Based in Texas, Mueller, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of metal buildings, roofing and components.
The company is vertically integrated, processing steel at local factories and distributing a robust suite of custom products through their network of 40+ retail branches across the Central, Southwest, and Southeast U.S.
In addition to commercial and residential metal roofing systems, Mueller makes and sells purlin lines and building frames, vents, complete trim systems, rack systems and more. Most of their products are produced using highly complex, automated manufacturing processes that rely on precise measurements and specifications.
“We’re always looking for ways to build in greater operational efficiency,” states Rayome Soupiset, Mueller’s president and CEO. “We rely on technological innovation and engineering ingenuity to help us deliver the highest quality product at the best price – and that’s where Hover comes in.”
No room for error
Because 98% of the products that Mueller manufactures and distributes fulfill custom orders, precision and accuracy are essential. “We cut our roofing panels in full sheets,” explains Rayome. “An error in any cut can cost us $60k in sunk costs when you add up loss in material, freight and delays in delivery time.”
A year ago, Mueller’s team was introduced to Hover at the International Roofing Expo (IRE). They tried the free demo and were sold. Simply by taking eight smartphone photos of a property or by uploading a blueprint, Mueller now had one simple tool to quickly and easily generate comprehensive, accurate exterior and roof measurements. And because Mueller sells complete metal roofing systems (including trim, vents and more), they were thrilled to see that Hover’s measurements also covered facets, valleys, rakes, eaves, flashing, soffit, trim measurements, penetrations, and more.
“We’ve traditionally relied on site visits to collect our measurements,” explained Joe Moberly, Mueller’s director of Sales. “A team member would have to climb on the roof, hand sketch and measure every plane, pitch and penetration. Then we’d have to manually enter every line from the order into our proprietary roofing application to generate the schematic roofing model. The opportunity for error was mind boggling.”
Mueller’s team had also tried a competitive roofing measurement app, but found it generated too many errors and wasn’t able to support new construction projects (critical given that new construction accounts for almost half of their roofing business).
With Hover, Mueller has gone from requiring an entire week to generate a quote to creating project estimates in one day or less. Working closely with Hover’s tech team, they’ve integrated Hover with their proprietary roofing application so no one ever has to manually re-enter data.
With Hover’s measurements and other built-in validations, they’ve almost entirely eliminated human error from their systems process – even when customers make those anticipated last-minute changes. They can consistently deliver roofing systems precise to customer specifications, with less waste and more profit.
For homeowners, seeing = selling
Using Hover’s measurements, Mueller is able to generate a quote much faster. But it’s the 3D model that’s helping to seal the deal.
Contractors partnering with Mueller can now use Hover’s 3D model in their sales presentations so homeowners can see what Mueller’s colors and panel types will look like on a photo-realistic model of their own home. When working directly with homeowners, Mueller gives them access to the Hover 3D model so they can play around with Mueller’s colors and panel types on their own home, for quicker decision making and happier outcomes.
“We were seeing a dip in our residential roofing business because our quotes took too long,” added Joe. “Now we can turn a quote around in 24 hours and give both contractors and homeowners an opportunity to see for themselves the impact a Mueller roof can have.”
With the Hover 3D model, Mueller now has a real differentiator for getting new customers that also inspires those word-of-mouth recommendations they rely on to grow their business. Moreover, having Mueller product placement in the Hover app is helping to drive awareness and increase demand.
Positioned to grow
With extreme weather becoming the norm and homeowners seeking energy efficient options, Rayome expects more homeowners will look to metal roofing systems for their durability and energy savings. Steel roofing is also a greener option, given its lifespan and ability to be recycled.
Thanks to Hover, Rayome believes they’ve never been in a better position to grow. “There’s demand in the marketplace for manufacturers that are willing and able to work directly with end users,” he concludes. “By selling the whole project, we’re able to offer the most value to our customers. And with Hover integrated into our system, we can continue to be a low cost manufacturer and still deliver a high value product.”
