Wondering what current construction software technology is available for using PCs, tablets and/or smartphones for entering time and material details from the field to expedite service billing? Here are two solutions to consider.
Dexter + Chaney’s Spectrum Construction Management Software
Dexter + Chaney offers two primary solutions for remote T&M entry:
- You can purchase an “app” that is designed specifically for the user’s mobile phone. This app opens up on their phone like any other app, but it also communicates over the mobile phone network (and thus the Internet) with the Spectrum server. The mobile app seamlessly transfers data to and from the larger Spectrum application.
- Without requiring an “app,” users can also just log into Spectrum using the browser on their mobile phone or tablet, which is supported by the latest Web-based version of Spectrum. They can then go to the T&M entry screen in the Spectrum application.
Note: Alternately, you can just buy a license of Spectrum Mobile for field managers at a fraction of the cost of a license of the full Spectrum application, but there is a big difference in usability. The Spectrum Mobile app interface has been specially designed to be easily read and used on small smart phone screens.
Jonas Construction Software
With Jonas Software’s Paperless Service Management solution, service contractors have an entire suite of solutions for performing a variety of functions, including time and material billing tasks.
The Paperless Service Management Solution combines Jonas eService and Jonas Mobile with the Jonas Dispatch board. eService gives users the ability to create and review work orders, view work order history, view and update equipment lists and view any outstanding accounts payable.
Jonas Mobile allows technicians to pick up and manage work orders directly from the field using a PDA device. With Jonas’ applications, customer approval signatures can be captured on-site and work order details can be updated to the back-office system in real time. The Jonas Dispatch system is used to manage the scheduling of work orders and technicians.
When used together, these Jonas construction software modules form a fully integrated system that allows work order information to flow seamlessly between customers, technicians and the head office without duplicate entry of data.
Penta Service Management and Mobile Field Service
Penta’s Service Management and Mobile Field Service products serve contractors with field service operations, including mechanical and electrical contractors. The Mobile Field Service application simplifies and accelerates the collection of field data including labor hours, materials, tools and equipment. In addition to basic cost data PENTA’s Mobile Field Service provides the technician a detail history of work performed at a customer location and/or by customer equipment, a detail task list of work to be performed, transmits real-time status updates for dispatchers in the home/regional office, tracks refrigerants recovered and/or disbursed by customer equipment, and provides for inspection question sets that drive identification of deficiencies which lead to new quotes and work orders. This application functions whether or not the technician has connectivity.
The tight integration of the Mobile Field Service application with PENTA’s Service Management module eliminates duplicate entry, reduces inaccuracies, eliminates unnecessary paperwork, accelerates the billing cycle, and ultimately leads to a more profitable service operation.
Penta’s Service Management solution provides a comprehensive and seamless flow of information starting with the generation of a quote (break/fix or recurring maintenance services) to the creation of a work order or maintenance contract to scheduling to data collection via Mobile Field Service and finally back to the Service Management for automated generation of the customer invoice.
Penta is able to offer affordable mobile solutions that work on a variety of platforms ranging from tablets to laptops and smart phones.
Tip: Download the free CTS Construction Software Selection Kit to get detailed reviews of more than a dozen leading software systems!