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Work Order Management from Mobile Device
Last week we talked about the five benefits of using a desktop for managing work orders, but what about using mobile devices?
In most cases, work order management (WOM) is best done from a desktop. This computer acts as the hub, sending information out to other users. For service-based businesses, the project manager or scheduler uses the desktop. Crews and others working off-site can access this information from their mobile device, using a streamlined version of the WOM software. While the mobile access isn’t as comprehensive as on a desktop, mobile users hold a wealth of information in their hands.
All WOM software offers different features, but let’s look at what users of Service Proz‘ mobile application can do from their phone.
- Check schedules
- See maps and routes to job sites
- Review and adjust project details
- Comment on project status
- Add before and after project photos
- Get client sign-offs on projects
- Mark jobs ready for billing
The Service Proz solution was made for small service-based businesses. Once the software is set up, the app’s many features will increase productivity and billable hours.
What do you like most about using work order management software? Tell us in the comments section.
Download the app and try out Service Proz for yourself. While you’re at it, sign up for an account on our website and talk to Billy about scheduling a walk-through!
Benefits of Using Mobile Devices for CRM Systems
Whether your goal is lining up one new customer a day or one a month, having a strategy to manage customer leads will save you time and energy. This is the third of a four-part series on CRM, customer relations management. Read the first part, “Getting the Most Out of a Lead”, here. Read the second part, “Organize Your Leads for Max Profits”, here.
Let’s face it: Small business owners handle most of their day-to-day operations using their mobile device. A survey done by GetData in 2015 found that “almost 75% of managers of small businesses access their work data from a mobile device on a daily basis.” Whether it be a tablet or a smartphone, the mobile device has become the tool for small business owners. It connects managers to customers and crews, and holds information on projects and finances.
Since your phone is always by your side, it only makes sense to have access to your CRM system (customer relations management system) on your mobile phone. Here are a few benefits of doing business from your phone, and added benefits if you’re using the cloud.
- Tighten your sales cycle by having all your client, inventory, and personnel data in one place.
- See real-time status on prospective leads, and know what your sales team is saying and doing to close the sale.
- Add new leads as you get them in the field, and waste no time assigning them to your sales team.
Mobile devices are essential to managing your CRM program. Clients expect their service providers to have their information readily accessible, and service-based companies that don’t meet these expectations look unorganized and unable to provide top-notch service. If you haven’t already, it’s time to move your CRM system to your mobile device.
With the Service Proz Solution, you are able to access your CRM data from your mobile device while out in the field. Start saving time and streamlining your business today!
How do you use your mobile device to manage your leads? Tell us in the comments section.
Download the app and try out Service Proz for yourself. While you’re at it, sign up for an account on our website and talk to Billy about scheduling a walk-through!
Mobility lets you get back to life
Is your work holding you back from life’s most important milestones? Are you locked down to a desk with your current work order management software? So many companies today have cut the proverbial cord and have gone wireless and mobile. Work is possible from anywhere with mobile and cloud based options offered today.
Schedule appointments and stay in touch with technicians beach side or while enjoying the view of the Appalachians. Catch a week night baseball game while billing customers from the stands.
Today’s business landscape offers so many more solutions to link your home service business with real life and in real time.
Take a quick look at the most recent mobility video from Service Proz and see what the flexibility of mobile business apps can offer your HVAC, electrician, plumbing or home cleaning business.
Today’s goal: focus on mobile management
Just a few years ago we were all just discovering the benefits of mobile applications in our personal life and now mobile applications for smartphones and tablets are common, and needed, in day to day business operations.
CIO Insight, the voice of the CIO community that provides analysis for the IT industry, reports that mobile management today is a way to keep your business on the go and in constant operation; which increases speed and customer satisfaction, among other benefits.
Now, factor in cloud computing technology that gives your company access to the most important business files anywhere in the world.
CIO Insight even goes so far to say that “the logical solution is to hire a mobile operations manager for your company to oversee the increasing mobile business.”
If your company isn’t large enough for a mobile operations manager to monitor your mobile applications and employees; the first step would be sourcing a trusted and reliable workforce management system.
A modern workforce management system is essential in today’s business world and new systems are cloud-based; ensuring that all of your important information can be accessed from anywhere.
Once you choose a workforce management system that is tailored to your industry, the next step is to transition all of your business information to the system. A good workforce management provider will be with you step by step as your company transitions to the new system.
It’s important to create a transition plan so all employees are aware and kept up to date with changes in operations. Once all important business data is stored in the cloud, your workforce can be in constant contact for any business and customer needs. Every part of your business will run smoother and faster.
Accenture, a global management consulting and technology company, says that workforce management systems offer higher performance levels, increased time for business analysis and a reduction of overall labor costs—which in return provides better service at lower costs.
Other workforce management benefits include:
- Customer Management: create service orders (jobs); know the customer’s exact requirements, read their history, communicate accurate information.
- Billing: invoice accurately for the exact services required, create recurring invoices to never miss the next billing cycle, create invoices while still on the job expediting when the customer pays you.
- Technician Management: manage technicians’ skills, inventory, and availability; create timesheets based on their known assignments, route them efficiently; and provide them with the latest mobile devices to receive job information and history automatically.
- Scheduling and Dispatch: create the schedule using interactive techniques, only schedule technicians who meet the requirements of the job, provide customers with reliable appointments; commit to a service that you can deliver.
- Mobility: communicate in real time from tablets, PCs, laptops and smartphones.
Mobile apps carry home service businesses into the future
Did you ever imagine in our lifetime that we would be able to remotely scan a credit card, shop easier with QRS codes, or video chat with a loved one on a smartphone from anywhere around the world? Well, we are there with our amazing technology and are moving forward each and every day to the next “big” thing!
Our current technology that encourages mobility is a great advancement in the business industry and can be applied to your home service business as well! Many small and mid-sized businesses are moving to cloud computing for data and document storage because of the ability to access the information anywhere.
With Service Proz mobility features, we are ready to help you move forward and take advantage of these time-saving mobility features.
With the ease of Service Proz mobility your employee or field tech will receive a work order on their smartphone, from there they can clock in, update the current work order and even attach an image to the work order—like a photo of a product or receipt.
Service Proz mobility will help your business save time and money on office supplies, gas and most importantly energy. Best of all, quickly invoice after the job is complete! There will not be any more confusion on a requested task during a service call or lost technicians in the field! The Service Proz app will easily organize all of these important business duties, all in one place.
Please contact us today if you would like to try Service Proz for your home service business!
Workforce Management is more than just scheduling
Workforce management is far more than a human resources term or just a way to schedule employees. Managing your workforce is one of the most important aspects of your home service business to maintain happy clients and a high level of service for your customers.
Workforce Management covers customer management, billing, technician management, scheduling–and what Service Proz provides is a way to make all of this mobile!
For example, with Service Proz your employees can clock in at an appointment, check exact job duties from their smartphone along with pulling up a map with directions. At the home office, managers have the ability to schedule technicians, create work orders and bill customers with just a few clicks.
The mobility of using Service Proz in the office and in the field, along with the freedom of using cloud-based software is what will set your HVAC, cleaning or even plumbing company apart from the others.
In the end you save time, money and please your valuable customers with excellent service.
Service Proz can handle your workforce management competitively in today’s market. Contact us today for more information and this fall receive one month free with new service.
Building a Better Business 