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[fieldservicesoftwares-blog]

A new features for happy customers added to Scheduleflow

Hi All,

We have a release with two cool new features to improve your customer retention.

One.

Now when a customer replies to a SMS from your business, their reply will be sent to your business mobile.

Verify reply SMS

Previously that reply sms would be lost. We did some very tricky work with the SMS gateway, to ensure you now have closer communication with your customers.

Note: To enable this feature you have to verify you are the owner of your business SMS number, by following the instructions on the Settings – Business page. click here to see the page. You can Verify your number here. That’s all you have to do to enable the feature.

Two.

We now have support for password reset for your drivers, and to create a small login username for them. Click here to see this feature to setup a different username for your technicians.

Three.

Fixed a bug with exporting data into CSV format.

Four.

A small change but useful if you have really short job lengths. We now support 15 minute job lengths.

Thanks for using Scheduleflow, if you have any problems or suggestions please let us know.

Regards,

Paul Tyrrell

CEO of Scheduleflow

[fieldservicesoftwares-blog]

Who’s Got the Best Plans on Tablets?

As was covered in last week’s post, there is a wave of tablets hitting the market, and the usual tech-retail suspects – both online and off – have been quick to stock most of the big names. However, given that many SMEs and users of field services software are already on contracts for their mobiles there is a need for a wider range of tablets available on plans. Another attraction to buying on a plan is that you’ll generally pay less for the tablet itself on a contract than if you were to buy outright – the service providers offer this discount knowing they’ll recoup any ‘losses’ via the 12- or 24-months of service charges. So, who’s offering what?

Good?  Telstra have the 32BG, 3G Motorola Xoom for no upfront fee at $84/month on a 24-month contract that includes the tablet and 7GB of monthly data. This plan means you end up paying $696 for the tablet by the end of your contract. If you want to avoid a contract but get the same amount of data it’ll cost you $69/month, plus $840 to buy the tablet outright from Telstra. This deal isn’t dependent on you purchasing the tablet from Telstra, they just happen to offer it at $840, so it might be worth shopping around before buying outright from a telco.

Better? Optus also offer the Motorola Xoom, but you can get it without any upfront costs by going on a 24-month $59.95/month plan ($15/month of which is for the tablet) that gives you 8GB of data. The 7” Galaxy Tab is also available through Optus (as opposed to the 10.1” that still wasn’t available at time of writing) on the same plan, but there are no monthly charges for the tablet itself, which brings the monthly payments down to $44.95. On top of this, there are currently specials on both these deals that give you three free months, so that on your 4th, 5th and 6th bills you won’t be charged the $44.95 monthly fee – just the $15 monthly tablet fee. Also, if you already have a business account with Optus for your mobile, whatever data comes with your plan can be shared with your tablet, and vice versa.

Best? Vodafone have had a package offering the Blackberry Bold plus the 7” Blackberry Playbook tablet on their $49 Cap plan for just $10 extra a month (i.e. $59/month). The offer officially ended on the 1st of August, but may be worth seeing what deal they’re offering now. It is (or was?) a 24-month plan, but includes $550 a month to spend on standard voice and video calls, TXTs and PXTs. Given that this plan only comes with 1.5GB of data it’s probably more attractive to ‘low data’ users – those that are primarily just browsing the net and sending/receiving emails, as opposed to downloading a lot of online media.

Remember, tablets are relatively new on the market and, given the competition between the larger telcos, these types of deals are constantly changing.  Annoyingly for anyone who wants to get in fast – the deals inevitably get better the longer you wait.

Let us know if you’ve seen any great deals on tablets recently.

Cheers,

Bill.

[fieldservicesoftwares-blog]

3 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Tablet for Your Business.

  The new wave of tablet PCs means incredible potential for using field services software. As an independent tradesperson or SME choosing a tablet for business use, start by asking the following 3 questions:

1. Which OS (operating system)? Apple’s ‘iOS’, the same OS iPhones use, benefits from the app store and its hundreds-of-thousands of apps; Google’s ‘Android’ is completely cloud-based and keeps mail, documents, calendar, etc, constantly synchronised; Microsoft’s ‘Windows Phone 7’… well, though they’re set to release a tablet-specific OS soon, their existing OS isn’t getting a lot of praise; RIM’s ‘Blackberry Tablet OS’ is being heralded by some business users as the best tablet-specific OS yet. Both Blackberry, and HP’s ‘WebOS’ that started life in the popular Palm Pre smartphone, are still growing their range of available apps, but are excellent OSs for multitasking in business use. Perhaps the most important thing to consider when weighing up each OS is what you’re used to, what you like and how much you’re prepared to change (or learn) in exchange for the potential benefits.

2. What size? While some are larger, some are smaller, and a few oddballs fall somewhere in between, the vast majority are 10-inch and 7-inch. Be warned, they are diagonal measurements, so that three inches difference almost doubles (or halves) screen real-estate. Some 7-inch units can be held in one hand, but apps may end up looking and feeling a little cramped (unless you’re used to using apps on a phone!). Obviously, these dimensions also affect weight, but compared to laptops most tablets are pretty light, weighing in at between 350 and 750grams.

3. Where and how will the tablet be used? Few tablet users have swapped their mobile phones for tablets at this stage, so if you’re planning on keeping yours then – given you can use you’re phone as a WiFi hotspot – you may want to forget about 3G and opt for a WiFi only tablet. For that matter, is there any reason to look for a high quality camera in a tablet when your mobile probably already has one? Of course, you could decide to be an early adopter and bravely stand around chatting into your tablet, which means camera, microphone and speaker quality (and strength of character) are something to be taken into account.

Finally, some tablets offer optional keyboard docking-stations, handy when serious typing is required. Some offer better battery life, although we didn’t see a lot of difference between models. Some offer USB connectivity for thumb-drives or printers, while others have HDMI outputs for connecting to large high-quality displays.

Currently the 10-inch tablets most popular amongst business users include the iPad2, Motorola Xoom, Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet and Asus Eee Pad Transformer. 7-inch models include the Samsung Galaxy Tab, Blackberry PlayBook and the Dell Streak.

Let us know if you have any questions or suggestions about the best tablets for business use.

Cheers,

Bill.

[fieldservicesoftwares-blog]

What’s The Best Mobile Phone for a Tradesperson?

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If you’re a tradie using field service management software you probably want the toughest and most reliable smart-phone on the market. There are plenty of reviews out there telling you one phone is ‘drop proof’, while another is less likely to crash from software bugs. One company claims their phone will continue to work under a running tap; another says their phone keeps working in a sink full of water (presumably to test this your head also has to be in the sink).

According to the stats, very few Blackberry phones come back to the manufacturer due to breakage. However, this could be the type of use they’re put through and the user demographic. Let’s face it, the average Blackberry is more likely to be in the hands of an account exec than a tradie. Figuring out which phone is the strongest, most robust or most reliable without putting it through its paces is not easy. So, here’s a rundown – in no particular order – of the toughest kids on the smart-phone black.

As far as reliability goes, the iPhone 4 will apparently crash less often than any other phone on the market. Unfortunately, the fact that the phone’s basically a ‘glass sandwich’ (albeit scratch-proof ‘military helicopter-cockpit’ glass) does mean it’s more likely to suffer if (when) dropped.

Surprisingly, the older iPhone 3GS stands up to dings better than its younger brother. It’s marginally more likely to crash – only because the processor is an older model – but because there’s less glass in its manufacture it’s probably going to withstand hard knocks better. As with all iPhones – and any other touch-screen phone for that matter – the lack of a keyboard means dust and dirt is less of a problem.

Amongst phones using Google’s Android operating system Motorola are the ‘most reliable’ option, but again this refers to the likeliness of a system crash. The Motorola Defy is their flagship ‘tough guy’. Dust-proof, shock-proof and water-resistant up to one-meter, this is also one of the cooler looking smart-phones on the market. It uses Gorilla Glass – said to be the new standard in robust smart-phones and, importantly, also packs plenty of features.

But if you’re not bothered about slick features, and just want a phone that isn’t going to sulk when dropped, then the Sonim range of phones may be for you. While these phones don’t have pretty touch screens or a bunch of groovy apps to distract you, they truly are the Hummer of all phones. The XP3 Quest Pro comes with 18 hours of talk-time (2 months of stand-by time!), big fat buttons that even a gloved hand can operate, will withstand impacts of up to 4G, can handle 1 ton of pressure and a speaker phone capable of putting out 110 decibels – is that actually louder than a circular saw?!

Finally, you need to consider specifically what trade you’re in – what do you spend most of your day doing? Concreters, painters and plumbers may want to avoid touch screens, whereas for carpenters and anyone around a lot of dust the lack of buttons in a touch-screen phone could be good. Of course, as with any of the phones mentioned here, find a good case and drops aren’t as much of a concern. And the best tip of all for tradies when considering a mobile: Get insurance.

Cheers,

Bill.

[fieldservicesoftwares-blog]

Apps for Small and Medium Business: Google Vs Microsoft.

  Field services software, and cloud computing in general, are giving small and medium business a major new advantage. Google and  Microsoft are both hustling for the top spot in cloud based apps for business, and as a result are providing smaller companies with tools that were previously either too costly or inaccessible.

With the emergence of Google apps for business has come a software suite that can be customised to suit a small or medium enterprise’s needs and budget. Included are Gmail (email), Calendar (scheduling and event booking), Docs (for sharing online word documents, spreadsheets and slideshow-style presentations) and Google Sites (for creating websites and wikis). These are all ‘cloud based’ applications, so users access them from any PC or mobile device (including iPhone, Android, Blackberry and Windows Mobile phones), as well as share them with other users simply by clicking ‘Share’ or giving colleagues a login/password.

Microsoft hopes to snare existing Office users by releasing Office 365 services. It works as a browser-based extension of their already widely used products such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Like Google app for business the Office 365 range offers complete online accessibility, but to reap the full functionality users would benefit from having an offline copy installed on their machine as well.

It needs to be pointed out that Google does have free versions of some of their applications (Gmail, Calendar, Google Docs and Google Sites) for individuals. However, paying for the business version provides more applications (Google Video and Google Groups for Business) as well as extra ‘premium’ options on those apps (essentially more storage space)

Both Google and Microsoft have trial versions: Google’s is 30 days for up to 10 users, while Office 365 allows for 25 users for 30 days. Beyond the trial period Google’s subscription based model start at $5 per user, per month; Microsoft’s at $7.90 per user, per month.

It has to be said that, at least on the surface Google offers the more attractive package – it’s cheaper and collaboration appears to be easier to setup. However, Microsoft gives Office users that familiar interface plus richer editing and formatting of documents. If Microsoft didn’t already have such a foothold in business software, Google would probably be the favourite in this race, but as it stands it will come down to how much people are prepared to step out of their comfort-zone and how each of the two companies evolve their products over time.

If you’re currently using either package, let us know what you think.

Cheers,

Bill.

[fieldservicesoftwares-blog]

Top Tips on Franchising a Small-to-Medium Business.

Franchised businesses now account for over 50 percent of retail sales in the United States, and they’re growing faster than the economy as a whole. From McDonalds, Bakers Delight and Subway, to 7-Eleven, Ram’s Home Loans and Snap-on; franchising has turned many small and medium enterprises into the very (VERY) large enterprises that they are today.

Australia has quite an obsession with franchising, having more franchises (per head of population) than anywhere else in the world. Australian legislation around franchising is some of the most rigid in the world, so making the decision to franchise your business should be made after plenty of research.

If you’re considering franchising your SME, you need to ask yourself some questions about the nature of your business, and about your own character and aspirations – franchises aren’t suited to everyone, or every business type…

Is your brand strong enough? Jim’s Mowing and the other Jim’s services are a household name today, and it’s not just because we see their vans and trailers everywhere (although, of course, mobile advertising being an intrinsic part of a business no doubt helps). The Jim’s brand is immediately communicative and recognisable to the point of marketing perfection.

Is your business model outstandingly successful? As well as a brand-name, franchisees want an existing business model that works exceedingly well. You need to be able to demonstrate that you have tried and true systems in place – from hiring and firing, to equipment purchasing and book-keeping – that make your business run so well.

Are you excited about marketing and mentoring? Trying to franchise your business will mean a lot of time ‘selling’ what you have to potential franchisees. Once franchisees start signing up there will also be plenty of support called for by them. Remember this is ‘your business’ that people need to fall in love with and be taught to operate.

If you intend on investigating the possibilities further you’ll want to get in touch with a franchise consultant and, eventually, a franchise attorney. The Franchise Council of Australia gives comprehensive advice and information on franchising in Australia. They also sell publications on franchising, including the government handbook ‘How to Franchise Your Business’ from the Australian Trade Commission. Whichfranchise.com has information and lists resources for franchisors (and franchisees) in the US, the UK, Australia, Ireland and South Africa. FranchiseKnowHow cater predominantly to the North American market, but have plenty of good advice and articles on the franchise industry.

Still excited by the prospect of franchising your business? Franchising can be a great way to expand your business and your brand, but tread carefully – it’s a whole new business in itself.

Bill.

[fieldservicesoftwares-blog]

Your Business is Growing – Are You Creating a Monster?

Most businesses grow from nothing, with little or no security, teetering on the edge of financial non-existence. As a business owner, it’s a stressful way to exist, and so we look to increase income. The only way we know to gain security is to look for more jobs; find more clients and contracts to generate more revenue. But of course the more business we generate the more business we must service. We take on more staff, order more stock and equipment, and perhaps move into bigger premises. So, when do we stop?

As the manger or owner of an SMB we must recognise that as our business grows, our role and responsibilities begin to change. Often priorities shift to managing staff, assets and inventory and away from looking after clients and the quality of our product or service. Perhaps you’ve gotten around this by hiring someone to look after a part of the business that you can no longer devote time to. But we need to ask ourselves if this is what we wanted from our business when we started out. Is this what we saw ourselves doing for a living, or just what we’re told our business should be? – Bigger.

Now, nobody’s suggesting growth in business is a bad thing. Growing your business can be exciting, fulfilling and, let’s face it, it’s often why we started the business in the first place – to make something out of nothing. The key is to be sure your plan for growth considers what you want your business to become, and what you want your role in it to be.

Is your long-term plan to have twice as many employees and a secure space to lock up your vehicles and tools? Do you want to grow your business to the point where you can sell it and retire? Or have you always fancied growing your three-man operation into a General Electric or Microsoft and sitting at the head of the board? All perfectly reasonable goals (or dreams?) to have – as long as you’re aware of what you’re getting yourself into, and the monster you may be creating.

Obviously, planning is key and regularly re-examining the long-term goals for your business. But also remember that growing your business for the sake of it, without really knowing why you want it to grow, can end up being a massive waste of time and effort that really doesn’t make you any better off.

Bill.

[fieldservicesoftwares-blog]

What is cloud computing and how can it help my business?

Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and now Apple are all pushing cloud computing, and the technology paparazzi are yelling like it’s the ‘the new black’. But what is cloud computing, and how can it help SMBs (small and medium businesses)?

In its simplest form, cloud computing is storing software and data on a remote server, rather than the user’s own computer, which the user then accesses via the internet. It’s not exactly a new concept. If you’ve ever used a Gmail or Yahoo email account, for example, your emails are all kept on remote servers, which are then accessed by logging into a website. Cloud computing is now coming to mean much more than that, though. The main benefits of cloud computing for small to medium enterprises:

Accessibility – Data and software can be accessed from online devices anywhere. iCloud, Dropbox and Googledocs allow users to create and upload music, photos, documents, spreadsheets, presentations and videos from anywhere on the planet. Having everything stored in ‘the cloud’ makes for a highly versatile and shareable network.

Infrastructure – Less need for hard drive space when your data is all kept somewhere else. As businesses employ online marketing and have huge databases of clients, suppliers, contacts, etc, the cloud means both extra backup and less outlay on storage.

Customisation – Software can be made and priced to suit users. This is where it gets really interesting for SMEs…

Because users are accessing a site to use software, rather than purchasing a package that sits on their PC, software companies can now tailor the product to the user. Apart from keeping software up to date and fine tuning functionality to what each user needs, it also means that software vendors can see – and therefore only charge for – what the customer uses.

Scheduleflow is cloud computing for small field service businesses at its best. Pricing is per driver/per month, so users pay for precisely what they use, and the product grows (or shrinks) when and as is needed. And as the software is used we receive analytics that tell us what functionality users want and need most. The end result is democratically designed software at a price that suits the user. And yes, we reckon Scheduleflow is ‘the new black’!

Please let us know if you have any questions or comments about Scheduleflow or cloud computing.

Cheers,

Bill.

[fieldservicesoftwares-blog]

Digital Television industry gets a boost from $308 million subsidy 2011

  Australia announced a $308 million subsidy scheme last month that will see the government pay for the installation and supply of digital set-top boxes for pensioners.

Dr Coleman says a similar scheme may be implemented in New Zealand but he is not yet sure of the details.

Full article is here.

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/77407/digital-tv-switch-dates-finalised

I imagine there is a lot of new field services work in the digital industry which might benefit from a simple scheduling and mapping field services software.