Avatour (Avatour, www.avatour.co) is a remote collaboration platform that combines real-time video capture of a physical environment with real-time audio communication with off-site stakeholders in an office or in the field.
The solution, which entails use of an Android or iOS mobile device (smartphone or tablet) with a 360-degree full motion camera, an optional audio headset, and a subscription to the Avatour service, provides full spatial context and the ability to converse through real-time conversation between remote and on-site personnel. The condition of a jobsite or equipment with visual and audio details can be documented, potentially expediting decision-making.
Pricing: hosts can purchase a complete kit from Avatour or can assemble their own hardware components. Pricing is typically on an annual subscription basis, with tiers based on usage and features. The Avatour Host apps for Android and for iOS are downloadable at Google Play and the Apple App store, respectively.
SmartServ field service management software suite (www.smartserv.io, 206/456-8988) is highly configurable software-as-a-service for residential and commercial contractors in HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and water treatment, featuring a mobile-first and modular approach.
Scheduling features include a color-coded drag-and-drop dispatch board that shows the schedule by day or week for each technician, as well as yet-unassigned jobs. The scheduler can be fully integrated with the user’s personal Google Calendar.
Dispatchers can track technicians in the field and customer service representatives can choose the start time and finish time for each assignment.
Dispatch can be filtered based on the skills of individual technicians or teams and dispatchers can enable push, email, and SMS notifications to each field tech and add notes and reminder tasks on each work order.
Using the integrated mobile app, scheduling can be set up and modified from the field, with access to historical records of customers’ past jobs.
The maps feature shows job and technician location. The dashboard shows the status of work assigned (accepted or decline), started, rescheduled or completed. It provides optimized routing for technicians and keeps track of daily technician movement.
SmartServ QuickBooks software integrates with QuickBooks Pro, Premier, Enterprise and both Online and Desktop. The integration of the mobile app and QuickBooks enables technicians in the field to generate estimates, invoices, and other forms. Technicians can also collect payments using their mobile devices, with automatic updating of QuickBooks.
SmartServ Mobile provides offline capability while working in areas with low or no connectivity. The web platform syncs any jobs, forms, or invoices created in offline mode as soon as the device is connected.
The office-based Reports and Analytics module can display granular details about revenue (such as profit and loss statements) and generate various reports such as tax compilation reports and technician performance. It can track marketing campaigns for ROI and identify the most sold service types. Users can create custom checklists, service agreements, and estimates and invoices from the field.
Customer relations capabilities include intuitive and real-time engagement touchpoints, including pre-job, job, and post-job greetings and alerts, and tech dispatch and arrival time, and email to customers with invoice or feedback forms attached. Management have the means to customize what each user on their team sees in the CRM with selective permissions.
The invoices and quotes module, accessible in both the office-based and mobile apps, can convert estimates into taxable and non-taxable invoices and give customers multiple payment options, including preferred customer discounts. Management can import and upload a company’s own Excel or QuickBooks pricebook. It also supports creating purchase orders per job and tracking the expenses.
The Maintenance Agreements module tracks each customer agreement, with the ability to itemize equipment, the start, and renewal or expiration date, the number of visits left, and the payment mode, and automatic visits can be set up.
SmartServ also offers email marketing service for contractor customers, which include sending reminders or promotions to their residential and commercial customers.
Pricing: user-based pricing model
busybusy (www.busybusy.com, 702/960-4534) is a cloud-based mobile time-tracking app for a mobile workforce, available free with a set of basic capabilities or a Pro version with expanded capabilities for field employees and management, usable by employee, supervisor, or at a kiosk.
The free version (downloadable at Google Play and the App Store), allows jobsite employees to clock in/out and document breaks and switch among projects, recording their digital timecard signature, and track projects, employees, and equipment at the jobsites. The app can be customized for overtime calculations.
The Pro version (priced per user, per month, billed annually) adds the ability to attach project photos and notes, supervisor and kiosk clock in/out including facial recognition with AI notification, color-coded drag-and-job scheduling of field personnel from a computer or smartphone with day, week, and month views, daily sign-off on time-tracked records, and integration with QuickBooks, Sage, and other third-party solutions.
Patti Feldman writes articles and web content for trade magazines and manufacturers of building products. She can be reached at [email protected].