Contrary to common belief, roofing contractors are as dependent on software as any other company. In fact, a company that still uses pen and paper to write quotes or schedule a roofing project is hard to find. Instead, smart technology is now used to accomplish tasks that used to take a considerable amount of time to complete.
But as helpful as these may be, not all tools are right for every company and choosing the right one can take a considerable amount of time to research.
If you’re looking to find business management software for your roofing company, you might want to start by narrowing your options to those with the following characteristics and features:
- Proposal management
A very useful software feature is the ability to facilitate proposals from start to finish. If you are able to create an invoice quickly and efficiently, you stand a far better chance of bidding for and winning the business. With a template function, you won’t always need to create proposals from scratch, and with built in prompts to complete, you are far less likely to forget to include any important line items. A template also promotes consistency, which is good for both your internal team and your customers, and is a good way of demonstrating your company’s level of professionalism from the get-go. (1)
- Equipment tracking
Equipment and tools like nail guns, air compressors, and roofing shovels are essential to a roofing company. After all, without these tools, it’s impossible to complete many roofing projects.
Managing your inventory is mandatory in order to keep track of your valuable equipment. Keeping track of your equipment is not always as straightforward as it sounds, so to have access to technology that does this for you is a highly valuable asset to have. As such, it’s advised that you choose management software that can show the status of all your tangible or physical assets, to know when they’re in use, if they require maintenance, or are broken and need replacing etc.
- Scheduling
An essential component for any roofing company is to be able to track the progress and milestones of projects in real time. Scheduling is particularly handy for companies that are growing rapidly, as they tend to handle more projects at once. Without scheduling software, it’s easy to encounter delays and overruns, both of which can negatively impact your company if not handled carefully. (1)
- GPS tracking
It’s not uncommon for a team to arrive to a project site later than expected and unsurprisingly, this can have negative consequences. GPS tracking can help mitigate routing hold ups and unforeseen delays. It’s possible for routes to be automatically optimized in real time and for crew members to update clients on estimated arrival times as they are on their way. Jobber’s specialist roofing business software is one of the few business management apps that offer this feature. (2)
- Customer Relationship Management
Customer relationship management refers to the practice of managing your client’s information in an organized manner. That way, you can effortlessly search for their contact info and any associated details anytime you want. It also lets you look up their work order history quickly to facilitate all communications you have with them, before, during and after a project is undertaken. (1)
- Accounting/Payroll
It’s advisable to choose software that has an accounting module where you can keep track of all payments received as well as all outgoings. Ideally, the accounting module will allow you to create receipts and payslips, which are useful for managing your expenses. (2)
- Photo capturing and organization
Usually, before, during, and after a roofing job, it’s useful take photos of the site to track the progress of a project. If not organized carefully, these can become very unwieldly and there’s a high chance of confusing images from different projects. Look for software that allows you to capture, store, and organize photos. That way, you can find what you need to showcase your work at any given time.
- Affordability
Affordability is a key factor when choosing the right business management software. Most applications have a price range of between USD$25 to USD$100 per month.
There are often two payment models as follows:
- Monthly subscription: With this payment model, you have to pay a flat fee every month for you to be able to use the software.
- One-time payment: You may choose to pay a one-time fee, which will then give you ownership of the software. It’s much more expensive in the short term, although you often end up saving money in the long run.
- Accessibility/portability
Don’t forget to ensure the technology is accessible on as many devices as possible. If it is only accessible on a desktop computer, it’s not practical to carry around when visiting a project site. In that regard, ensure it is accessible as a mobile or browser app. That way, you can still take advantage of its usability from wherever you happen to be.
Final words
Due to the increasing number of roofing software programs on the market, it has become increasingly difficult to know which one to choose for your company. This guide helps you to narrow down your options to ascertain exactly what you need it for, in order for you to run and manage your business better. Ultimately, the right tool should go a long way to making your job easier.
References
- “Tips for Choosing the Right Roofing Software for Your Commercial Business”, Source: https://www.followupcrm.com/post/tips-for-choosing-the-right-roofing-software-for-your-commercial-business
- “Everything You Need To Know About Roofing Software”, Source: https://jobba.com/roofing-software-guide/