In today’s environment where everything moves lightning fast and regulation levels are at all-time high, not to mention you also need to set aside time for the missus and the kids at home, being a tradie means either doing the job or getting the paperwork done or working every hour of the day. Not to mention chasing payments on outstanding invoices too.
This is when a Job Management System kicks in! Not just any Job Management System, but one that can handle ALL your paperwork for you without eating into your hard earned profit. And yes, we have built one such awesome system called Ascora.
1. Capturing Quotes
From the moment a customer calls all information is captured and stored in Ascora. With a pre-uploaded supplies and materials list, kits/pre-builds and templated quotes, the quote can be completed quickly and easily on site or in the office. Powerful quote document templates ensures that each quote sent out meets your high presentation standard each and every time.
2. Schedule the Job
Once the customer approved the quote, lock it in by scheduling the job right away. You can even collect your customer’s signature on site using your chosen mobile device to lock in all the details and avoid misunderstanding.
3. Take before and after pictures
That’s the best way to do it! Attach Photos to the Job or Quote in Ascora and they’ll exist as a permanent record in the system. Photos can also be emailed out to your Customers or visible through the Customer Portal.
4. Accurately record your timesheet
Time is money. With a check-in and check-out button, it’s only a single tap to accurately record your travel time and time on job (we also have reports to double check if your callouts are covering your travel costs). If you work with a team, Ascora even lets you check-in your team members. Only one iPad is needed but everyone’s time is captured! How cool is that!
5. Invoice and Get Paid
This is the most important part! Once the job is completed, generate the invoice on site and get paid on your iPad or smart phone! You don’t even need an EFTPOS terminal from the bank where you’d normally be paying an extra fee every month! Ascora has a build-in payment system for tradies to process credit cards directly on the iPad or Android device. This super quick and convenient way is not only efficient but will heavily reduce your accounts receivables which mean better cash flow and the time previously used to chase payment can be now used to do another job!
6. Book-keeping and Accounting
The best part is, since Ascora is seamlessly integrated to your Accounting system, your invoice and payments have already been recorded in your accounting package (they’re there almost instantly after the invoice or payment was synced to the Ascora server). How about freeing those times for the family?!
7. Automated SMS
We know no matter how perfect a system is we’re still dealing with humans. There will still be invoices not paid on time or open quotes that need to be followed up. Ascora has got you covered with automated SMS and emails. Yes, you hear it right, Ascora lets you create any number of templates for your various types of customers and can follow any number of escalation dates and workflows to mimimise your time chasing overdue invoices for payment or open quotes to check if a customer will be going ahead. You can also set Ascora to send an SMS reminder to your customers before any appointments and any replies will go straight to your phone! No more turning up to a customer who had forgotten an appointment! (Or to leave the side gate open for you or lock up the dog!)
8. Compliance
License renewal, health and safety compliance and so on are never-ending. It is part of the trade and can be tedious. A job management system (yes, Ascora again!) will assist by keeping track of all of these for you in an organized way and even reminding you on upcoming renewals to avoid headaches down the track!
9. Reports
Ascora captures your whole business process from end to end and can generate a whole range of business reports – covering everything from lead source analysis, time utilisation, job profitability, callout costs and account reconciliation reports. You’ve got real-time access to all the data your need to manage and run your business effectively.
10. Offline Mode
Don’t let a poor or intermittent data connection stop you! Ascora works completely offline meaning you can work with the system no matter where you are. Having a full offline mode also means that you’ll never have to wait or experience a slow system. While other lesser or cheaper systems will stop without a connection Ascora will continue to work flawlessly – you can continue to create Quotes, Jobs and Invoices as normal. Once your back online again all of this data is synchronized up to the Ascora server in the cloud!
The listed above are only the top 10 favourites features our customers love. Ascora is feature packed and there are many many more features that will help you take your business to the next level and reclaim your life. If you like what you’ve read and want to check out more, feel free to give our friendly Ascora Team a call on (08) 6311 5555 or email us on support@ascora.com.au or just sign up for a FREE trial at https://www.ascora.com.au/signup and get started today! Once you’re a techno tradie, you’ll never look back!
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