Result<\/strong><\/h4>\nAfter implementing Essentials, the Kims have aligned their processes at Epic to facilitate web orders, which now make up approximately 30% of all orders they receive. Recognizing that customers want the ease of online shopping, Epic\u2019s business model capitalizes on self-serve options available through the customer portal feature. \u201cWe find it very easy to manage,\u201d said Jeff Kim. \u201cWhen we get a new item, we can put it on the site in a matter of minutes. We upload our own images very easily; it\u2019s pretty intuitive.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe didn\u2019t need any training [to use Rental Essentials],\u201d Kim Kim added. \u201cIt is very modern, and very user-friendly. Employees can go on the internet and play around with it at home since it is cloud-based; a nice training aspect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Using Google Ads and Analytics, the Kims take advantage of online marketing opportunities to drive web traffic to their virtual store. \u201cEveryone wants the ease of online shopping,\u201d said Jeff. \u201cYou can just go online and Google what you need, and a lot of people are doing that on their mobile devices. So the fact that Essentials is mobile friendly is very important. The web interface absolutely gives us an advantage in our marketplace,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n
Google Analytics provides statistics for Epic which show patterns in web traffic including the time of day and how long people are staying on each webpage. The Kims have found that many of their customers shop in the evenings after store hours. \u201cThe fact that people can check availability and get a quote at any time is a great asset,\u201d Jeff noted.<\/p>\n
When customers choose rental inventory and create an online quote, Kim is automatically notified so she can immediately follow up with the customer via email. Because Essentials is web-based, Kim can easily log in from her mobile phone to check statuses or change reservation quantities. \u201cI love that I can do that anywhere I am,\u201d said Kim. \u201cAlso, we will get orders coming through at night, when we\u2019re closed for business. It\u2019s nice that I can just email them back right then, because we respond to every order that comes through, confirming the order and letting the customer know what times items are available for pickup. Being really responsive we think is very important at the customer service level. It\u2019s also nice to know that there\u2019s at least some way to get a hold of us after hours.\u201d<\/p>\n
Using Essentials\u2019 reporting features, the Kims have seen both increases in orders and savings in man hours. During the midst of the Minnesota winter, Epic’s slow season, 77 web orders came through the customer portal where customers had self-served, including entering non-refundable deposits. Had those been phone orders, the amount of time it would have taken to enter each of the orders would have equaled 12.5 hours\u2019 worth of phone time. The Kims anticipate even greater savings as they enter into the rental store\u2019s busy season.<\/p>\n
Kim reported that first-quarter earnings for the store were up approximately 30% compared to last year. \u201cThat is a pretty incredible jump for a first quarter and that\u2019s our slow season,\u201d she said, \u201cso we think that\u2019s a positive result which could potentially be the web interface, maybe the rebranding, and remarketing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regardless, the Kims believe Point of Rental’s software has played a big role in the increase. \u201cWe knew the software would drive our process. It is much more efficient, and that\u2019s what we were striving for\u2014an efficient system.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
After purchasing the event rental division of A to Z Rental Center in Eden Prairie, Minn., owners Kim and Jeff Kim knew…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":48370,"template":"","format":"standard","country":[1132],"class_list":["post-28457","case_study","type-case_study","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","continent-north-america-za","country-united-states-za","industry-event-and-tent-za","media_type-text-za","product-essentials"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t