One of your techs is sleeping in his van behind Arby’s. Purchasing has no idea where to allocate the $1,000 invoice they got from Midtown Supply. Meanwhile, you can’t figure out if the ACME Corp service contract you negotiated last summer turned out to be profitable.

Hopefully you don’t have all of these problems, but many service contractors do. Electrical contractors, mechanical contractors and other service organizations face a unique set of challenges. In addition to managing their large jobs towards profit, they must manage complex planned maintenance contracts, and a high volume of both service calls and small quotes. To be successful, these firms must optimize their dispatch, meticulously track purchasing and ensure that gross margins stay in the black. (more…)