Old Man Winter is raising havoc early in the season in many regions across the country. Were you ready for the unexpected snowplow business? Ready or not, software can ensure you deliver professional, efficient service. Yes, it takes boots on the ground to deliver that service. I’ll give you that. But with the right software, you’re likely to find those boots just keep on walking, making your clients happy and bringing in more business. Here are five ways software can raise your snow removal business standards.
Preseason site inspections
Software allows you to document details. When you conduct a preseason site inspection, you can record everything from traffic flow to the location of parking spaces to where the customer wants the snow stacked. Once you’ve built your service plan based on these details, you and the customer can sign off on the specs. All the information is available in one place – no searching through stacks of paper to figure out where you wrote down how much it has to snow before this particular client wants the snow plowed. All the information you need is in one place with easy access to it for all stakeholders.
Detailed pictures of property
As they say, pictures are worth a thousand words. Software makes it possible to take photos on site and offers a map view that is valuable for documentation that can be included in your service plan. When the location where snow should be dumped is marked on a map, there is no room for questions later. Same goes for other details such as where not to plow.
Record contracted services
Software allows an accurate record of contracted services. You and the customer both know what is expected of you and when. Data is collected in the field and routed to your accounting software so you can bill the same day the work gets done. No more waiting weeks or even months to bill a customer.
And the person doing the snowplowing has easy access to the information needed to do the job the way you’re contracted to do it. With a quick click, the person in the field knows the details necessary to do a great job. If you have a new person operating the plow, he can get up to speed without even making a phone call.
Updates are available in real time so you can route faster and more efficiently. Crews will know when to plow and when not to plow as snow industry software collects such up-to-the-minute information as the depth of the snow. If the trigger for plowing is two inches, the crew won’t plow it at one inch.
You can keep track of your crew in the field. Real-time tracking allows you to see at a glance where your crews are and what they’ve completed.
Document potential hazards
When conducting your preseason site inspection, be sure to mark potential risk areas and existing damage on the map. By documenting the existing damage, your crew can’t be blamed for it, eliminating the possibility of a lawsuit. By documenting potential risk areas, such as drainage areas, high-traffic spots or speed bumps, your crew will know in advance how to handle the terrain.
Document snow-disposal procedures
Sometimes snow must be removed from the property. Be sure to document where your customer wants the snow moved to and how your crew will get it there. Also document the timeframe in which the property owner wants the snow moved. These details will eliminate confusion and misunderstanding in the field resulting in your business operating in a professional, efficient manner.
All of this detailed documentation stored in a central location with easy access and real-time updates will make your snow industry operation more accurate and efficient saving you money and making your job easier and your customer happier.
[Related: 5 Common Mistakes Snow Removal Businesses Make]
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