Software Advice

[DariusCool]

Hi

Am looking for the software category that would fit this scenario

We carry out repairs in people's homes. The administration of jobs is handled by admin staff.

Put simply there are:
Incoming jobs via emails, portals and telephone
Processing jobs, ordering parts etc
Booking appointments

I want software which can make sure the tasks are done and not forgotten.

Eg between 9 and 9.45 only incoming calls are processed
Spares must be ordered before 2
Incoming jobs are then processed again at 3

 

[forevergroup]

A few questions:

How are you handling the jobs and their assignment to engineers at the moment?

1. Do you have a job dispatch system in place? Eg mobile apps for the engineers and an admin system in the office? Or is that what you’re looking for?

2. Are you tracking the engineer vehicles?

3. Do you have a CRM/ERP system that tracks parts inventory, quoting, invoicing etc?

 

[DariusCool]

We have a job management system but its more of an admin job management system I need.

Engineer vehicles are tracked via the job management system

The crm is as one with the job management

 

[intheTRADE]

Take a look at PoweredNow (www.powerednow.com)

If you want to PM me I can put you in touch with a contact that I have there

 

[Mr D]

From what you describe any calendar / appointment system could work.
Could even use outlook.

Tons of office staff set up times and tasks using basic office software. Stuff gets done, time slotted for certain things only, tasks set up and confirmed done etc.

If your needs are more involved then look for more involved software. Off the shelf stuff should work, properly managed.

 

[DariusCool]

From what you describe any calendar / appointment system could work.
Could even use outlook.

Tons of office staff set up times and tasks using basic office software. Stuff gets done, time slotted for certain things only, tasks set up and confirmed done etc.

If your needs are more involved then look for more involved software. Off the shelf stuff should work, properly managed.

Would you have example software other than the calenders? Or what the genre is

 

[Mr D]

Would you have example software other than the calenders? Or what the genre is

Calendars and tasks would seem to be appropriate. Along with management - no software replaces that.

No idea of the genre, thought most people were familiar with outlook or its contemporaries.

Ultimately whatever software is used it comes down to what will do the job. Basic admin, time management - technically do not need any software. People were doing admin work back when the highest tech was the church bells and the parchment.
But software makes things a little simpler.

 

[Alcom IT]

This software genre is called PSA which stands for Professional Services Application. There are hundreds available once you start searching but the one we use is called LaserTask.

 

[forevergroup]

We have a job management system but its more of an admin job management system I need.

Engineer vehicles are tracked via the job management system

The crm is as one with the job management

From what I've seen you have three primary options really:

1. Discuss this feature requirement with your existing job dispatch vendor. This will be the easiest approach for you and if they are a small vendor may well be receptive to taking development paths that stem from customer requests. It also has the nice advantage of (hopefully) costing you exactly £0 and avoiding disruption.

2. Move to a job dispatch solution that already supports recurring tasks, deadlines, and alerts for back-office staff. I'd have thought that this would be a common feature but obviously not. What system are you currently using please? I'm happy to ask around for you and see if we know anyone that offers this functionality.

3. What others haven't suggested and is actually bang-on-the-money for what you are looking to achieve would be a project management / task management tool like monday.com / teamwork / Asana etc. That's the actual pure-placed product category for what you are looking to achieve.

The only challenge you have is that if you roll out option 3 you're going to end up with a disjointed system. Third party integrations may be available but from experience with many SaaS solutions this instantly bumps you up to the enterprise pricing tier. So if you can get a vertical-relevant dispatch/tracking system that offers this (or nudge your existing vendor to offer it) that's the best path.

Please do come back to me on point 2 if you'd like me to ask around for you. We know numerous companies that operate in this area.

 

[forevergroup]

This software genre is called PSA which stands for Professional Services Application. There are hundreds available once you start searching but the one we use is called LaserTask.

No, I've worked with SMB field maintenance companies for 15 years and the grand total I've seen using a PSA system for fleet tracking and job dispatch would be zero.

PSA actually stands for Professional Services Automation. It's a very established market populated with large experienced vendors.

LaserTask on the other hand hasn't even filed company accounts yet.

It's marketed as a system for IT companies and does not offer vehicle tracking. It therefore appears entirely unsuitable for OPs requirements.

Could we therefore assume that this recommendation is based solely on the fact that LaserTask has the same registered office and directors as your IT company?

What an amazing coincidence.

 

[intheTRADE]

LaserTask hasn't even filed company accounts yet.

It's marketed as a system for IT companies and does not offer vehicle tracking. It therefore appears entirely unsuitable for OPs requirements.

Could we therefore assume that this recommendation is based solely on the fact that LaserTask has the same registered office and directors as your IT company?

What an amazing coincidence.

Love it.

It's certainly a questionable marketing strategy. Suggesting your own company to someone but trying to disassociate yourself with the company, but not only that, suggesting your company to someone who is looking for something completely different to what you offer.

 

[Alcom IT]

Guys, I didn't mean to cause any offence. Please don't get upset.

I promise, it was not intended as a marketing strategy. I was simply trying to help the OP understand that the genre that might help them in searching for the right program is PSA.

Please disregard my comment regarding the application we use in our business. This was unprofessional of me to include and I revoke that comment without hesitation.

As a newbie to this forum I have learnt a valuable lesson.

Once again, if you can, please disregard my error and accept my most sincere apologies.

Thank you,

Abe

 

[EmC007]

With what has been said with job handling or service calls in another way with scheduling and ordering I would suggest SAP Business One. It is a comprehensive solution. It has a Mobile app that allows field staff to have up to date info. Definitely worth a look.

 

[Charlie Gr]

You need a Order Management System - call it processing or whatever.
We have built multiple Order Dispatch systems, with different "Order capture" channels - like - web based/ mobile apps based / by yourself / client dashboards - on top of Integration with other e-commerce websites as well.
Do message me here please, to discuss this further.

 

[Elena Steiner]

Maybe Jira?
You can set priorities, tasks, subtasks, delegate them, set timers, email notifications, reminders, and so on. It's quite a flexible system.