Anyone for new software?

[ched999uk]

I honestly don't need anything added to a round software program because cleaner planner does it all for me.I don't like to overcomplicate what is a simple window cleaning business to run.

To be honest you have just said that MTD is something you want to be able to do. So a new piece of software might be able to do all CP does and MTD. So that would simplify things!

 

[dazmond]

To be honest you have just said that MTD is something you want to be able to do. So a new piece of software might be able to do all CP does and MTD. So that would simplify things!

Yes of course but it doesn't need all these bells and whistle suggestions that some window cleaners are putting forward. Too much automation is not a good thing IMO but maybe I just like simplicity

 

[P4dstar]

Yes of course but it doesn't need all these bells and whistle suggestions that some window cleaners are putting forward. Too much automation is not a good thing IMO but maybe I just like simplicity

This thread has a wish list of features. When people did this to Squeegee the developers started making a load of changes at once which resulted in a lot of app issues.

One thing I will say, looking over the squeegee app today I can see it looks ridiculously complicated. In the top section, the bit that has the work and rounds, it has 7 sections that realistically could be 2. I imagine the app is daunting for a new person.

 

[ched999uk]

This thread has a wish list of features. When people did this to Squeegee the developers started making a load of changes at once which resulted in a lot of app issues.

One thing I will say, looking over the squeegee app today I can see it looks ridiculously complicated. In the top section, the bit that has the work and rounds, it has 7 sections that realistically could be 2. I imagine the app is daunting for a new person.

The do have a good training guide now, that helps. I think Squeegee are doing 30 free trial then 6 months at half price!

Software is a very tricky thing to build as people think they understand what we need but each of us works differently so trying to get something that caters for everyone's needs and is simple to use is the golden goose!

 

[robmorgan]

Good discussion this.

The thing about software, is sometimes it needs to be complicated under the hood, to make life simpler for you!

As @ched999uk points out, while software that doesn't help with MTD would be simpler, that would actually make your life more complicated!

I need to do a bit more research into MTD, but it sounds like it will require you to submit totals every 3 months, which you'll already be used to if you're VAT registered (though if you are, you probably use accounting software e.g. Xero).

So I think we'll need to cover two bases:

1. If you use accounting software, e.g. Xero, we need to integrate with that, posting totals across so they can be submitted to MTD (probably by your accountant, along with your VAT return if you're registered).

2. If you don't use accounting software, we either need to look at getting approved for a direct connection to HMRC (quite feasible I believe) or perhaps integrate with an app like Rhino as @dazmond mentioned.

Either way, I think being able to automate this, rather than have to copy/paste figures between two apps would make your lives simpler!

 

[robmorgan]

Yes of course but it doesn't need all these bells and whistle suggestions that some window cleaners are putting forward. Too much automation is not a good thing IMO but maybe I just like simplicity

Worth bearing in mind @dazmond that CP is far from simple. It might not be packed with as many shiny gizmos as a Squeegee, but it has a lot of little details you probably don't think about anymore but which make your life easier.

Tbh, I'd never go the "kitchen sink" route with a new app - not my style - as I get the impression not many people use all those gizmos, and it's hard to build and maintain a reliable, intuitive system when you've got so much going on.

I'm keen to get some "big-hitting" features in a new app of course, otherwise what's the point? But equally, I'm not going to ram stuff in for the heck of it. Everything has to make sense and be reliable and easy-to-use.

If you look back over this thread, and if I look back over the messages I've exchanged with people, so far the requests have been more around small to medium things - e.g. blocking out holidays, warning about moving a repeat job, multiple emails per customer - not stuff that's all that "exciting" but definitely stuff that could make your life easier.

And then some of the bigger-hitting ideas - MTD I think is essential, and texting through your phone (rather than Textlocal), possibly via WhatsApp would be a better experience for customers, and save you a fair chunk of cash!

So yeah, don't worry, it's not going to be some horrible complicated mess Far from it. And in any case, if it doesn't float your boat, stick with CP - it's all good! Though I'm fairly confident I can put something together that will tempt you

 

[P4dstar]

The do have a good training guide now, that helps. I think Squeegee are doing 30 free trial then 6 months at half price!

Software is a very tricky thing to build as people think they understand what we need but each of us works differently so trying to get something that caters for everyone's needs and is simple to use is the golden goose!

I’ve sat all of my chaps through the training. Genuinely none of them have ever found it helpful. It’s a complicated app when you break down all of the different functions. If half of those functions were in sub sections only to be used by people who need them it would be much easier to talk them through the basics. Following a route, closing jobs etc. you’ve got for example “expenses, expense categories, chart of accounts, payments & reporting” all under one category. I’m not suggesting taking this away (although I do think a couple of those belong in together also), im suggesting that could be under one sub heading and thus not confuse people who never use that section.