With the plethora of construction software products on the market, it is not always easy to keep tabs on all of the “new and improved” options on the market. I did, however, recently come across one worth mentioning. The name of the product (and company) is Klox.
What is Klox?
Developed specifically for specialty contractors with field employees (plumbers, electricians, HVAC), Klox is an operations management system that, using smartphones and cloud technology, is delivered as an affordable, hosted subscription service. The real-time exchange of detailed, multi-media information with field employees is exceptional.
The Klox platform offers a full range of features, all developed to support operational efficiency and eliminate waste, including:
- Estimating
- Project management
- Purchasing and receiving
- Inventory management
- Call management & scheduling
- Multimedia messaging
- GPS
- Invoicing
- Data integration & reporting
- Customer history
How Klox Works
Once subscribed, Klox customers use both a Web-based “office” interface and a mobile “field” app. Both interfaces are very simple and intuitive. The mobile interface requires nothing more than “tapping and swiping” your finger on the screen – no typing required – and the workflow is totally directed.
These two interfaces exchange data in real time across all of the functional areas of a contracting business. Office employees set up, monitor and manage job activity, purchasing and invoicing, assisted by a CSR interface, a scheduling/dispatch/messaging system, and tools to manage projects, purchasing, invoicing, and payroll. Field employees get their schedule, maps and driving directions and detailed, multi-media job information. They clock in and out of every activity, logging materials usage and multi-media job notes as they go, and can invoice service calls in the field.
Klox offers a couple of payment plans to suit the needs of the customers. Klox does not require a contract and can be cancelled at any time without penalty.
The Klox mobile app is currently available on the Apple App Store for the iPhone 4 or 4s and iPad 2 or 3. A preliminary Android version, with more limited functionality, will be available for download from Google Play.
A 14-day free trial includes up to 30 users and three online group training sessions.
This is worth a look for any company serious about improving operating efficiency and profitability.
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