Heatforce, the Cardiff-based national heating company, has implemented the latest gas engineer software to boost its independent customer service rating by 25 percent in just 6 months.
The job management software for electricians from BigChange has seen Heatforce service engineers and electricians equipped with mobile devices running JobWatch, a mobile workforce app linked to vehicle trackers.
Field operations are synchronised with a BigChange central management system with real-time information boosting customer service through improved scheduling and faster call-out response, together with instant digital communications backed by detailed proof of work records. The system has also improved office efficiency, driving performance and increased company profitability.
Heatforce had previously relied on a number of separate systems, spreadsheets and paper records that led to an enormous administrative burden as the company expanded. BigChange is an all-in-one platform CRM, job scheduling, mobile app and vehicle tracking solution that eliminates paper and can be accessed anywhere, anytime via the web.
Jake Maddocks, Company Director at Heatforce said:
“We were inundated with paper and with separate systems it was proving increasingly difficult to manage operations so we knew we needed to completely overhaul everything."
“BigChange has completely transformed the way we work; having everything in one place with live information at our fingertips gives us a level of control way beyond our original expectations.”
Heatforce is a specialist in heating systems, installing and maintaining boilers for domestic and commercial clients such as local councils and housing associations. With a fleet of 60 vehicles tracked by BigChange's heating engineer software, the company provides contract maintenance and emergency 24/7 call out services.
Maddocks comments:
“With BigChange, office efficiency has already increased by 25 percent. In addition, improved job scheduling means less miles are being travelled and productivity is up; especially as engineers don’t need to come to the office as often. We’ve also increased contract win rates thanks to the added capability BigChange gives us and, despite the lockdown challenges of recent months, the system has actually enabled us to increase our profitability.”
Heatforce is particularly successful in their home region of South Wales where they have won major contracts looking after 8,000 properties for local councils such as Caerphilly and Vale of Glamorgan. Heatforce is also expanding into electrical services and green energy, with increasing installations of solar power and ground source heating systems.
He continued:
“We particularly like the way JobWatch can be so easily configured. That means we can offer more services and quickly adapt to the needs of different customers; BigChange is becoming pretty crucial to our plans to expand into new areas.”
With the COVID-19 pandemic BigChange's gas & heating engineer software has proved invaluable in allowing people to work from home. With some staff receiving notifications to self-isolate, their work could continue seamlessly by simply logging onto the system at home. Management was also able to keep tight control of the business using JobWatch Express, a handy management app.
With the fleet fitted with vehicle trackers, Heatforce has also taken advantage of BigChange software that tracks driver performance. With incentives being offered for higher scores, the company has seen a 20 percent improvement in driving performance.
