If you’re in the market for an electrical work order app, there are two main software solutions available:
Electrical work order point solutions: The sole purpose of these apps is to facilitate electrical service work orders.
Electrical contractor software: This software integrates work order management with other essential business functions, such as scheduling and dispatching; creating estimates and proposals; invoicing; and processing payments.
Compared to electrical contractor software, work order-only apps have some distinct disadvantages:
They often won’t connect seamlessly with the other apps you use to run your electrical contracting business. This means you (or someone on your payroll in the back office) will have to repeatedly enter the same job details from the work order into multiple electrical apps or spreadsheets as you progress through the job lifecycle.
This repetitive manual data entry wastes time and increases the likelihood of costly errors, such as delivering inaccurate invoices to customers.
Paying for several disconnected apps isn’t optimal financially, nor is having to train your employees to use them.
Together, these drawbacks can really hurt the profitability of an electrical service business over time.
As a result, many electrical contractors benefit more from holistic electrical software solutions (sometimes referred to as field service management software) like ServiceTitan.
In this article, we’re going to explain how ServiceTitan streamlines work order management and seamlessly connects work orders to the rest of an electrical business workflow.
Then, we’ll share eight other types of holistic software you can consider.
9 Electrical Work Order Apps
» Want to see how ServiceTitan works to streamline your electrical business operations? Schedule a call to get a free, live, one-on-one walk-through of the features we describe throughout this article.
How ServiceTitan Seamlessly Integrates Work Orders Into the Electrical Service Workflow
A work order is more than just a document listing customer information and job details. It’s the first stage of the entire job workflow. At a minimum, essential information on a work order is also used to:
Schedule and dispatch a field technician or electrician
Inform an estimate or proposal
Create an invoice and process payment
Using a stand-alone app to create a paperless work order might solve some organizational challenges, but the drawbacks mean it won’t do much to prevent manual entry errors when the same information has to be reentered time and again.
ServiceTitan’s all-in-one software, on the other hand, automates much of the job management process by seamlessly integrating the work order into the rest of the workflow, thus increasing efficiency, productivity, and profitability.
Let’s look briefly at how ServiceTitan improves and connects these processes.
Work Orders
When a customer calls in, ServiceTitan’s intuitive Call Booking Software guides Customer Service Representatives (CSRs) through the process of collecting all the necessary customer information, and even autofills this information into the work order (also referred to as the Job Overview page in ServiceTitan).
If the caller is already a client, CSRs can access their customer history, property data, and any associated warranty or membership information with a click of the mouse.
The software prompts CSRs to gather essential information via drop-down menus and text boxes that populate the work order fields, including:
Job type (electrical outlet not working; install new can lights)
Job priority (low or high)
Job summary (specific details about the service needed)
Marketing campaign information (Angie’s list, Yelp, billboard ads)
Additional details, such as security gate codes, notification of pets on premises, etc.
Before going to the job site, techs can access this information via their mobile device so that they’re prepared and ready to go upon arrival.
Scheduling and Dispatch
Once the specific job type and priority is indicated, ServiceTitan displays scheduling options directly from the work order screen. When the customer agrees to an available date and time slot, the CSR can select an available technician within an arrival window time and book the job.
Additional scheduling features include:
Call recording that allows schedulers, dispatchers, and techs to listen to the original service call when they need clarification about job details.
Adjustable Capacity Planning, which ensures that only appointments that meet your capacity goals and strategy are available for scheduling at any given time (and also prevents overbooking of appointments).
A user-friendly website widget that allows customers to book their own appointments online without ever talking to a CSR. It still collects all the necessary job details that a CSR would in real time.
Automated Job Confirmations that send appointment confirmation requests to the customer according to their preference (text or email), and then automatically changes scheduled appointments to confirmations on the dispatch board.
Once an appointment is booked, it’s saved directly to the dispatch board, where dispatchers have access to all of the same information and functionality outlined above.
ServiceTitan’s easy-to-use dispatch board allows dispatchers to perform most of their tasks without having to leave the board. From the board, they can easily see which jobs are unassigned, unconfirmed, dispatched, working, paused, and more.
Additional convenient Dispatch features include:
Drag-and-drop functionality (or right-clicking of the mouse) that allows dispatchers to easily assign or reassign a tech; confirm or reschedule a job; view property data; and more.
An Activity Feed that allows dispatchers to see real-time job activity (e.g. Arrived, Paused, Complete) and to direct-message and communicate with techs (individually or en masse).
Alerts that notify the dispatcher of unusual activity or problems that need to be addressed.
GPS tracking that allows dispatchers (and clients when this notification option is enabled) to follow techs’ travel as they’re on their way to a job.
Schedule Optimization and Optimize Technician Route options that help dispatchers identify opportunities to coordinate appointments with techs in an efficient way, including identifying jobs in locations where a tech is already working.
Estimates and Proposals
ServiceTitan’s mobile app makes it easy for field technicians to create professional-quality proposals that maximize profitability and then present them to customers at the job site.
Populate customizable estimate templates with common materials and services from your pricebook. Techs can then quickly create line-item, flat-rate, or multiple-option proposals (such as “Good, Better, Best”—a great way to increase sales and ticket prices) for customers.
Additional features that enhance ServiceTitan’s estimating process include the ability to:
Add photos and/or videos to an estimate. Photos can provide visual evidence of damage that needs to be repaired or images of suggested materials or equipment presented in the estimate.
Include a written summary of the findings, work to be done, or other important information about the job.
Embed a financing application for big-ticket items within the proposal, providing a quick and easy way for customers to pay for repairs.
Present the estimate to the customer on a mobile device (iPhone, Android, iPad, or other iOS device), with the ability for the client to immediately accept the proposal and authorize the work.
Invoicing and Payments
Because ServiceTitan’s software saves and integrates data entered throughout the job workflow, everything you need to generate an invoice and receive payment is already up-to-date and available when a job is complete.
Merely click on the “Generate Invoice” button, and ServiceTitan generates a professional-looking, accurate invoice that you can mail, fax, text, or email to your customer (including a link where they can pay online).
Additional invoicing features include:
Customizable invoice templates that allow you to add your company name and logo and choose the colors and fonts in line with your company image.
The ability to attach videos and photos to an invoice, such as before and after photos of the work done.
An optional field where you can add service suggestions, warranty information, membership promotions, etc.
Automatically storing the invoice in the customer database so it’s easily accessible in the future if you need to access the customer’s service history.
Multiple options for accepting payment give customers flexibility and help ensure that you get paid quickly:
Techs can take a picture of a check and auto-deposit it immediately using the mobile app.
Credit card payments can be processed using a Bluetooth Card Reader with a tap/swipe of the card or via a link to a customer portal where customers can pay online.
Google Pay™ and Apple Pay® integration provide another flexible payment option.
Of course, if a customer applied for and was approved for financing through the estimate, payment is already taken care of.
Beyond the Work Order: Additional Benefits of a Comprehensive Electrical Software
ServiceTitan anticipates every step of the job, providing user-friendly functions that help prevent common errors or frustrations and ensures a smooth start-to-finish workflow. The work order is just one step in that process.
Other key ServiceTitan features that improve the workflow include:
Payroll Software that decreases payroll prep time by automatically providing time tracking (while syncing with the dispatch board); calculating overtime, commissions and bonuses; and helping you track and monitor crucial job-costing data in real time.
Accounting integration with Viewpoint Vista, QuickBooks®, and Intacct.
Customer relationship management (CRM) tools that help improve office organization and workflow in addition to improving the customer experience.
Service Agreement Software that helps you grow and manage lucrative maintenance contracts.
Field Reporting Software that helps you monitor key financial performance indicators (KPIs), such as CSR and technician metrics, revenue trends, and more.
Our electrical software helps businesses streamline and improve their work order processes to increase efficiency and grow profits. Want to see ServiceTitan in action? Schedule a call for a free product tour.
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Other Electrical Apps with Work Order Management
Jobber
Jobber is a field service scheduling software that also offers a wide range of other features for running a field service business. Like ServiceTitan, they offer functionality for estimating, quotes, scheduling, invoicing, and more.
We’ve written a detailed comparison of our two products, which you can find here: Jobber vs. ServiceTitan
Service Fusion
Service Fusion describes itself as an “All-In-One Field Service Management Software.” Like ServiceTitan, it offers a wide range of features including estimates, invoices, customer management, scheduling and dispatching, and more.
We’ve written a detailed comparison of our two products, which you can find here: Service Fusion vs. ServiceTitan
FieldEdge
FieldEdge is a field service management software and field service app for service businesses. It offers a wide range of features like ServiceTitan, including functionality for quotes and invoicing, scheduling and dispatching, service agreements, and more.
We’ve written a detailed comparison of our two products, which you can find here: FieldEdge vs. ServiceTitan
HouseCall Pro
HouseCall Pro is a holistic FSM solution for home service businesses. Similar to ServiceTitan, it offers a wide range of features outside of invoicing, such as scheduling and dispatching, estimates, QuickBooks integration, and more.
We’ve written a detailed comparison of our two products, which you can find here: Housecall Pro vs. ServiceTitan
Kickserv
Kickserv is a field service software that provides mobile and web applications for service providers. Like ServiceTitan, its tools assist with CRM, building estimates, invoicing, job management, QuickBooks integration, and more.
We’ve written a detailed comparison of our two products, which you can find here: Kickserv vs. ServiceTitan
ServiceTrade
While ServiceTitan serves both residential and commercial businesses, ServiceTrade provides software exclusively for commercial service contractors. Like ServiceTitan, its functions include scheduling, real-time dispatching, time tracking, payroll integration, and more.
We’ve written a detailed comparison of our two products, which you can find here: ServiceTrade vs. ServiceTitan
Smart Service
Smart Service describes itself as a field service scheduling software for QuickBooks. Like ServiceTitan, its functions include scheduling and dispatch, electronic work orders, invoicing, and time tracking, while also integrating with QuickBooks.
We’ve written a detailed comparison of our two products, which you can find here: Smart Service vs. ServiceTitan
Sera
Sera is a field service management software for home service businesses.
Like ServiceTitan, it provides scheduling, dispatching, managing pricebooks, building estimates, invoicing, and financial and KPI reporting.
We’ve written a detailed comparison of our two products, which you can find here: Sera vs. ServiceTitan
» Want to see how ServiceTitan works to streamline your electrical business operations? Schedule a call to get a free, live, one-on-one walk-through of the features we describe throughout this article.
ServiceTitan Electrical Software
ServiceTitan is a comprehensive electrical business software solution built specifically to help service companies streamline their operations, boost revenue, and achieve growth. Our award-winning, cloud-based platform is trusted by more than 100,000+ contractors across the country.
