6 business management tools every home services business needs

By contrast, consumers value their homes even more after COVID, and they’re increasing their home service budgets. The Home Improve­ment Research Insti­tute (HIRI) reported that in 2020 and 2021 growth in con­sumer spend­ing on home improve­ment soared to 15% and 13.3% respec­tive­ly. That’s compared to the 2.8% average growth rate over the preceding 10 years. 

Even long before consumers started spending more time at home, thanks to the pandemic and a growing work-from-home (WFH) culture, home services had already become part of the on-demand economy. In a world with an app for everything, home services have long been as accessible as Uber rides and Airbnb vacations.

Rising demand for, and easy access to, home services create a mix of opportunities and challenges for home service businesses focused on plumbing, HVAC, cleaning, roofing, house painting, lawn and garden care, and other services. For these businesses, the shift in consumer priorities could be a cause for celebration. But it also requires the ability to scale their workflows and technology fast. 

In the race to respond to new demand, business owners should avoid these common missteps–in particular, these two:

• Overlooking gaps in tech stacks and traditional management tools.
• Overloading tech stacks with redundant apps. 

Not having the right tech at-hand can weaken a business’ ability to deliver quality services–especially at a time when consistent service quality matters even more than before. Consumers are investing more in their homes because their homes mean more to them, and they may react more sensitively to any lapses in service quality. Bigger consumer budgets often mean bigger expectations. 

These 6 Clover tools can help home service businesses develop more streamlined, fit-for-purpose tech systems and processes.

Fit for field service

Field work is a foundational to home services business, and it demands rugged and reliable technology that stays charged for a long time and even works offline.

1. Clover Flex. This all-in-one device allows field staff to manage their business from the palm of their hand. In addition to its built-in capabilities (think 5” touchscreen, built-in printer, camera and barcode scanner), the Flex pairs with other Clover devices to create a complete solution for accepting payments, tracking sales, and connecting the field to the back office.

2. Virtual Terminal. The Clover Virtual Terminal allows merchants to enter order and payment information from their device’s web browser and accept all major credit and debit cards. Using this tool, a contractor en route to a client’s home can accept a deposit over the phone before beginning work on an expensive job.
   
3. Clover Go. The Go app and portable credit card reader take your business to your customers. They’re easy to use and give you the power of a full POS anywhere you have Wi-Fi or cellular connection. Our latest G2 app offers several handy new features for field teams. Multi-user support enables employees to switch user profiles easily on the same device, and inventory categories help organize items. G2 gives you access to transaction details like payment type and employee, as well.

Fit for inflation

For merchants that sell home services and related products like replacement parts and supplies, reliable inventory tracking is a must. Amidst rising inflation, disciplined inventory management can improve profitability.

4. Inventory. Clover’s enhanced Inventory features make it easier to maintain consistent availability of in-demand products. By managing inventory for all POS transactions, this tool eliminates the need for time-consuming coordination among team members in the field. Clover also integrates seamlessly with the leading inventory tools including Sku IQ, Shopventory and many others.

Fit for your business basics

For basic business functions like payroll, project management, time tracking, and appointment booking, Clover offers easy access to an ever-growing market of integrated apps.

5. Homebase Time Clock. This app helps merchants schedule field staff assignments, track time, process payroll and taxes, set up automated reminders, and communicate with the team using built-in messaging.

6. Appointment Booking. Clover integrates with multiple scheduling apps that service businesses use like the Cojilo Booking Platform and SPS Appointment Scheduler. These apps do more than book appointments. They also collect payments, integrate seamlessly with the Virtual Terminal, and enable email and SMS communications with customers.

Be sure to peruse the Clover App Market for even more fit-for-purpose apps that can help your home services business keep pace with customer demand.

Editorial Team

Insights, Resources, Run your business

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