Restoration Industry Trends
As natural disasters become more and more of a permanent reality, people’s homes become the subject of destructive forces. With an aging infrastructure, the restoration industry is in full bloom. This article will explore some of the pros and cons of restoration trends.
Better Industry Standards
When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, the southeastern part of the United States incurred never-before-seen levels of destruction, leaving many without homes. As a result, new regulations and standards were developed within the restoration industry to tackle the scope of these disasters better, as mentioned in a Biosque Solutions blog post. These new regulations and standards have increased restoration companies’ overall organization and services while allowing them to better adapt to the increasing frequency of natural disasters that occur worldwide.
Another outcome of Hurricane Katrina is the reevaluation of the health and safety guidelines of the industry by getting the proper personal protection equipment (PPE).
Overcoming COVID
A global pandemic struck the world in early 2020, and with it, many businesses faced severe impacts from labor shortages, new public health protocols, and supply chain issues. An article from a PODS.com blog post estimates that, among restoration companies, 66% found it challenging to find workers while 45% had trouble retaining their workforce. This situation has led to a push toward better wages and benefits if these companies intend to stay in business.
The aftermath hasn’t all been negative. However, the pandemic has accelerated the modernization of the industry and made companies more adaptable to changing circumstances. Companies are becoming more flexible in how they provide their services to avoid becoming exclusively reliant on one source of materials and equipment.
Innovation in Restoration
Emerging technologies in restoration, such as mold detection methods or 3D scanning cameras, have increased the scope of services offered by restoration businesses. Companies are starting to offer more targeted solutions to customers’ restoration problems. As the portfolio of the services provided increases, the industry’s workforce is increasingly specialized, with new certifications becoming available such as the Institute of Inspection and Restoration Certification mentioned in this Biosque Solutions article. Better training programs are starting to emerge, offering practical learning to businesses and employees, ultimately to better quality services.
Better Customer Service
Restoration companies are starting to embrace the digital age and emphasize the quality of their customers’ experiences. Facing the public’s many newfound concerns over health, restoration companies have begun strengthening their protocol strategies and offering more clarity on the definition of their services, with a refined focus on their marketing and communications outreach. While it is essential to focus on the customer, some companies have also reinforced the importance of culture within their business. A more cohesive workforce will lead to a better quality of service and higher customer satisfaction levels.
The restoration industry has undergone significant changes in the past decades due to a more disaster-prone climate and a global pandemic. Most of the changes have enabled more effective restoration strategies to be available while simultaneously delivering an improved customer experience.