Anyone for new software?

[robmorgan]

Evening folks,

I'll cut to it. A decade or so ago () I built a thing called CleanerPlanner. Seems it stood the test of time pretty well, but is now starting to show its age, and hasn't moved forward in years.

A couple of windies have reached out recently to ask if I have a new round management app in the pipeline. I don't - yet - though I'm starting to think it might not be the stupidest of ideas!

They mentioned features such as Xero integration, an API (to enable automations, e.g. with Zapier) as being missing from other apps, as well as reliability and reporting issues and limitations.

And look, if we were to build something new, it would be a blank canvas - I'd love to hear all the cool ideas you guys have for reinventing the game and taking WC software to the next level!

But, big but...

I only want to build something you guys actually want. So if you're happy with the options that are already on the market - honestly - just tell me to move on, you'll be doing me a favour

So what do you think - yay or nay?

If yay - I'd love to hear what features you have in mind! And/or even just little things that bug you about the other apps out there.

If nay - no hard feelings! Just looking for clarity either way.

Cheers,

Rob

 

[dazmond]

I still use Cleaner Planner and it does all I need it to do at present but HMRC are bringing in making tax digital in the next few years for all self employed (including those earning less than 50k a year) so we will all be forced to submit accounts through HMRC approved software every 3 months which will mean inputting 2 lots of data and increasing admin unless there's a solution through bridging software or an all in one window cleaning program that can easily be uploaded into making tax digital......

 

[Iron Giant]

@robmorgan good to see you on here it's been a very long time since we had any contact, it would be potentially interesting to see what you could bring, I think one issue which may have already been resolved is the switching of GoCardless customers over to another app,

I do really like what you built with CP which is why I haven't switched over to anything else, but it has barely changed in over 10 years also not that I really needed it but the customer service with cp isn't great and the app does run into issues which never seemed to get resolved.

 

[dazmond]

@robmorgan good to see you on here it's been a very long time since we had any contact, it would be potentially interesting to see what you could bring, I think one issue which may have already been resolved is the switching of GoCardless customers over to another app,

I do really like what you built with CP which is why I haven't switched over to anything else, but it has barely changed in over 10 years also not that I really needed it but the customer service with cp isn't great and the app does run into issues which never seemed to get resolved.

What issues have you had with cleaner planner? The only issue I had was emailing invoices quite a few years ago now which was resolved very quickly(within 24 hours)...

I love it. It's simple and straightforward to use and I wouldn't change anything about it at all. It does everything effectively and efficiently for my business but MTD is going to change all that. If there was a way to submit cleaner planner accounts into HMRC software every 3 months I wouldn't go anywhere else but I don't think there is any plans to do any updates to it at all.

A window cleaning program that integrates with government approved software to cut down admin so we only have to input data once would be ideal to remain compliant with MTD.

I do my own self assessment and want to make it as easy and straightforward as possible going forward

 

[Iron Giant]

What issues have you had with cleaner planner? The only issue I had was emailing invoices quite a few years ago now which was resolved very quickly(within 24 hours)...

I love it. It's simple and straightforward to use and I wouldn't change anything about it at all. It does everything effectively and efficiently for my business but MTD is going to change all that. If there was a way to submit cleaner planner accounts into HMRC software every 3 months I wouldn't go anywhere else but I don't think there is any plans to do any updates to it at all.

A window cleaning program that integrates with government approved software to cut down admin so we only have to input data once would be ideal to remain compliant with MTD.

I do my own self assessment and want to make it as easy and straightforward as possible going forward

It throws up an error with worksheets at least twice a week, there was something else I just can't remember it might come to me one day or never it's anyone's guess

I'm with you on not switching to anything else because of the ease of use of CP which I got to grips with straight off the bat years ago, but if it becomes viable for @robmorgan to develop a new app then I'd be onboard

 

[ched999uk]

There are a couple of feature that would be good to have, maybe CP already does this, I use Squeegee.
1. use the sms system within my phone sim contract for sending texts.
2. bank reconciliation would be very helpful.
3. maybe some sort of auto reminder to tick off jobs as complete - i.e. if at a job (gps location) for more than 10 mins (may be user settable) and you then drive off (move more than 100m say) it pops up a reminder to check if you completed the previous job.

 

[Iron Giant]

There are a couple of feature that would be good to have, maybe CP already does this, I use Squeegee.
1. use the sms system within my phone sim contract for sending texts.
2. bank reconciliation would be very helpful.
3. maybe some sort of auto reminder to tick off jobs as complete - i.e. if at a job (gps location) for more than 10 mins (may be user settable) and you then drive off (move more than 100m say) it pops up a reminder to check if you completed the previous job.

I'm assuming you're memory is as bad as mine and @spruce

My memory is bad not bad enough yet to forget to mark jobs done but I do drive past jobs in a day dream and have to drive back over

although it could be an interesting thing in relation to lads with multiple van ops and tracking staff maybe to ensure times and schedules are met,

Yes bank reconciliation could be a thing not sure how all that works with data permissions

 

[ched999uk]

I'm assuming you're memory is as bad as mine and @spruce

My memory is bad not bad enough yet to forget to mark jobs done but I do drive past jobs in a day dream and have to drive back over

although it could be an interesting thing in relation to lads with multiple van ops and tracking staff maybe to ensure times and schedules are met,

Yes bank reconciliation could be a thing not sure how all that works with data permissions

Squeegee does do bank reconciliation but not at the lower subscription level. I think data permission is OK as you have the customer info from bank deposit info and you have record of customers in squeegee (or CP). I think as it's data you are legally processing manually then automating it should be fine?

Sometimes I do forget to mark a job done when I'm finished but usually remember at the next job .
Time tracking jobs using gps data might be an interesting one but then again you might do multiple jobs without moving the van - might be good data though - really shows how much more efficient not moving the van between jobs is!

 

[Iron Giant]

Got say that I have been in direct contact with @robmorgan today and he has been very responsive, he has been replying to comments in this thread, but they aren’t been approved by staff, just thought I'd let people know that they aren't been ignored by Rob