We hear how a contracting firm has utilised job management software to cut down on a mountain of paperwork.

From humble beginnings in a garden shed, Waterlip Electrical Contracting (WEC) has grown into a busy family-run business with 13 staff and a full schedule of commercial, industrial and domestic electrical work.

Outdated

Founder Connor started the company six years ago and has built the team around trusted family and friends. But as the business grew, so did the paperwork – and it soon became clear the old systems weren’t going to keep up.

“We were keeping up with the work, but we were just filling up our office with filing cabinets. Everything was on paper – testing, job sheets, materials. It became a nightmare to manage,” he said. To help manage the growth, the company adopted Fergus – and halved its admin load.

Before Fergus, WEC was handling everything manually. Job details were typed up in the office, printed out for the team, and returned at the end of the week in a stack of handwritten job sheets. Those job sheets were then entered into Excel for costing, cross-checked with supplier pricing, marked up, and eventually entered into accounting software for invoicing.

“We had someone in the office all week just copying up paperwork. Then we’d print it out again if we needed it. It was just a massive time waste,” explained Connor.

This manual workflow became harder to manage as the team expanded and job volume increased.

“It’s been really hard trying to grow the business when you’re relying on spreadsheets and paperwork. There was no easy way to manage everything in one place.”

Since implementing Fergus, WEC has been able to streamline operations and free up key admin time.

“Now the lads get to site and everything they need is on their phones. Job sheets, materials, notes – it’s all there. And they’re filling it in properly every time, which never used to happen,” Connor continued.

Connor estimates that just from automating job sheets alone, the business has saved four days a week of admin time – freeing up one team member to get back on the tools and another to focus on higher-value office work.

“I can invoice a customer before the lads have even left site. That used to take hours, now it takes minutes. Also, the lads would take photos on their phones and we’d spend hours uploading everything to Dropbox. Now they use the Fergus app and it’s instantly in the system, even if we’re 150 miles away.”

Having everything in one place has been a game-changer for Connor, who now has time to focus on developing the business.

The results

By moving away from paper-based processes and bringing the team onto Fergus, WEC has:

• Freed up around four days of admin time every week
• Reduced manual data entry and duplicated work
• Improved visibility across all jobs
• Accelerated invoicing and improved cash flow
• Given the team more time to focus on customers and growth

“It’s completely changed everything we do. Fergus has saved us so much time and stress,” said Connor.

For further details, click here

Find more industry features here

The post Contracting firm utilises job management software to cut down admin load appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

The UK construction industry is projected to grow significantly in the coming years, reaching £476.6 billion in revenue by 2027. This growth presents an incredible opportunity for trade businesses to capitalise – but only if they’re prepared.

To help you seize the moment, Fergus is offering an exclusive 25% discount this January, giving you the tools you need to run a lean, profitable operation. Don’t let outdated processes hold you back – by starting the new year with Fergus, you’ll be setting your business up for long-term success.

Trade businesses face countless daily challenges, from managing cashflow to scheduling jobs efficiently. Job management software (JMS) like Fergus can transform how your business operates by automating repetitive tasks, consolidating your data and providing insights that drive growth. Fergus also empowers trade businesses to:

• Get paid faster: Fergus automates invoicing and payment reminders so you don’t have to chase. It also includes a Tap-to-Pay feature in its mobile app so clients can pay on the spot.
• Manage jobs seamlessly: From quoting to job scheduling, all your key tasks are handled in one intuitive platform.
• Improve cashflow: Fergus’s analytics help you identify your high-margin jobs and forecast revenue so it’s easy to make decisions about which jobs to take.

With Fergus, you will spend less time on admin and more time growing your business. And if you’re concerned about switching from your current provider, you don’t need to be – Fergus has made it incredibly easy for new customers to migrate.

“Many tradespeople feel stuck with their current software, fearing a time-consuming and complicated switch – that’s why we’ve made it as straightforward as possible to join Fergus,” explained Katie Hall, Marketing Manager at Fergus UK. “The team takes care of the heavy lifting, including data transfer and onboarding, so your business faces minimal disruption during the transition.”

The offer is available for new sign-ups only and applies to the first payment upon checkout. The 25% discount is valid until January 31, 2025. Full terms and conditions are available on the Fergus website.

Visit www.fergus.com to learn more about how Fergus can transform your business.

Find more industry features here

The post Start your business year with Fergus appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.

With cloud computing now helping many companies protect their IT systems, James Mitchell, Managing Director for Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) in the UK and Ireland, looks at how it differs from on-site IT.

Amid supply chain disruption and more sinister and sophisticated cyber threats online, companies must continually streamline their operations, cut costs, and better secure their data to keep trading at a profit. The consequences of not doing so are stark. Several merchants with on-premises IT systems have gone bankrupt due to a cyber-attack where ransomware caused them to lose their ability to trade.

The good news is that cloud computing can help companies achieve efficiencies, improve customer service, and better protect their IT systems from cyber-attacks. Understandably, many in the merchant and distribution industry are now looking at securing and future-proofing their business, so this article outlines the five key benefits for businesses switching from on-premises IT to cloud computing.

Robust defence against cyber threats

Sadly, cyber warfare methods continually enhance and develop. Thousands of new viruses, worms, and other forms of malicious software (or malware) are created each day. Many dangers exist, from advanced persistent threats (ATPs) to malicious ransomware and phishing attacks, and it only takes one successful attack to stop a company from trading.

Research shows that most companies underestimate the length of time a cyber-attack will stop them from trading. Instead of days, it’s often weeks. Combined with the cost of the ransom, being unable to trade, manage stock, or issue invoices can be critical to their business in the long term.

Up to now, companies have been able to run their IT networks themselves, usually within a dedicated room ‘on-premises’. However, as more efficient and sustainable solutions become available, many businesses find this requires careful management and significant cost overheads.

In today’s competitive climate, such an investment of time and money looks increasingly expensive, especially since companies can now take advantage of cloud providers’ best-in-class technologies and expertise.

For example, cloud service providers like Kerridge Commercial Systems (KCS) invest heavily in their use of public cloud technology, creating secure environments beyond most merchant and distribution companies’ ability to afford. They are proactive about conducting research and always look to utilise the best security technologies and expertise, all so they can offer their customers an enhanced level of protection from cyber-attacks.

Better protection against data breaches

When a data breach strikes, companies suffer from criminals gaining unauthorised access to sensitive company data. Consequently, such incursions can lead to the theft of valuable customer information, including names, email addresses, and sensitive financial details.

Being unable to trade after a cyber-attack, such as a data breach, is only one problem, however. After the breach, companies can usually expect worse consequences over the medium to long term, such as significant fines and irretrievable damage to their hard-won reputation.

Cloud computing helps mitigate the risk of data breaches mainly through advanced, centralised data management systems. These systems enhance control over data access and provide sophisticated tools for data integrity checks and intrusion detection. Cloud providers typically also deploy multi-layered security strategies, including a physical security presence at their data centres.

Reduce your IT expenses

Maintaining on-site IT infrastructure can be very expensive and particularly problematic when a business is trying to cope with rising prices and issues within its supply chain. Companies usually shoulder the cost of maintaining hardware and software licenses themselves, while the cost of IT personnel can significantly drain budgets and resources.

Ultimately, cloud computing offers a cost-effective solution by shifting most of these fluctuating expenses to a predictable pay-as-you-go subscription model that stays the same.

Cloud hosting fees typically cover a range of services, including server maintenance, data storage, and increased data bandwidth capability. However, they also cover the maintenance costs for the server hardware, software security updates, technical support, and 24/7 backup provision.

Improve efficiency and scale

The ability to scale operations rapidly and efficiently is crucial in the building supplies industry, where demand can be unpredictable and vary according to fluctuations in season and geography.

However, cloud computing facilitates easy scalability. Using a cloud provider lets your business increase its IT resources without investing upfront in hardware, software, and infrastructure.

This scalability ensures merchant distribution companies can handle peak loads during high-demand periods without disrupting service or performance. Moreover, cloud platforms can integrate seamlessly with AI and machine learning tools, enabling better demand forecasting and inventory management.

Cut carbon emissions 

Sustainability is increasingly important in all sectors, including distribution. Cloud computing contributes to environmental sustainability by reducing the carbon footprint of IT operations. Centralised data centres, optimised for energy efficiency, consume significantly less power compared to traditional on-site servers.

Furthermore, cloud providers often use renewable energy sources and implement energy-efficient practices that far surpass what companies could achieve independently.

Additionally, the scalability of cloud resources means that energy usage aligns more closely with actual needs, avoiding the inefficiencies of underutilised on-premise infrastructure. By leveraging cloud computing, businesses move towards greener operations and align with global efforts to reduce energy consumption and emissions.

In conclusion

By migrating to a public cloud network, companies can leverage cutting-edge technology to enhance their operations, reduce costs, and secure their data more effectively.

KCS has seen the demand for its public cloud service, K-Cloud, grow as the pressures faced by on-premises operations have required customers to seek alternatives. In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, public cloud solutions give businesses the perfect secure platform to trade confidently and profitably.

Find out more here

Read more feature articles here

The post Is your onsite IT a risk to your business? appeared first on Professional Electricians Wholesaler.