Job Management Software, Tradie Apps & Packages

Job Management Software, Tradie Apps & Packages

Did you know that 41 per cent of trades businesses worry about late payments from clients? (MYOB’s Business Monitor) This is something that could be easily resolved with a software solution.

Tradies and construction business owners have a lot to be across. There are invoices to pay, contractors to manage and vehicle hire to track to name a few. It’s all too easy to get bogged down by the back-end tasks involved with running a business.

The good news is there’s a range of software and apps designed specifically for tradies that help you get the job done from start to finish, namely job management software and related applications. Job management software makes your life easier by allowing you to manage your business from your phone, tablet or laptop while you’re on the move. 

What is job management software?

ob management software gives you the tools you need to manage the key areas of your business in one place including quotes, supplier information and purchase history, invoices and work schedules. Job management software automates your workflow and frees up hours that you would usually spend on manual paperwork and spreadsheets so you can focus on getting more work done and allocating your resources where they’re really needed.

Job management software is used by any tradie running a small business, including builders, plumbing, carpenters and electricians. 

What are the benefits of job management software?

Using job management software can have a positive impact on your bottom line. Some of the benefits include:

• Improved resource allocation: Job management software lets you assign tasks to workers at the click of a button. Create a task schedule in advance so that your whole team knows what they’re doing before they start a job. You can also get real-time notifications from workers, e.g if there was an issue on-site or a deadline isn’t met.
• Better project management: The nature of projects means things can change drastically and without notice. Job management software reduces risks by allowing you to make more accurate predictions about the scope, challenges and timeframes of a job.
• Record keeping: Track all communication and correspondence with your clients, suppliers and contractors and get easy access to information whenever you need to pull something up.
• Save money: Have better control over your business finances and keep track of your cash flow including labour and supplier costs. Job management software allows you to see the bigger picture in real-time so you can monitor better opportunities to save and profit.

What are the key features of job management software for tradies?

The features of job management software vary by product, but the typical features for small trade businesses include:

• Invoicing: Create professional invoices in seconds while you’re on the move
• Quoting: Create professional and tailored quotes for your clients 
• Workflow management: See the latest updates for your jobs in real-time and schedule work for your team and other contractors 
• Payments: Take payments from clients on the job via EFTPOS, bank transfer and credit card 
• Timesheet management: Track and store timesheets from your team and automate payroll
• Bookkeeping and accounting: Track payments, manage your cash flow and make tax reporting a lot easier with tradie accounting tools
• File sharing: Track all communication and correspondence with your clients, suppliers and contractors and get easy access to information whenever you need to pull something up

What is the best job management software?

Some tools offer a complete solution for job management, while others offer solutions for particular things like tradie accounting or job quoting. We’ve broken down some of the most popular job management software for tradies:

Complete job management software:

• Tradify
• Ascora
• Build Tools
• Workflow Max
• BuilderTrend
• Service M8
• MyConstruct
• Accounting software for tradies:
• ReckonOne
• Xero
• MYOB
• QuickBooks

Job quoting software:

• Xero
• Scoro
• QuickBooks

How do I choose the right software for my business?

There are a few key considerations to help you choose the right job management software that aligns with your business needs:

• How easy is the software to use and will I need training?
• Is it cloud-based, i.e. can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection?
• Are there any offline features?
• How much technical support is available?
• Can it be integrated with other software?
• Can I produce custom reports?
• Is it open-source, i.e. can I customise it to suit my requirements?

How much does construction software cost?

Job management software pricing varies from product to product, but they are usually sold by a subscription license (based on the number of users). Some pricing considerations to think about include:

• Free trial: Many providers usually offer a freemium version or free trial. This is a great chance to see if it works for you.
• Limits on the number of users: Assess how many people will need access to the software as this can affect the price.
• Customisable plans: You may have to spend a little more if you require a customised plan.
• Training: There might be an additional fee for training, but most software providers have great online resources to learn how to use the tools.

Choosing the right software and tools can improve your efficiency, automate manual tasks and free up your time to focus on other core areas of your business. Feel free to reach out to our community for advice or recommendations for tradie tools and software.