BUSINESS AND TRAINING 13
Mastering Job Management : The Role of Job Management for Plumbing Businesses
By
Charles Freedman
Job management is a process that starts the moment your customer reaches out - and ends the moment you ’ ve been paid .
It ’ s fair to say that no two days are the same for a plumber in South Africa . One day you ’ re installing a new water harvesting solution , the next you ’ re saving a property from a monster leak , the next day there ’ s no water at all ! Just because your days might be unpredictable doesn ’ t mean how you run your business should be too .
Most plumbing business owners , regardless of their size , constantly grapple with the challenges of organising tasks , tracking progress , and ensuring seamless collaboration among team members and clients . Unfortunately , this often means they lose out on work , take unnecessary time to get paid , and leave customers indifferent to their service . Job management software has been a game-changer for plumbers , offering ways to streamline workflows , enhance communication , and boost overall productivity .
Organisation Over Chaos Let ’ s say you ’ ve got two bakkies on the road running four or five jobs daily . Without a centralised system , keeping track of job details , schedules , and client information quickly becomes chaotic , leading to missed appointments , slow turnaround on quotes , or even rework back on site . Job management software allows you to have all your information in one place , ensuring nothing falls through the cracks . With features such as scheduling and dispatching , it helps you assign and schedule jobs easily , manage what the team is doing , and get the quote or invoice out without waiting for the job card to get back to the office .
It ’ s Good to Talk When your team works on a big project with lots of moving parts , it ' s hard for them to know who needs to do what at the right time , and hard for you to see how well they are doing it . Job management software offers advanced planning and activity management capabilities . Technicians can access job details , service histories , and parts inventory through their mobile devices so they ’ re always focusing on the right thing at the right time , while you benefit from real-time updates to give you and your customers peace of mind that everything is on track .
Doing More with Less Automation and streamlined workflows are key to doing more with less . Many of the jobs you do are very similar . Repetitive administrative tasks can consume valuable time that could be better spent on actual plumbing work . If you ’ re handing out job cards , writing on them on-site , trying to read them at the end of the day to get into quotes or invoices — stop ! Job management software helps streamline and automate these tasks , such as seamlessly creating quotes or invoices from jobs and sending follow-up emails and appointment reminders . By reducing manual and paperwork , plumbers can focus more on plumbing and less on admin .
Happy Customers = More Business Most people I talk to say they have an average or poor service experience from their plumbers . Satisfaction is a function of expectations minus reality . Managing expectations , providing timely updates , and accurate information to clients is everything for customer satisfaction . Job management software takes your service experience to another level . You can stand out with immediate notifications when a job is booked , confirmation of the callout , reports with pictures and comments , messages when Charles Freedman . the plumber is on the way , digital quotes and invoices linked to payment , and asking for feedback at the end of the job . It all adds up to standing out in a lot of average experiences in the industry .
You Can Only Manage What You Measure One plumber takes three hours to fit a geyser , another takes six . Most plumbers won ’ t know how long their teams are really taking on a job , let alone explore why there ’ s such a difference in them . Job management software lets you see how your teams are performing , whether it ’ s volume or value of jobs , time on types of jobs , or even items used across jobs . This helps in identifying bottlenecks and areas where efficiency can be improved . By having a clear view of the team ’ s performance , you can provide targeted training and support , helping the team operate more effectively and efficiently .
0 → 1 is Different to 1 → 10 Most plumbers are their brand . Adding teams creates the risk of losing control of the quality of the work . Effective management of the team is crucial for ensuring that work is done on time and up to standard . Job management software offers features that allow you to have better control over your teams . Tracking statuses , checklists , forms , and pictures give you visibility and control of the work at every stage , so you can scale without compromising on quality . ( Unfortunately , software can ’ t replace finding good plumbers !)
To avoid becoming a race to the bottom , plumbers need to focus on service and customer experience to differentiate themselves and justify charging a premium for their services . Job management software provides powerful tools that enable plumbing businesses to enhance organisation , improve communication , increase efficiency , and deliver superior customer service . By investing in the right software , plumbing businesses can streamline their operations , boost productivity , and stay ahead in an ever-evolving market . PA
ServCraft
October 2024 Volume 30 I Number 8 www . plumbingafrica . co . za