TECHNOLOGY
Ultimately, the choice between CRM software and
project/task management software depends on the spe- cific needs and goals of the irrigation or lighting business. CRM software is the ideal choice if the primary focus is on managing customer relationships and improving sales pro- cesses. On the other hand, if the company is project-driven and requires effective collaboration, task management and project tracking, project/task management software is the more suitable solution. It is important to carefully assess business require-
ments, evaluate available options, and choose the software that aligns best with the organization’s objectives, says Ted Rightmire, CEO of HindSite Software, St. Paul, Minne- sota. “Tere are plenty of tools out there that will help con-
tractors with job costing and estimating, but they may not handle scheduling very well,” says Rightmire. Before investing in either software platform, Rightmire
recommends that contractors ponder the following key questions and topics to evaluate their needs:
• How is it going to handle client management? Specifi- cally, will it provide a greater understanding of clients and their properties?
• How will it allow me to communicate with my clients? Email? Text?
• How will I bill clients and report what is known about their property?
• How do I schedule and route my technicians? • How do I send and receive information from my techni- cians?
• What are my costs versus my budget versus productivity? • Is the software offered in languages other than English, such as Spanish?
irrigationandlighting.org
“When investing in business software, these are the things most contractors should be thinking about,” Right- mire says. “Sure, you can go out and get a [software] tool that just does CRM, and a tool that just does job costing, and another tool that just manages emails, and another that schedules. But there is so much to be gained from a single platform without a crazy amount of cost [associated]. Tere are tons of options out there to find a platform you can be successful with.” Both irrigation and lighting are mul- tifaceted disciplines that require service coordination, quote and invoice creation, and extensive communication between customers and team members. “Quoting is a critical task for any busi-
ness,” Milito says. “But not all quoting solu- tions are created equal. Look for software that can provide advanced quoting features, such as the ability to include images, create customized add-on options and present tiered choices for [clients] to consider.” Milito adds that quoting with add-ons has the potential to increase revenue by an average of 35%. Another software function is the ability to manage cash
flow by allowing customers to pay their bills online, often resulting in the contractor getting paid four-times faster than by conventional means, Milito says. “You can even skip invoicing and get paid automatical-
ly for recurring work,” he adds. Tat kind of payout helps contractors get paid faster by allowing them to receive funds that normally would take two business days to pro- cess more quickly, showing up in a bank account within minutes.
November 2023 Irrigation & Lighting 33
“A great software solution will provide contractors with the necessary tools to support both client and job management.” – Anthony Milito, Jobber
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