The update brings project access, daily production reporting, photo documentation, job costs, estimates and a centralized project record into one streamlined workflow designed for real jobsite use.

Centerpoint Connect today announced the release of its new Production Module within its native mobile applications, expanding the platform beyond service and sales to support full production execution in the field. The update brings project access, daily production reporting, photo documentation, job costs, estimates and a centralized project record into one streamlined workflow designed for real jobsite use.

“With the Production Module, projects are now a first-class feature inside the app,” said Will Riley, founder and ceo of Centerpoint Connect. “This release is about giving production teams a clean, structured system that keeps the job moving and keeps everyone aligned - without relying on scattered texts, workarounds or buried workflows.”

Production workflows built around projects

The Production Module introduces a centralized projects experience, allowing field teams to access production jobs directly from the main menu and manage key workflows from a single project hub. Users can view core project details and move quickly between critical production functions, including:

• Daily work reports for structured jobsite reporting

• Timekeeping entries tied to active projects

• Expenses captured in the field with notes and attachments/receipts

• Estimates accessible within the production workflow

• History & notes for a running project record and key updates

• Project photo documentation organized within a project day (before/after, optional titles)

• Access file library for project-related documents

By standardizing how production data is recorded and accessed, the module is designed to reduce friction in daily reporting, strengthen project visibility for management and improve documentation quality throughout the job lifecycle.

Designed for field speed and office clarity

The production module is built for the pace of production teams—prioritizing simple inputs, consistent organization and clear project-level accountability. It enables field leaders to document progress as work happens and gives operations and leadership teams a reliable view of active jobs without chasing updates across separate channels.

Availability

The production module is now available in Centerpoint Connect’s native applications. Customers can contact Centerpoint Connect for rollout details, training support and a walkthrough of the new production workflow.

About Centerpoint Connect

Centerpoint Connect is an end-to-end platform for roofing businesses built to connect service, sales and production teams through streamlined workflows and field-ready tools. Centerpoint helps organizations improve visibility, standardize execution and keep critical job information connected from first touch to closeout.

By Centerpoint Connect.  

The role of leadership, hiring practices and continuous improvement in prioritizing company culture. 

It can be a challenge to maintain a strong organizational identity during periods of expansion. Centerpoint Connect outlines strategies for preserving company culture, focusing on the role of leadership, the importance of hiring practices that align with core values and the training required to reinforce organizational identity. This piece offers insights into how continuous improvement and a customer-centric approach can sustain both culture and growth. 

Aligning operations with customer perception  

In the pursuit of sustainable growth, maintaining company culture while aligning internal operations with external customer perceptions emerges as a critical challenge. Let’s explore ways you can preserve your organizational culture as you grow. 

Core values and leadership 

Central to this approach is the pivotal role of leadership in upholding core values. Emphasizing the commitment to delivering “peace of mind” to customers underscores a dedication to excellence in service. Continuous reinforcement is needed to embed these values into daily practices, ensuring alignment with the overarching mission. 

Navigating the impact of new hires 

A significant point of consideration is the influence of new hires on company culture. Deliberate hiring processes become fundamental to safeguard against cultural dilution. Hiring slowly and ensuring alignment with organizational values are essential strategies to mitigate risks associated with cultural erosion. 

To make sure your new hire will mesh properly with the culture of your organization, consider the following: 

• Define your culture clearly: Before hiring, clearly define your company’s core values, mission, and organizational culture. This serves as a benchmark against which candidates can be assessed. 
• Behavioral interviews: Conduct behavioral interviews that focus on past experiences and scenarios relevant to your company culture. Ask candidates to provide specific examples of how they demonstrated behaviors that align with your values.  
• Assessment of values alignment: During interviews, directly assess candidates’ alignment with your company’s values. Pose questions that explore their attitudes towards teamwork, customer service, problem-solving, and ethical dilemmas. 
• Reference checks: Contact provided references to gain insights into how candidates have performed in previous roles. 
• Involvement of team members: Involve key team members in the interview process, especially those who exemplify your company culture. Their perspectives can offer valuable insights into how well candidates may integrate into your existing team. 
• Trial periods or projects: Implement trial periods if you’re unsure. This allows candidates to demonstrate their skills, work ethic and cultural fit in a practical setting before a final hiring decision is made. 
• Transparency and communication: Clearly communicate expectations and values to candidates to ensure mutual understanding and alignment from the outset. 

Training and culture preservation 

Training emerges as a cornerstone in preserving organizational identity. Defining and implementing the “company way” during onboarding will help new members understand the company’s ethos and operational standards. This approach fosters a unified company culture. 

Customer-centric perspective 

Understand that there is a significant difference between how we work internally and how customers see us from the outside. While internal processes prioritize efficiency and logistics, customers prioritize seamless service delivery and satisfaction. Aligning internal operations with external expectations emerges as critical for enhancing customer loyalty and satisfaction. 

The concept of the “show” 

Understand that every customer interaction is a meticulously orchestrated “show.” From sales pitches to service execution, consistency and professionalism are pivotal in shaping customer perceptions and fostering repeat business. 

Embracing continuous improvement 

Acknowledging mistakes and embracing continuous improvement are emphasized as crucial components of a resilient organizational culture. Implementing feedback mechanisms, such as SWOT analysis, enables ongoing refinement of processes and practices, further strengthening the company’s competitive edge. 

Original article and photo source: Centerpoint Connect  

By Jessica Bravo. 

We sat down with an industry expert to learn how to grow your company by growing your service department.  

In a recent conversation, Will Riley, from Centerpoint Connect, discussed the growing significance of service departments within the roofing industry. With experience in software solutions for roofing contractors, he transitioned to a hands-on role in a roofing company, where he built a service-leading division. Will believes that understanding the "why" behind establishing a service department is crucial for any contractor aiming to thrive in today’s market. 

Will’s journey began in software, focusing on managing customer relationship management (CRM) systems and leads for roofing contractors. This exposure allowed him to witness the diverse needs of contractors. As he noted, “I found more of a passion around the contractors that are focused on service-leading efforts because that really grabbed a whole lot more opportunity as you managed your customers.” 

He stressed the importance of collaboration among contractors, particularly in the service sector. At ServiceCon 2025, he aims to create an environment that brings together the best minds in the roofing industry to explore innovative strategies that can be implemented immediately into your business operations. Don’t miss his presentation where he’ll explore how to bridge the gap between your sales department and service department. At the heart of Will's philosophy is the question of "why." Whether you’re just starting your business, or you’ve been working in the commercial space for years, ask yourself why you are doing service. He encourages new contractors to define their motivations before attempting to build out the department. He advises, “Get that why and then start to map out what the strategy is.” Everyone in commercial roofing does some service, particularly if you offer warranties on your products or labor. To be successful in growing your department, you first need a vision of what that growth looks like. 

Mentorship goes hand in hand with growth. Will explained, “You take one experienced roofing technician who's been roofing for however long. They love to share their knowledge. Pair that with a solid journeyman or helper and then advance that helper all the way up to where they're in their own truck one day.” He loves seeing this model succeed, sharing, “I talked to some of the service techs that I even hired back then, and they're doing so well these days. It’s just cool to see there’s that much opportunity all around them.” 

As sustainable roofing practices make service departments increasingly relevant and necessary, embracing a service-first mindset fosters customer loyalty and drives long-term success for contractors to continue expanding their business.  

Don’t miss ServiceCon 2025 in Houston, Texas, March 12 – 14, 2025. Register today! 

By Centerpoint Connect. 

When the conversation turns to price, knowing when to speak — and when not to — can make all the difference.   

Sales is never just about a number on an invoice — it's about finding the balance between value and cost, needs and solutions. Yet, time and again, pricing objections become the focal point, tempting salespeople to jump straight to discounts. But before you start slashing prices, consider this: the real key to closing the deal may be in the power of silence and a thoughtful strategy. 

Objection: Price 

The pricing topic comes up in every sales call. You should go into a call with the assumption that your lead is not going to want to pay what you’re asking and that there will be push back. Price is one of the factors that is negotiated. 

The biggest mistake that salespeople make when confronted with the price objection is to assume that the answer is to discount immediately.   

Customer: “The price you’re asking is too high.”  

Salesperson: “OK. How about if we talk about providing one free roof survey for every five, we do?” (Side Note:  20% Discount) 

Customer: (Says nothing) 

Salesperson: “Well, I recognize that this may still be a stretch on your budget. So, we could do a free roof survey for every oneone we do. One for one. Would that work?” (Side note:  50% Discount) 

Customer: (Says nothing) 

Salesperson: “All right. I’ll go back to my boss and see if we can do roof surveys as a courtesy if we get all of the repair work if any is found at the location.” 

Client: “Fine.” 

There are several things to note in this conversation: 

• Silence is GOLDEN. It is the best negotiation tactic. The other party feels like they must fill in the “void” with words. 
• The Client, by saying almost nothing has gotten at least a 50% discount, perhaps free roof surveys. 

• The proportion of talking between client and salesperson is skewed the wrong way.  The salesperson is doing about 80 percent of the talking instead of 80 percent of the listening. 

• The salesperson assumes that price is the only thing that is important to the client. 

• The salesperson assumes that the only leverage he has is to discount. 

• The Client hasn’t had to give up anything to get the discount. The salesperson is so anxious to land the business that he’s discounting as a strategy. 

The biggest error is that discounting isn’t a strategy. Discounting is a tactic – something that should be done to achieve a particular end. In this case, discounting is legitimate if it leads to the client making concession in some other part of the sale. Otherwise, it’s just giving away our money and our resources. 

Also, by giving away Roof Surveys at all the Client’s locations, it is near impossible to create a Preventive Maintenance Program. The Client is currently getting free inspections.  How do we now tailor a PM program to meet their needs? 

When we develop new programs, the Client expects a discount. We have set a precedent. 

What you should know about price prior to the meeting: 

• How does it compare to similar products or services offered throughout the industry? 
• What was the last price your client paid for this product or service? 
• Was that price set by a competitor? 
• Has the price for this product/service been rising or falling? 
• What are the consequences to the client if you can’t close the sale? 

Is it really about price? Or about features/benefits? 

Customer: “I appreciate your comments and I’m impressed with what you’ve shown me, but I have to tell you that price is a big issue for us.” 

Salesperson: “I see. Would you give me an idea of the kind of range you had in mind?” 

Customer: “Well, we were thinking of something between $___ and $___, but…. 

Salesperson: “That’s certainly a point for discussion.” 

Customer: “To tell you the truth, I’m not sure that even at that price the product/service would be the right one for us.” 

Salesperson: “Would you explain?” 

Customer: “What we’re looking for is something that is more flexible and increased service levels.  Of course, that would mean an increased price and I know that that puts it out of range with your product/service offering.” 

Salesperson: “I see. So, what you’re looking for is a product that can do more but isn’t a lot more expensive?” 

Customer: “Yes. That’s it.” 

Salesperson: “Well, I think we can discuss that. Of course, increasing service levels may add to the roll out start date, so we may not be able to start next week.” 

Client: “Well, we’ve got some flexibility about starting next week.” 

As you can see from the above, price wasn’t really the objection. It was part of the problem, because the client assumed that shorter service level lead times meant a higher price. What you can show clients is that a lower price can be traded off for something that’s less important – such as the start date. 

If the price can’t be cut… 

If the price can’t be cut, what can we offer? Better service? Better benefits? 

Faster service? 

• Extended warranty?  
• Quicker rollout? 
• Quicker estimates and proposals? 

Original article and photo source: Centerpoint Connect 

With the Centerpoint Connect app, users can now handle both service and inspection tasks in one unified platform.

Don’t let poor cell service prevent you from generating that million dollar inspection report or proposal ever again. With the new app from Centerpoint, you’ll have beautiful custom reports completed before you step foot off any roof regardless if you have mobile service or not.

We are excited to announce the release of the Centerpoint Connect IOS and Android Roof Inspection App. Schedule Roof Inspections to any field users such as estimators, sales reps, foreman, project managers, who can all remotely access Inspection tasks and complete them in the field with or without internet access. 

With the Centerpoint Connect app, users can now handle both service and inspection tasks in one unified platform. Whether it’s a service technician managing work orders or an inspector documenting roof conditions, Centerpoint Connect is designed to streamline every aspect of the workflow. The service functionality continues to be accessible on both Android and iOS devices.

Key features of the new inspection tool

• Offline access: Complete inspections without the need for an internet connection. Simply sync your data once you're back online.
• Comprehensive documentation: Capture photos, make detailed notes and log key inspection details to create a thorough report for each job.
• Consistency: Systematically capture roof conditions the same way each and every time that creates deliverables that lead to sales.

In addition to offline inspections, service technicians can still enjoy all the app’s original features, including time and materials tracking, scheduling, photo documentation and other tools. Completed work orders are sent directly to the invoicing system, allowing office staff to promptly bill clients.

Please note that a Centerpoint Connect account is required to log into the app.

About Centerpoint Connect Roofing Software

Centerpoint Connect is a powerful, all-in-one roofing software platform designed for contractors and service providers. From sales and project management to service and inspections, Centerpoint Connect equips teams with tools to manage every stage of the roofing process.

The web-based platform offers a suite of advanced features to streamline scheduling, time tracking, material management and team coordination. With integrated sales tracking and comprehensive reporting tools, managers have real-time insights into project and service statuses, enabling better decision-making and resource optimization.

For clients, Centerpoint Connect’s client portal allows instant access to their roofing information. Clients can request service, track budgets, view reports and manage warranties, all in one place. As data is uploaded, it is automatically available for client review, ensuring transparency and enhancing customer satisfaction.

Explore the future of roofing with Centerpoint Connect — your complete solution for roofing inspections, service and more!

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Building a solid foundation for consistent revenue and customer trust in roofing. 

In this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, host Heidi J. Ellsworth explores the growth and potential of service and maintenance programs in the roofing industry, featuring insights from experts Will Riley of Centerpoint Connect and Chad Westbrook of Service Alignment. These two professionals discuss the critical changes roofing companies must make to launch and sustain profitable service divisions. 

Will and Chad highlight a shift toward “recurring revenue,” expressing how proactive maintenance creates steady income and cultivates long-term client relationships. “With preventative maintenance agreements, it allows you to be able to get on that roof one, two, four times, whatever it is per year,” Chad explains, adding that regular inspections not only ensure roof quality but allow contractors to assess potential future repairs and sales. 

COVID-19 marked a turning point in the industry, Will notes, driving a renewed focus on service. Many large-scale projects were delayed, leading roofing contractors to pivot toward maintenance to keep business flowing. “Service really became that front-and-center way to be able to say, ‘Well, they’re not replacing their roof so what are they doing?’ They’re repairing it,” Chad recalls. This trend persists, with many building owners now accustomed to regular maintenance as part of their property management. 

The discussion also reveals the internal hurdles roofing companies often face when implementing service divisions, particularly cultural resistance and process changes. Will points out that service operations cannot be simply added onto existing re-roofing workflows. “You can’t pull a guy off a production crew who’s used to banging out squares and put him in a service truck and expect him to take care of a customer,” he explains. Instead, success lies in aligning team structures and training employees to think differently about customer needs. 

An essential strategy for fostering this culture, according to Chad, is adopting the mindset of “Act As If.” This philosophy encourages employees to approach each project as if they were working on their own property. “If this was your building, would you ignore the fasteners that were missing, the sealant that was failing?” Chad says, stressing the importance of integrity and customer-first thinking in building a sustainable service model. 

Read the transcript, Listen to the full episode or Watch the video to learn more about what a service division can do for your company and how you can start one. 

By Emma Peterson. 

Learn how you can train your team for success in a market where service is key.  

When it comes time to get a new roof, customers often don’t actually care about the roof. They care about not having water leaking into their building, they care about their occupant’s safety, but the roof itself is not something they are knowledgeable about — that’s why they hire professionals to take care of it for them! This is why Chad Westbrook, the founder of Service Alignment, tells contractors that customer service is what their sales hinge on. In an interview with the Coffee Shops crew, Chad explained, “If I put myself in my clients’ shoes and I call you as a roofer and you do talk about all this different crazy stuff, which is beautiful, but as a client I don’t know any other stuff. I’m just in the office looking for someone to say they can fix my roof.”  

This is often something that Chad helps train companies and teams on in his work with Service Alignment. He explained that there are four main pillars he uses to guide his trainings: People, process, technology and goals. People refers to your team and making sure you have the right people working the right jobs. From there, you have process, which Chad explained as “how those people work together.” The next pillar is technology, but Chad made sure to emphasize that you should not bring technology in until you have your processes down. He explained, “Technology does not fix process problems so many times I see contractors trying to buy technology to fix a process problem. It won't work.”   

The last and final pillar is goals. Chad explained the importance of this, “Goals allow every one of your employees, and this is you can have a company goal, but every employee that you have needs to understand how they contribute to the divisional goal of the company goal. Because if they don't, they're lost.” This is where efficiency and profit start to come in and he emphasizes the importance of what they are doing, which is not selling a roof but rather a solution. Once these pillars are put into place along with that foundational understanding that customer service is key, your business will begin to flourish. 

If you want to hear Chad talk about implementing the idea of service into company cultures in person, he’ll be presenting it in his ServiceCon talk, “The Service Mindset.” ServiceCon 2025, hosted by Centerpoint Connect is two-day event that will be held from March 12 to March 14, 2025 in Houston, Texas.  

Space is limited, so get your tickets now! Ticket sales will end once tickets are sold out! 

By Evelyn Witterholt. 

Here’s what has been trending on the MetalCoffeeShop™ (MCS) newsroom this past month. 

With the Spanish-speaking roofing community growing daily, more associations are offering resources to this valuable sector of the industry. One of our most-read articles from last month was a press release highlighting the National Roofing Contractors Association’s (NRCA) Spanish membership site. This new site offers business knowledge and benefits to Spanish-speaking roofing business owners and workers, including videos, PDFs and training resources! 

One of our most popular articles from last month was a piece by our writer, Emma Peterson, about the upcoming World Championship of Young Roofers! This event is put on by the International Federation of Roofing Professionals (IFD) and will be held in Austria from November 13-15, 2024. The championship will showcase the roofing skills from participants around the world under the age of 28. And for the first time, there will be a team of young roofers from the United States. The Coffee Shops will be covering this event live from Austria so stay tuned for more! 

Our most-read article in September was a piece by Centerpoint Connect about helpful sales tips. The roofing software company offers valuable advice about how to sell more by creating quality bids with added value. They also discuss how to incorporate year-round selling tactics that go beyond the initial project bid. 

Read the top 5 articles: 

5 - The hidden dangers snowstorms pose to your roof 

4 - Announcing Brennan Exteriors LLC as the 2024 winner of the Most Impressive Snow Guard System Project award 

3 - NRCA launches Spanish membership site 

2 - The Olympics may be over, but there’s still a USA team to support on the global stage! 

1 - Beyond the bottom line 

By Central States Manufacturing. 

Centra™ Series bolt-up buildings offer easy-to-assemble structures that stand the test of time.   

Editor’s note: Share this information with your customers who are interested in investing in a steel building on their property. 

When it comes to building your next shop, garage or agricultural structure, you want something reliable, efficient and hassle-free. Enter Centra™ Series bolt-up buildings from Central States Manufacturing, designed for quick and sturdy assembly without the need for welding. With pre-designed sizes and all necessary components included, these steel buildings are as strong as they are easy to put together. Centra Series offers the perfect solution to streamline your next project – no heavy machinery required. 

The “bones” of your Centra Series building consists of: 

• Eight-foot purlin, 16-gauge, red iron roof purlin, flush wall girts, eave struts, end wall columns. 
• Eight-foot girts, 14-gauge, red iron sidewall columns and rafters. 
• Fourteen-gauge, red iron base angle, 3/8″ thick steel structural plates and a universal bolt package for simple installation. 

The roof comes in: 

• High quality Central States Prime metal, 26-gauge acrylic Galvalume® R-Loc™ panel with CentralGuard™ Protection and a 3:12 pitch. 

The walls also come in: 

• Prime, 26-gauge painted R-Loc panel with the same CentralGuard™ Protection. 

The trim for your Centra Series building comes with: 

• A painted 26-gauge trim package that fully dresses the building’s exterior includes base, rake, formed ridge cap, corners, eave and peak box trims. 

There are a variety of color options for your walls and trim to choose from to customize your building as well as a long list of options and accessories like a painted roof, gutters and additional sidewall openings that are also available for you to help make your project exactly what you want. 

All the accessories needed to erect your building (we DO NOT provide the anchor bolts to secure to the ground/concrete) like screws, rivets, sealant, roof and wall closures, bolts and nuts are included and to help put it all together – easy to follow assembly instructions and construction plans are included. 

A lifetime limited paint warranty on painted panels and a 25-year. perforation warranty on unpainted panels are also included in your package ensuring that your Centra Series investment is protected for years to come (there is no warranty for commercial-use buildings). 

For more information about your next Centra™ Series bolt-up steel building and to find a distributor in your local area. 

Original article and photo source: Central States Manufacturing 

By Centerpoint Connect. 

Turning confusion into clarity and why qualifying is your secret weapon. 

When it comes to sales, the word “qualify” often stirs up more anxiety than confidence. The endless cycle of determining whether a lead is “qualified” can feel like navigating a maze without a map. But what if qualifying your customer could be as intuitive as choosing a restaurant for dinner? By mastering this essential skill, you not only ensure your company is the perfect fit for your client’s needs but also transform what feels like a daunting task into a seamless, natural conversation. Here at Centerpoint Connect we provide a primer to help instill a sense of confidence. 

For going out to eat, there is a qualification process:   

First set of questions: How much can you spend?  What are you willing to invest in this meal? How are you going to fund it?  Pay by cash or debit card – put it on a credit card and pay for it over the next few years. 

Once you know about how much you want to pay, additional questions arise – these questions can come in any order once you know the answer to the first question. 

• Do you want to go alone or with someone else or with a group? This question helps to narrow down your choices of type of restaurant and if it is only your decision where you go to eat.  If you want to go by yourself, you think about if you want to eat at the bar or at a table by yourself. 
• How hungry are you?  Do you want an appetizer and a drink or a meal? 
• What do you want to eat?  Pasta, steak, fajitas, seafood, hamburger?  
• What type of atmosphere is important? Quiet – more adult; comfortable – lots of families with small kids; fun – sports bar or trendy?  
• What type of service? Quick. Friendly. Formal. 
• What type of wait? Reservations required or wait in line. 
• What time do you want to go – straight after work or later? What do you want to wear – do you want to make time to change clothes? 

You get the picture. Most of these questions are done automatically. You don’t need to spend a lot of time thinking about what the next question needs to be – you know instinctively what the next question is to get you to the right restaurant. 

This process can be applied to qualifying your roofing customers. The questions follow the same logical steps and are a natural flow in a conversation. 

Budget and funding considerations 

• How much are they willing to invest in their roof? 
• How are they going to fund the roof? Capital budget or expense? 
• Is this a budget number for the next year or is the roof to be done quickly? 

Decision-making process 

• Is your contact the decision maker? If not, who is making the decision or is it a team decision? 
• When will a decision be made? 
• Have they been “shopping around” for a new roof? 
• Who are the other contractors that may be in the running to be considered for their project? 
• Are they local contractors? 
• Are they national contractors? 
• Is there a pre-qualification process? What is it? 
• What is the process for submitting a proposal? 
• What is the deadline? 

Existing roof status 

• Is the existing roof damaged (emergency) or out of warranty? 
• Is it a new or re-roof project? 
• If it is a re-roof, what is the new roof specification? 
• Same? More energy-efficient? Recover? Tear-off? 

Contractor comparisons and clarifications 

• If they have been shopping around, what do they find to be unclear in other contractors’ presentations? 
• What other scopes of work were submitted? 
• Do they have an office in the area? 
• How do they plan to service the facility? 

Project requirements and priorities 

• What other factors are important to them? 
• Time? Service? 
• Safety? 
• Quality? 
• Warranty? Bonding? Insurance? 

Post-contract steps 

• Once you are chosen as their contractor for the project, what are the next steps? 

Your qualification mission is fact finding. One question may lead to four or five other questions, based upon the customer’s response. The above is a sample of qualification questions – it is not all-inclusive. Qualifying is investigation to ensure that we understand our customer’s requirements and know their expected timeframes. It is having a conversation with a friend.   

 Word to the wise: Just because we have done work with the customer in the past, it does not mean that their requirements have not changed, and we “know” the client. We are in a fast-paced industry and world – customer’s objectives and goals change. Customers may have different requirements based upon regions, specific locations (coastal), environment or situation (disaster response). 

Qualifying is the process of asking questions to better understand a customer’s requirements. 

Original article and photo source: Centerpoint Connect