Manufacturing automation has transformed shop floors. From automatic bar feeders to robots and cobots, plenty of our members have already dipped their toes into this game-changing breakthrough—and they’ve reaped the benefits! But what about applying the same innovation to their communication and customer outreach?
For contract manufacturers, staying connected with customers and prospects is crucial, but thorough and effective communication can fall by the wayside when daily operations are moving a mile a minute. By leveraging automation tools like drip campaigns and AI-powered outreach, shops can free up valuable time. More importantly, just because this contact method is computer-generated doesn’t mean it’s impersonal or one-size-fits-all; a little upfront legwork ensures that all communications are consistent and personalized to the desired audience.
Let’s dive into the why, what, and how of leveraging automation to streamline your communication strategy.
Why Effective Communication Matters More Than Ever
Let’s face it: today’s world is fast-paced, and, more than ever, people expect immediate communication. However, for small- and medium-sized manufacturers, prioritizing outreach can feel unattainable when juggling production deadlines, staffing challenges, and the financial pressures that come with operating a business.
To maintain robust communication without sacrificing time, resources, or your sanity, consider automating your outreach strategy. Automated communication tools can handle repetitive tasks like sending emails, updating contact lists, and minimizing manual upkeep at a fraction of the cost of hiring additional staff.
Leveraging Drip Campaigns for Consistent Outreach
Drip campaigns are automated email sequences tailored to specific audiences. These campaigns are especially valuable for manufacturers looking to:
- Onboard or welcome new customers: Introduce new customers to your services in bite-sized, strategic emails rather than overwhelming them with too much information all at once.
- Segment audiences: Target specific groups with messages that are most relevant to them. That way, if you’re looking to provide outreach only to your aerospace customers, you can deliver information to them without inundating the rest of your customers with messaging that doesn’t apply to them.
Setting up drip campaigns requires some upfront effort—such as segmenting audiences and creating relevant content—but the payoff is a seamless, ongoing communication process that works on autopilot.
How to Find the Best Automated Communication Platform for Your Business
Just like you want to test drive a new car before buying it, you’ll want to weigh your options before investing in an automated outreach platform. Here are our recommendations to find the right fit for your goals:
Take Part in Software Demos
Plenty of software solutions allow free trials or demos for users to see if the platform suits their needs. Channel your inner Goldilocks and test out different tools until you find the “just right” one that aligns with your processes and integrates seamlessly with your existing systems.
Seek Out Recommendations
Tap into your manufacturing community! Chat with your peers about the successes (or issues) they’ve had with various platforms. Better yet, post a question on NTMA Connect to poke the brains of hundreds of manufacturers across the country.
Embrace the Future of Customer Outreach
Adapting to modern communication expectations is critical for nurturing leads and ensuring customer satisfaction. By leveraging automated solutions, you can stay ahead of the curve to deliver the responsive, personalized communication your customers require. These tools are designed to enhance customer relationships and reduce your load so you can focus on other tasks that ensure your business thrives in today’s increasingly competitive landscape.
Ready to explore your options? Leverage your NTMA membership to discover tools that can transform how you communicate with your customers.