The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has led to various changes in daily life. Business has been heavily impacted, as social distancing measures and shelter-in-place orders have been issued across the nation. Although times of crisis are overwhelming, they often force us to think outside of the box. This creative energy has been noted as businesses across the nation reinvent their services and way of operating nearly overnight in order to keep their lights on and to continue serving their communities.

Footprints Floors was one of the latest businesses to pop up in the news, in a recent Bisnow article, for it's creative approach to flooring estimates during the pandemic. All major flooring projects begin with an estimate, where the contractor gains an understanding of the scope of the project and the customer is given a price for the service. A brief discussion of the envisioned final look, the material being used and some square footage measurements of the room (or rooms) to be serviced is all that Footprints Floors franchise owners need to give their customers an estimate. This, of course, takes place in the customer's home.

Unfortunately, social distancing quickly became a "major hindrance to us to doing any work," admitted Footprints Floors CEO Bryan Park. "People cannot let us in their house." As clients with scheduled estimates began to express fears, we realized something had to be done.

Virtual Estimates

Park got together with two other Footprints Floors owners, Alan Boden and Fabio Simoes, to develop a way to keep the franchise open and customers happy. In a similar approach to various other companies, the trio turned to technology for their answer. While virtual estimates may have never been thought of as a good idea before, now it seemed the only way to save the day.

Utilizing FaceTime and Skype, Footprints Floors can connect directly with customers to provide an accurate estimate for their flooring project. The whole process typically takes less than an hour and offers the highest level of convenience. While it's crucial to keep business running during this time of uncertainty, the Footprints Floors team plans to continue offering virtual estimates even after social distancing measures have ended.

Fabio Simoes believes that "[virtual estimates are] going to be a game changer even after this whole craziness with the pandemic disappears." The convenience offered by quick, online estimates appeals to a wide variety of customers. Some people have difficulty finding time to schedule an estimate, while others live far from their local Footprints Floors office.

A Win-Win

Times of crisis impact our nation in unprecedented ways. As the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic ripple through our healthcare system, our economy and our families, the only thing we can do is work together to uphold the fabric of our nation. We developed a capability for virtual estimates not only to continue serving our customers but also to keep our hardworking franchise owners and employees in business. Footprints Floors is a family based business at its core and our goal has always been to provide for the families of our communities. We are doing our part to keep food on the table for our employees as much as we are finding creative ways to continue serving our customers in the best possible way. We consider our virtual estimate offering a win-win for customers and employees alike. To learn more about how virtual estimates work, click here.

We wish all of our Omaha customers healthy and safe days ahead and we encourage everyone to do their part in mitigating the spread of COVID-19. If you'd like to read more about our response to the pandemic, please see here.

All quotes referenced from "Conducting Construction Project Estimates Virtually _ Yes, That's Now A Thing" on Bisnow, 2020 April 6. https://www.bisnow.com/dallas-ft-worth/news/construction-development/conducting-construction-project-estimates-virtuallyyes-thats-now-a-thing-103759?utm_source=CopyShare&utm_medium=Browser