As a guy in his early 40s, I remember life before smartphones and high-speed internet.
Today, it’s hard to escape and even harder to imagine a world without them.
I’ve never resisted technology, but I’ll admit, I often find myself a step or two behind the Gen Z crowd when it comes to understanding the “how.” That said, it hasn’t stopped me or our team at Stor-Mor Portable Buildings from leaning in and learning as we go.
In fact, technology has quietly become a key element of how we’ve evolved over the past few years. We’ve introduced systems and tools that have helped us build, sell, and support our sheds more efficiently—improving both how we work and how we serve our partners and customers.
When I first sat down to write this article, I was staring at a blank screen. The ideas weren’t flowing, so I turned to Chat GPT for help.
I simply entered, “I need to write an article for a business journal and am looking for topic ideas.” Within seconds, I was provided a comprehensive list: Leadership & Management, Strategy & Innovation, Technology & Digital Transformation, Finance & Economics, Marketing & Consumer Trends, Product & Development, and Global Business & Geopolitics.
These are topics our team touches every day, but seeing them laid out like that gave me some clarity—and reminded me how helpful (and surprisingly accurate) these tools can be. It felt like a fitting way to open a piece on how technology is shaping what we do and why staying current matters.
DON’T WAIT, START NOW
Whether you’re a dealer with one sales lot or four, a distributor, a growing manufacturer, or a large RTO company, there are tools and apps available today that can dramatically improve your operations—we’ve experienced firsthand how even modest changes can have a significant impact.
You don’t need to overhaul everything at once. Maybe it’s a simple task management app, setting up a chatbot for Facebook messages, or an API connecting your accounting system to sales data. The important thing is to start. Waiting for the perfect system or perfect time might leave you behind.
SMALL STEPS, BIG IMPACT
Our approach hasn’t been flashy; we’ve taken a gradual, intentional approach starting with our people.
We invest in our people first and supplement that with the right tools and training. Team leaders attend conferences, summits, webinars, and e-courses, and we make it a point to pass on what we learn, empowering our people to adapt and grow.
With our manufacturing partners, we use apps to streamline communications, manage warranty repairs, and track detailed cost metrics. For our dealer network, we host virtual panels to share marketing ideas and offer training. It’s not about having all the answers—it’s about staying open and connected.
PEOPLE FIRST, TECHNOLOGY SECOND
We’ve found that at its best, technology supports people—not the other way around. The most meaningful changes for us have come when our team feels empowered and has the right tools to do their jobs better. When you measure the success of your company by the satisfaction of your people (employees, shops, dealers, drivers, etc…) the other success metrics, like revenue and margins, will follow.
Yes, sheds are our product. But our business is really about people and the ways we work together to improve, adapt, and build something meaningful. We look forward to sharing more in the months ahead about how traditional industries like ours are being reshaped by modern tools while staying rooted in what matters most: The People.
