FAQs

• A client (potential end user of the service) gets on the web site, creates a specification and RFP that meets his/her needs and sends it to ConnectIR™.
• ConnectIR™ searches the database of thermography service providers and sends the RFP to qualified bidders.
• The bidders review the specs and fill in the prices.
• ConnectIR™ then sends the profiles of companies including their bids and to the client.
• The client sorts the profiles by all sorts of criteria like price, report features, experience of the thermographer, etc., and selects the three profiles that best match what he/she is looking for in a contractor.
• The three selected service providers contact information is then sent by ConnectIR™ to the client who chooses a qualified service provider. The price and specifications have already been determined, so only minor points need to be addressed in order for the client to write a contract with the service provider.
• The contractor performs the work, bills the client and when the payment is received, the contractor pays a finder's fee to ConnectIR™.

• Clients create an account and a specification/RFP that matches their needs.
• ConnectIR™ searches the database of thermography service providers and retrieves the profiles of companies that match the client’s specs.
• Qualified bidders are sent the RFP and they return it with the prices and terms filled-in.
• The client receives and sorts the profiles by different criteria like price, report features, experience of the thermographer, etc., and selects the three profiles that best match what he/she is looking for in a contractor.
• The client then selects three profiles that best match what they are looking for.
• Those three selected service provider’s contact information is then sent by ConnectIR™ to the client, who chooses a qualified service provider. The price and specifications have already been determined, so only minor points need to be addressed in order for the client to write a contract with the service provider.
• The contractor performs the work, bills the client and when the payment is received, the contractor pays a finder’s fee to ConnectIR™.

There are three components:

1. The Interface. That is the Internet site.
2. The Database. The database is filled with the profiles of infrared service providers, which is provided by the thermography company. The profiles are made up of all sorts of information about the company, the thermographers, their IR equipment, training, experience, geographical location and the like.
3. The Algorithms. The algorithms are the ‘code’ written to go back and forth between the interface and the database and automatically retrieve information and supply it to those who need it.

This is what makes ConnectIR™ so valuable. If the client was simply supplied with a list, he/she would have to go through the onerous process of finding a good contractor, having to:

• Write a set of specifications. This is particularly difficult for first-time buyers.
• Locate a contractor, willing and capable of performing the IR Survey.
• Make initial contacts. Have you left any voicemails for people you don’t know lately?
• Field calls and questions from prospective services providers.
• Receive the bids in all different forms and evaluate them.

How much does the client pay for this service?

There is no charge for clients to use this system. The thermography companies are Members of United Infrared and ElectricIR and pay a finder’s fee after they perform the work and have received payment from the client.

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Who owns ConnectIR™?

ConnectIR™ was owned and operated by Stockton Infrared Thermographic Services, Inc. (SITS) from 2006 until mid-2011, when sister company United Infrared Services, Inc., took over all operations.

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What does the thermography company gain from being listed?

Most thermography companies are small - one to three people operations and work in a limited area. Advertising, marketing and sales is a tough job in any business and a small infrared service company struggles to find effective advertising in a limited geographical area. Local TV, radio, print and yellow page ads in a specialized business such as infrared services are not very effective. Cold-calling, the most effective marketing for this type of business, requires a marketing staff and resources which some smaller companies do not have. That leaves the internet, which is not local, but worldwide…nationwide at best. A small company’s efforts are wasted in a worldwide medium like the internet. That’s where ConnectIR™ can help. We advertise worldwide and bring work to them so they can spend their time doing what they are good at…infrared surveying.

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How are the specifications written for the wide range of needs of the potential clients?

There is a wide range of possible levels of service. The site is designed to make allowances for almost every type of job in every business sector, from small office building managers to plant engineers at huge manufacturing facilities and from single sites to multiple sites. For example, a corporate engineer can go on ConnectIR™ and create a spec that is used for every site in his company. The specifications allow the client, for instance, to choose all the lowest specs and get the lowest price. They can choose high specs and get only the top infrared thermographers. They can accept any bid at any time or reject all, and bid the job again. Also, all along the spec writing process, we help the clients by pointing out options that they might want and features that they might not need. 

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