Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning software is essential to owning and running your HVAC business. When you first start, you may think purchasing software to help manage your business transactions would be unnecessary. Still, it can help take some of the stress off your shoulders so you can focus more on sales and customer service. If you’re interested in switching to HVAC software, here are five essential features to look for when choosing the software.
1. Scheduling and Dispatching
One of the essential features of any HVAC Software should be scheduling and dispatch. That will allow you to plan your workdays and efficiently schedule your employees, so they are not overworked. It will also allow you to analyze how much time it takes to complete each job and help you determine which jobs are the most profitable. The process of dispatching is a necessity when running an efficient business.
You can assign specific tasks to different technicians or contractors and send them notifications when they need to come into the office. With a computerized system, it’s easy to track complete on-site and off-site, providing you with a clear understanding of who needs assistance in their workload at what times throughout the day.
2. Service History and Customer Details
To serve your clients well, you need to know what they are experiencing. For instance, is the home too hot or too cold? Is the furnace running constantly, or is it turning on and off sporadically? Once you know the issue, you can offer them a solution. One feature that every good HVAC software should have is service history and customer details.
You want to be able to answer any question a customer might have about their heating and air conditioning system. To do so, you need access to all the information about the equipment and its usage throughout its lifetime. Knowing the time will help you advise customers when their system might need maintenance or if there’s anything else they could be doing at home for comfort. The more accurate this data is, the better equipped you’ll be to help others with similar needs.
3. Reporting Capabilities
HVAC software needs to have reporting capabilities so that you can keep track of your energy usage. To get a good handle on your energy consumption, you need to know the time and date when there are spikes in energy usage. That will allow you to pinpoint what is causing the changes in your system and take the appropriate actions, whether adjusting your thermostat or turning off specific systems during low usage hours.
Adequate reporting on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning HVAC systems means having detailed information about gas usage for each day of the month, as well as an explanation for any sudden increases in your energy usage. Your HVAC software should also provide total monthly costs for these services and a daily breakdown. Reporting capabilities provide a complete understanding of where you’re spending money so that you can adjust accordingly.
4. Mobile Apps
Reliable software should offer a powerful, user-friendly interface. Most importantly, it should provide real-time updates on the status of your equipment and any associated issues. You’ll want to ensure that the software you choose is compatible with all your needs, so read reviews before making your decision.
Second, make sure the app allows for customization. Some of the best HVAC software apps allow users to create layouts and set up screens according to their specific needs. Third, pick an app that works offline. If there’s no internet connection or power source available, many apps will still be able to function while saving all your data in offline mode. Finally, determine if your chosen application offers remote access features essential for extensive facilities.
5. Connectivity
One of the essential features of HVAC software is connectivity. You need to be able to transfer data quickly and reliably from your office to your field technicians. The best software will have options for Wi-Fi, cellular data, or other broadband connections so that you can get a real-time view of the work going on in the field. Another key feature is the ability to access information remotely through an app on your phone. Seeing what’s going on with every project at any time is invaluable and allows you to address problems as they happen.
Conclusion
With so many different options available on the market, you want to be sure that any HVAC software you choose meets your company’s needs. And the five features listed above will give you a good starting point for making an informed decision about which software is right for your business. Remember, there are plenty of other considerations when choosing the software – such as cost and availability. The most important thing is that whatever option you choose suits your business’s unique requirements.