Residential service contractors, such as plumbers, electricians, HVAC technicians, and general contractors, often use a variety of software tools to streamline their work processes and improve efficiency. The needs of a contractors technology stack varies by size, craft, and individual company – but there are some general categories that are considered mission critical to run your business on. One of the things we’re most proud of here at Stilt is our ability to solve problems for our contractor customers. Below is our view of the various options and categories that contractors have for their software needs, and more importantly, where Stilt fit’s in the broader ecosystem.
- Field Service Management (FSM) Software: FSM software assists contractors in managing their field operations. It typically includes features like job scheduling, dispatching, work order management, GPS tracking, inventory management, and mobile access to information. Examples of popular FSM software include our very own company, Stilt – as well as others like ServiceTitan, FieldEdge, and Jobber.
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Software: CRM software helps contractors manage customer information, track leads, schedule appointments, and maintain communication with clients. It enables contractors to streamline their sales and customer service processes. Stilt also has premium CRM features that we offer to our customers.
- Estimating and Quoting Software: Contractors often use specialized software for estimating project costs and creating detailed quotes for clients. These tools help in calculating material quantities, labor costs, and generating professional-looking proposals. Some commonly used options include ProEst, STACK, and PlanSwift.
- Accounting and Invoicing Software: To manage their finances, contractors employ accounting and invoicing software. These tools facilitate tasks such as creating and sending invoices, tracking expenses, managing accounts receivable, and generating financial reports. Popular options include QuickBooks, Sage, Xero, and FreshBooks. At Stilt, we have built our own invoicing and payment processing features; and we integrate with most accounting systems across the US and Canada.
- Project Management Software: For larger residential projects that require collaboration among team members, project management software comes in handy. It allows contractors to assign tasks, track progress, manage timelines, and communicate with project stakeholders. Examples include Trello, Asana, and Monday.com.
- CAD/BIM Software: Contractors involved in design or remodeling work may use computer-aided design (CAD) or building information modeling (BIM) software. These tools assist in creating detailed project plans, 3D models, and visualizations. Commonly used CAD/BIM software includes AutoCAD, Revit, and SketchUp.
- Communication and Collaboration Tools: Contractors rely on communication and collaboration tools to stay connected with team members and clients. These can include email clients, messaging platforms (such as Slack or Microsoft Teams), and video conferencing tools (such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams).
Feel free to reach out to our team at Stilt to learn more!