What is Zapier?
Zapier allows you to actually use technology to your benefit. Zapier users are able to create a bridge between applications they already use, and this cuts out the manual steps required. This bridge is called a ‘Zap’. Zapier saves you time and money by simplifying the connection between your web services such as Dropbox, Quickbooks Online, Mailchimp, or Chargify.
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1-800-Unlocks was first introduced to Zapier by Tim Wood of Forge & Figure. Tim knew that one of our goals was to save time and money so we could pass on the savings to our clients.
Business Tools For Locksmiths
In almost every industry, technology tends to disrupt our daily lives. Locksmithing is no different. Although many locksmiths still perform mechanical locksmithing services with standard locks and keys, there is a huge need to streamline business operations and use the Internet of things to step into the 21st Century. Smartphones have enabled customers in need of lock services to send pictures and video of their broken locks, broken doors, and broken keys.
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Locksmiths, especially owner-operators, have more tasks to do in any given day than they can handle. This forces the business owner to work late, work holidays, and work weekends performing important, yet menial tasks such as invoicing, emailing, and bookkeeping.
Save Time With Zapier!
Wouldn’t it be great if we could spend more time making money and less time doing paperwork? Consider your hourly labor rate. Is it $65? Is it $80 or more? How many hours per month do you spend creating invoices and receiving payments? 4 Hours? 8 Hours? Could your time be better spent? At 1800-Unlocks we wanted to spend more time bringing value to our locksmith clients by doing SEO, building websites, link building, and Social Media Management.
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We are now able to better utilize our time by connecting our website to our credit card processor and back to our accounting software. Now, when a customer signs up online or adds their listing, a credit card charge will automatically tell Zapier to create an invoice in our accounting software. This saves us time. Now, manually creating invoices and creating new customer accounts is a thing of the past!
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We hope that locksmiths across the country can utilize Zapier’s technology to streamline their efforts with regard to credit card processing, accounting software, email marketing, sales tracking, or even basic communication. No coding experience is required. The options are nearly limitless, it is extremely affordable, and the customer service is exceptional.
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The applications that Zapier supports are constantly growing and with recent funding (https://techcrunch.com/2012/10/31/zapier-raises-1-2m-seed-round/) of $1.2MM, we hope they are here to stay. Check out the list of applications they support at https://zapier.com, and find out how much time Zapier can save you!
Author: Sam Wilson
I am a licensed locksmith and the owner of 1-800-Unlocks. The goal of our locksmith directory is to provide a safe place for customers to find a local legitimate locksmith and avoid the pitfalls of being a victim of scamming locksmiths.