Simply put, a workflow is the ordered steps it takes to get a job done. Workflows usually consist of a list of steps called “statuses” that tell you where you’re at with a job and what you need to do next. Setting up workflows for your roofing business provides a few huge benefits including:
1) Defining a uniform process that everyone in the organization can follow.
2) Helping you keep track of a large number of simultaneous jobs and know where you are at on each project.
3) Making reporting easier by being able to analyze your job processes and find ways to make things faster and more efficient.
Workflows help track the major steps and milestones in a job as it moves from start to finish. In the roofing business, workflows are typically grouped into a few main categories:
Residential Roofing
Residential roofing jobs usually follow a workflow that help track the initial sales process with the customer, then job scheduling and production, and ends with payment collection. A typical residential roofing business workflow might look like this:
• New lead received
• Schedule meeting with lead
• Do inspection of roof
• Provide estimate / quote to lead
• Customer signs contract
• Order materials
• Schedule job work with tasks
• Invoice customer
• Collect final payment
• Job completed
Insurance Roofing
Roofing that deals with insurance-related roof damage has a different process than residential roofing because roofers must work with the insurance company to agree upon and approve costs before work can be performed. Thus, a typical insurance roofing business workflow would look like this:
• Lead found through neighborhood canvassing or call in
• Schedule meeting with lead
• Get signed letter of intent from lead
• Coordinate meeting with insurance adjuster
• Inspect roof
• Provide insurance adjuster with estimate / quote
• Negotiate with insurance adjuster on estimate supplemental
• Collect first check from customer (after insurance pays them)
• Order materials
• Schedule job work
• Invoice customer for second (and final) payment
• Collect final payment
• Job completed
Commercial Roofing
For commercial roofing, projects are usually bigger in size than residential jobs, and there may be several more compliance and reporting steps that need to be maintained along the way to work with a commercial roofing project. A typical commercial roofing business workflow might look like this:
• New lead received (many times from a property management or real estate partner)
• Inspect roof
• Provide estimate / quote to lead
• Customer signs contract
• Create detailed job project management chart including major job milestones
• Apply for permits
• Order materials
• Schedule job work when materials delivered & permits received
• Invoice customer
• Collect final payment
• Job completed
Throughout this whole process, there would be constant communication with the customer for compliance because of the increased complexity of the project.
Workflows can make a positive difference in how smooth your business runs, how professional you are perceived by your customers and how your profit margins increase by improving your processes along the way.
On the internal side, having a workflow will help you stay organized, keep everything on track and make sure nothing slips through the cracks.
Storing all of this in job management software will mean you’ll have every step built out to move your process along each day without hiccups or confusion. Further, you’ll be able to automate a lot of your workflow using trigger mechanisms.
Building out your roofing business workflow will help you get more accomplished and leave you more time to focus on jobs on the horizon.
