The differences between good and average efficiency in the HVAC business can mean thousands of dollars in profitability or losses. And the best field service management software (FSM) can exponentially optimize your growth.
Housecall Pro is an FSM software HVAC companies can use to run in-person services. The software allows users to schedule and manage appointments, send automated text and email messages to customers, and track technicians’ progress.
FieldEdge is another FSM that allows businesses to schedule, track, and manage technicians who provide in-person services. The platform enables companies to communicate with customers, track the location of their technicians, and manage customer information.
Let’s take a closer look at what each of these tools has to offer.
Housecall Pro Review
Housecall Pro is a cloud-based software as a service (SaaS) platform. It’s designed for small businesses and independent contractors to help them manage their day-to-day operations, including scheduling appointments, updating customer information, tracking job progress, and invoicing.
The unique and powerful combination of online booking, mobile application, invoicing, quote management, scheduling, and more make Housecall Pro a dependable field service management solution.
Here are the main features.
Online Booking
Field service scheduling is a critical component of the Housecall Pro system. You can create multiple calendars and assign them to different technicians. And clients can book their appointments directly on your website.
The system allows you to charge the client for services at the time of booking, or you can set up an appointment and bill later.
Mobile Application
Housecall Pro has a mobile app that allows technicians to view their schedules, accept new jobs, and make notes about service calls while in the field.
It also allows them to change their appointment time or reschedule if needed. This gives your company more flexibility because you don’t have to rely on landlines or cell phones when you’re out on a job site.
Invoicing
This platform provides an invoicing system, including customizable templates, payment tracking, and payment receipts.
With this feature, you can send invoices directly from your smartphone or tablet while on the move. You can also send automatic reminders on due dates via email or SMS and track payments received through this service.
Quote Management
The quote management feature lets you create quotes from scratch and assign them to specific technicians, making it easier for sales teams to manage quotes for multiple technicians at once.
Housecall Pro Pricing
Housecall Pro offers three basic plans.
- Basic – $65 monthly (1 user)
- Essentials – $129 monthly (5 users)
- Max – $279 (100 users)
Pros Of Housecall Pro
- It’s simple and easy to use
- The dashboard is straightforward
- You have the ability to create custom fields and map them to specific events
- Their mobile app is easy to use and makes it easy to track your technicians’ progress
- The reporting capabilities give you an overview of how your business is doing at a glance
- Housecall Pro has good customer support
Cons Of Housecall Pro
- It’s not easy to customize the Housecall Pro platform
- Housecall Pro is not free, hence may not be the right call for startups that need something simple and free
- The open API feature is in beta testing and only accessible in Housecall Pro’s most advanced plan
You can read a more detailed HouseCall Pro review here.
FieldEdge Review
FieldEdge is a field service management solution that helps businesses manage their field operations more efficiently. FieldEdge offers a wide range of features that can help companies save time and money while increasing productivity.
The software is easy to use and has an intuitive user interface. It supports integration with third-party services such as Google Maps, making it helpful for small businesses.
Here are the main features of FieldEdge.
Customer Support
FieldEdge allows you to track customer requests, manage customer contacts, and assign tasks to employees.
You can also record notes about each customer interaction for future reference. This saves time because you won’t have to contact customers again if their request isn’t completed or they need further assistance.
Time Tracking
The FSM software lets you track your employees in real-time. You can see how much time each employee spends on each task, which helps to better understand where your company is losing money or weed out any unnecessary tasks.
You’ll be able to see how long each task takes so you can adjust your processes accordingly if needed.
Dispatch Board
If you’re running multiple crews, you need a way to organize their workloads and coordinate with each other efficiently.
The dispatch board allows you to manage your technicians and their varying schedules. You can create a service request, assign it to a technician from the dispatch board, and then track it until completion.
Payment Processing
Recording customer payments is an important element of any business, but it can get complicated when multiple parties are involved.
FieldEdge offers multiple payment options for customers, including credit cards and electronic checks (ACH). You can also add tips to your invoices for services rendered.
Service Agreements
Customers can sign service agreements on FieldEdge before work begins. It helps to manage expectations. The agreement includes details about what is being done when it will be completed, and how much it will cost.
You can also add multiple locations, vehicles, and equipment for each agreement.
Mobile App
The FieldEdge mobile app is available for iOS and Android devices. It lets technicians check in and check out equipment, view customer information, send receipts and invoices, add notes to jobs, and more from their mobile devices.
Invoicing
FieldEdge allows integrations with third-party invoicing software, including FreshBooks and Xero. The invoices get automatically generated based on the time spent on each job and other customizable criteria you set up ahead of time.
You can also customize your invoice template to match your company’s branding.
Customer Management
FieldEdge has a more robust customer management feature when compared to Housecall Pro. You can add company information and create custom fields for each customer, which is helpful if you want to track specific information or perform actions based on that information.
FieldEdge Pricing
- $100 monthly per office user
- $125 monthly per technician
Pros Of FieldEdge
- Simple implementation process
- Supports multiple users on one platform
- Expansive feature set
- Excellent support team
- Seamless communication between technicians and customers
- Set up task lists for each technician and assign them accordingly
- Scheduling appointments with customers is easy with
- FieldEdge’s built-in calendar
Cons Of FieldEdge
- The cost of training users is high
- The user interface is complex and might be challenging to navigate for some users
- There are also some limitations when it comes to reporting
- There are no options for contact center integration or email marketing automation
You can read a more detailed FieldEdge review here.
Conclusion
Housecall Pro’s customer service and feedback loop make it a good choice for widespread rollouts. On the other hand, FieldEdge has a great mobile platform, and its integration capabilities make it a versatile candidate for small to mid-sized companies.
The choice between the two depends on your unique business needs, but keep in mind that neither platform was designed specifically for the HVAC industry.
Eager to try an all-encompassing platform designed specifically for HVAC technicians? 3C Connect provides HVAC businesses with all the best solutions for scheduling, dispatching, inventory, and managing workflows. Contact us to learn more.
