial, and onsite measurement, as well as electronic and paper plans. These estimating programs not only generate precise bills of material and labor estimates, but they can be customized for the exact brands of products you buy and the way your individual crews work. A solid estimating program provides the foundation for your business by assuring that what you “see” on a roof lines up with what you really need to know. And a solid foundation in estimating then runs through your entire business, from purchasing the right materials, scheduling the right crews, avoiding costly mistakes, and billing your customers on time. 

Quoting and Proposal Writing.

Proposal writing software allows you to build on the foundation of consistent takeoff and estimating by generating professional business proposals that anticipate your customers’ questions and sell the value of your company.

Project Management.

Once you get the job, project management software automatically generates purchase orders for materials and subcontracts and inserts the project into your company’s work schedule. Project management software also can be used to document daily and weekly job progress, including change orders and potential problems. Good project management software can track the project’s costs and schedule against the original budget, providing critical feedback for your estimators and superintendents. Finally, project management software allows you to quickly generate invoices and necessary project close-out documents.

Service Management.

This software allows you to manage your service operation with software programs specialized to the unique aspects of service calls, starting from responding to service requests, scheduling service personnel, generating condition reports, generating invoices and customer follow-up.

Asset Management.

Asset management software allows you to extend your project and service business to include comprehensive roof asset management for your larger clients, including annual roof asset condition reports, budget forecasting and warranty tracking.

Customer Management.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) programs allow you to identify and track all of your customers, both long-term and prospective, so that you never miss an opportunity to meet their needs. CRM programs are especially useful in generating ongoing customer outreach with newsletters and other sales tools.

Mobile Apps.

You can use mobile apps to make the customer response of every member of your team professional and consistent with the goals and standards of your company. By equipping every salesperson, service technician, and project superintendent with a mobile version of your business software, you can assure that the data on your customers is reliable and up-to-date. And you can make sure your team members always follow key procedures and practices that lead to increased customer satisfaction and higher sales.

Each of these types of software can certainly make your business better. But when you combine all of them together, you get an even greater effect. When you use the accuracy, consistency, and flexibility of modern software to manage your business, the larger benefit will be measured in increased customer loyalty, more enthusiastic employees, and supportive suppliers who want to help you continue growing your business.

KEYWORDS: apps and software business management manufacturing

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Jimhoff
Dr. Jim Hoff serves as Research Director for the Center for

Environmental Innovation in Roofing, Washington, D.C.

(www.roofingcenter.org). You can contact Jim at

jhoff@roofingcenter.org.  

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • Roofing Contractor Group Publisher Jill Bloom

    Physics, the Power of Authenticity and You

    In February's Publisher's Note, Jill Bloom describes a...
    Columns
    By: Jill Bloom
  • The Family Food Fare supermarket in Midland, Mich.

    ‘Rooftop Ninja’ Discovered Living on Roof, Inside Grocery Sign

    A bizarre tale out of Midland, Mich.: a woman dubbed the...
    Roofing News
    By: Bryan Gottlieb
  • A before and after heat measurement comparison

    How Hot is Too Hot in the Attic?

    If the ventilation is working, how hot should the attic...
    Sustainable Roofing
    By: Paul Scelsi
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Manage My Account
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Sign Up for the eNewsletter
  • Online Registration
  • Manage My Preferences
  • Subscription Customer Service

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Roofing Contractor audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Roofing Contractor or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • TAMKO Titan XL Shingles
    Sponsored byTAMKO®

    Built for Business: How Titan XT® Shingles Keep Proving Their Value

  • An overhead view of a residential block
    Sponsored byCBIZ CompuData

    From Spreadsheets to Strategy: How Roofing Companies Can Transform Financial Operations

  • Snow Guard Solutions for Metal Roofs by S-5!
    Sponsored byS-5!

    Safeguard Your Building: How Snow Guards Prevent Costly Roof & Property Damage

Popular Stories

The Home Depot is weighing a bid for GMS. The potential offer would pit the retail giant against QXO Inc.

UPDATE: Home Depot Pushes QXO Out of GMS Pursuit

Brad Jacobs, chairman and CEO of QXO, offers $5 billion to acquire GMS, a major distributor of gypsum and interior building products.

QXO Sets Its Sights on GMS in $5 Billion Offer

Undocumented workers make up 36% of the U.S. roofing workforce, leaving contractors and workers alike especially vulnerable.

Roofing is Left Exposed by Trump’s Deportation Flip-Flop

Roofing Contractor Webinar

Events

December 3, 2025

The Premier Roofing Conference: Best of Success

Join roofing professionals from across the nation at the 2025 Best of Success conference, the ultimate destination for roofing professionals seeking the latest industry insights and networking opportunities. Pick up strategies for critical challenges like workforce shortage with innovative solutions, explore the latest advancements in roofing technology and sustainable practices, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders on navigating the evolving roofing landscape.

View All Submit An Event

Related Articles

  • roof coatings

    Building a Sustainable Maintenance Business with Roof Coatings

    See More
  • women in roofing

    Advancing Women in Roofing: A Sustainable and Profitable Strategy

    See More
  • roofing safety

    Building Business with Safety

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • business.png

    How to Succeed With Your Own Construction Business

  • roofingpic.jpg

    Managing the Profitable Construction Business: The Contractor's Guide to Success and Survival Strategies

  • Green_roof_Systems.gif

    Green Roof Systems: A Guide to the Planning, Design and Construction of Building Over Structure

See More Products
×

Be in the forefront of the roofing industry!

Join thousands of professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • X
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing