Juggling simultaneous plumbing projects across varied locations represents a major challenge for many contractors. Navigating multiple work sites impedes the ability to field calls and address emergencies. Absent technicians coupled with inbound inquiries missed because of overwhelmed phone lines breeds client frustration.
Failing to have systems in place to properly manage multiple plumbing jobs simultaneously can quickly lead to dropped balls, upset clients, and lost revenue. However, implementing effective scheduling procedures and call routing systems enables seamless coordination across jobs without dropping customer communications.
Carefully Assess and Sequence Upcoming Projects
Maintaining visibility into upcoming jobs, required tasks, staffing demands, parts/tools needed and expected timelines is essential for balancing multiple assignments. Review details for all scheduled projects at the start of each week, identifying resource overlaps, equipment requirements, or other limitations necessitating sequence changes.
Have office administrators reach out to associated clients regarding delays where necessary to set proper expectations about completion timelines. Methodically assessing upcoming workload and proactively adjusting enables execution without entanglements undermining productivity or quality.
Staff Appropriately for Specialized Skill Sets
Effectively tackling numerous simultaneous plumbing jobs relies on deploying technicians equipped for specialized project types. Complex sewer line replacements warrant drainage experts who are certified on excavation safety protocols. Sophisticated appliance swaps require installers with electrical competencies. Ensure your dispatch team match certified plumber credentials and capabilities directly to project demands.
Cross-train technicians extensively and keep detailed records on licenses, equipment certifications, and vendor partnerships so resourcing across upcoming work leverages strengths without overextending limited proficiencies.
Automate Call Distribution to Capture Every Inquiry
Reliable call handling represents an indispensable component when it comes to managing technicians across disparate locations. Phones ringing off the hook get missed when plumbers are juggling multiple properties and admins are triaging requests. This breeds dissatisfaction and lost opportunities.
Consider utilizing a plumbing answering service like those at Apello to instantly take every call, gather details on issues, access client histories, determine emergency needs and route jobs to available responders.
Coordinate Work-Site Check-Ins
Once technicians mobilize for simultaneous projects, maintaining engagement helps assess progress, resourcing needs, and site issues. Implement morning check-ins between admins and plumbers in the field to discuss job status, parts shortages, adjustments to timelines and assistance requests.
Require mid-day confirmation that initial time estimates still apply or if an earlier/later completion seems likely. Have technicians log lunch hours when they’ll be briefly unreachable. Follow up at day’s end to finalize invoices, project packets and obtain progress notes to relay to associated clients.
Automate Post-Job Administrative Tasks
Closing out plumbing jobs with proper documentation remains essential despite continual field assignments. Automated systems simplify cumbersome back-office efforts, so technicians avoid reporting bottlenecks. Have plumbers submit digital invoices from sites and central software attach pictures, parts invoices, and work logs for administrative review. Digitally capturing information directly from work sites allows for faster billing and eliminates potential errors from manual data entry.
Digitally capture client signatures approving completed work and payments. Centralized data transferal avoids manual paperwork processing enabling admins to rapidly generate consolidated monthly client billing packets. Automating administrative tasks ensures accurate job data, streamlines invoicing, and allows office staff to focus on customer service rather than paperwork.
Conclusion
Reliably keeping projects moving across multiple properties amid incoming calls depends on balancing assignments based on capabilities, automating administrative elements, facilitating worksite check-ins and never missing inquiries. Leverage these techniques to drive productivity and uphold client perceptions while avoiding delays from overlapping demands. With the right processes and technology in place, plumbing contractors can master the juggling act of handling many jobs concurrently without sacrificing quality of work or customer service. Making multi-site coordination a priority allows plumbing businesses to scale operations while maintaining their reputation for responsiveness.