Tasks Overview

The task module is useful in managing a variety of work orders, phone calls, contact notes, and other tasks. These tasks are conveniently associated with workers, sales orders, serialized items, timecard detail, and/or jobs. The following examples will demonstrate some of the popular uses for the task and work order module:

Scenario:  An agriculture equipment sales and service company uses work orders to organize their service projects onsite as well as their shop staff.  The work orders are used to track the time spent on T&M projects as well as flat rate service jobs.   Separate tasks are used to track the time to assemble and/or install new equipment.   Work orders are used to record parts and labor required to refurbish trade-in equipment for resell.    The task management tools within EBMS allow the service manager to organize high priority service projects, schedule installation jobs, and schedule less urgent work orders such as refurbishing equipment.    An integrated ERP system that manages sales and service details is invaluable to this company with multiple locations and service technicians working on various projects. 

Scenario:  Any service company requires a robust parts and labor management system.   This is especially true for a mechanical contractor that handles many parts for a single plumbing, HVAC, or electrical project.    A service technician may be completing multiple work orders within a single day.    The profit of this contractor depends on the proper recording of parts and fittings used and the labor spent to complete the new install or repair.   Skilled technicians require a simple application available onsite to properly record project details.   Worker, equipment, job, and billing details within the work order are important so the technician can complete a professional and efficient repair.   

Scenario: The shop within a truck up-fitter and sales company services trucks for workers, Adds accessories to new trucks, and refurbishes trade-in vehicles.    The EBMS task and work order system communicates the project schedule and instructions to each technician.   Workers are billed using either flat rates or an hourly shop rate.   The parts and labor costs are added to a new or refurbished vehicle to record an accurate total value for the truck.   EBMS maintains a history record of all service rendered to a specific truck based on the VIN number.  This history is maintained even if the owner changes or the vehicle is sold, traded-in, and resold.   Service history details are important to a service department and may be valuable information to a worker.

Scheduling and printing work orders

The task module can be used to schedule work orders for almost any service business. The task work order system is a power tool for electricians, equipment repair technicians, installation departments, HVAC companies, computer repairmen, manufacturers, and almost any type of repair or service business. Review the Getting Started > Using Tasks as Work Orders section for more details.

Organizing Tasks and Work Orders

Configuring to organize tasks

Define a process

Billing Tasks and Work Orders

Use Cases

Evaluating the billable time for a service company: Managing a service company or division requires affective tools to measure the efficiency of labor and employees. Comparing billable time to the actual time is a powerful way to evaluate the profitability of individual employees or an entire service department. The task module allows the user to manage labor more effectively by quantifying the billable time using different work codes within payroll. The management reports within EBMS allow the personnel manager to base employee pay on his/her efficiency and performance. Review the Managing Tasks > Billable Time section for more details.

Sales person’s contact manager: The task module is a useful tool for a sales person to track worker information, sales contacts, and other worker relation information. Review the Getting Started >  Using Tasks as a Contract Manager section for more details.

Logging worker support contacts: The task module includes a number of features to log, organize, and evaluate phone calls, service calls, and follow up contacts. Review the Getting Started > Using Phone Tasks section for more details.

Tracking details for service contracts: The task module can be used to track labor that is related to a service agreement or annual contract. Review the Managing Tasks > Using Tasks and Job Costing for details.

Maintaining history regarding individual pieces of equipment or whole goods: Logging contacts, service history, and other task detail is very valuable in managing labor in a service business. Review the Managing Tasks > Reviewing Task History for more details.