APR Supply Uses Video to Aid HVAC Contractors in the Field
ACHR NEWS Editorial Staff
SAN JOSE, Calif. — APR Supply Co., a distributor of HVAC, plumbing, hydronics, irrigation, and landscape lighting supplies, has begun using video technology from Blitzz for technical support for contractors in the field.
The move is expected to save APR personnel time that had been spent on phone calls with contractor customers in need of assistance, as well as on time spent traveling to job sites to help contractors in person, a press release from Blitzz said.
With Blitzz’s video software, an APR technical advisor can simply send a contractor a link via text message. Once opened, the advisor can instantly see live video from the contractor’s smartphone camera, allowing him or her to visually assess the problem and collaborate with the contractor via a video call without the need for third-party video services, the press release said. Both parties can use augmented reality (AR) to draw on the screen in real time and identify points of interest.
“I once traveled hours to fix a wiring issue that could have easily been solved in minutes using video. That’s a lot of time and expense for a very simple fix,” said Ken Kramer, a technical service advisor at APR. “Blitzz helps us address questions and issues from contractors faster and remotely, allowing contractors to get back to their project quickly — sometimes within minutes.”
Blitzz said it has provided the following benefits for APR:
• Because APR can solve issues from afar, it has reduced its monthly truck rolls by 10%. The company also saves six to eight hours each month by not sending a support vehicle, saving also on transportation costs.
• Blitzz gets an APR technical service advisor’s eyes on the problem immediately. AR allows the advisor and the contractor to mark points of interest on the screen, eliminating confusing verbal cues.
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• Technical service advisors can take photos while connected on video with contractors, making it faster and easier to document service issues.
• Because the advisor can see what the contractor sees in the field, issues are resolved faster. Questions that could have taken days or weeks to address through a site visit can now be solved in minutes.
“Contractors can’t wait for hours or days to receive the help they need to keep their projects running smoothly. The faster they can get support, the quicker they can resolve their issues, and the happier their customers will be,” said Rama Sreenivasan, founder and CEO of Blitzz.
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