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Business Buddy Technology For Subbies

Friday 31 October 2014, 8:05PM

By Beckie Wright

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Business Buddy is giving the “heads up” to plumbers, electricians, mobile mechanics, locksmiths, carpet cleaners, glaziers, tilers, flooring installers and anyone else with an on-road business. Technology really will make life easier. For anyone still writing jobs in their diary, filling out paper invoices and going to the bank with cheques, it is time to take a smart step forward. Easy-to-use technology saves time, fuel and paper and your business will become more profitable.

Productivity apps on smart phones and tablets give mobile businesses access to critical information and make it possible to enter job details once to complete a number of admin tasks. Imagine the old processes involved when an automotive glazier comes onsite to replace a windscreen.  The customer calls the office and a quote is provided, either over the phone or by email. The customer accepts the quote then both parties go through their diaries to find a suitable time and date. The glazier takes the job sheet and writes it in his diary. He hits the road, can’t find the address in his out-of-date map book and phones the office to ask where he’s going. And so the inefficiencies go on - just as that old map book is obsolete, so too is that diary and job sheet.

Job management apps such as GeoOp, Unleashed, Easy Forms and eWay all streamline paperwork and enable payment to be made on the spot. Client contact details, addresses, job descriptions, stock used, invoicing and payment can be entered once and linked to Xero to manage the accounting tasks. Administrators no longer have to chase the team for data to produce an invoice and when payment is made before the worker leaves the job – cash flow dramatically improves.

Other apps can be used for real time analysis of job efficiencies, staff productivity, inventory management and invoicing accuracy. By identifying more profitable jobs employers can focus on future work that helps their business grow and achieve their long term goals. The apps use cloud-based software which means companies’ records are securely maintained by an independent system.

Now is the time to make a change and the Business Buddy team at Astill Hawke is ready to take the plunge with you. Growing your business is Astill Hawke’s business. For further information please visit the website at http://www.business-buddy.co.nz .