Property managers, field service technicians, and fire door safety inspectors who work for large companies have different struggles than their self-employed counterparts.
While there are perks to working for a corporation, municipality, or the like, there can also be some common challenges.
We’re outlining some of the most frequent issues and how to resolve them to be more productive, more profitable, and shine on the job.
The problem: You have to balance other job responsibilities.
If you work for a property management company, municipality, or a business that does other work besides solely inspecting fire doors (such as a fire door manufacturer, for instance) inspecting fire doors might not take up all of your time.
You may also be responsible for other parts of the business, in which case balancing your time between inspecting fire doors and your other duties can be difficult to do – especially when it comes to the reporting end.
The solution: Minimize the amount of total time you spend inspecting fire doors, while still performing a quality inspection, using technology.
Certain apps allow fire door safety inspectors to record inspection details using their iPhone or iPad. For instance, mpengo’s Fire Door Safety Inspection App lets you input notes (including voice memos), take photos, record measurements, and more into your phone.
With this technology, while you may still spend the same amount of time doing the inspection itself, the reporting is virtually complete when the inspection is. This cuts down on the time you would have spent at the office writing your report or giving information to an administrative assistant.
No more messing around with Excel spreadsheets, linking photo files, and deciphering notes!
The problem: Your administrative assistant can’t read your notes, you can’t read your own writing, or worse, your client can’t read or understand a thing!
Have you ever had that experience where you get back to the office after inspecting a fire door, look at the measurements recorded, and you can’t decipher them? Was that a 5 or a 6? A 1 or a 7? You’re either left guessing or faced with going back and re-measuring.
If you have an assistant entering in your notes, you might be able to decipher them, but it is still a time suck if you are constantly having to answer these types of questions.
The solution: Record your notes digitally.
This solution is simple – you can use your phone or tablet to take notes, making it crystal clear what you wanted to say.
An even easier way? Use an app designed specifically for fire door inspections. This will save you the hassle of having to type in headings, create a special electronic form, and more. Plus, it makes reporting a breeze.
The problem: Miscommunication with client sites.
If you work for a larger organization, you might not necessarily be booking your fire door inspection service calls. That may be the responsibility of a receptionist or office assistant. While this can save you time by not having to be on the phone as often, it can sometimes result in communication issues.
You might be given the wrong property information or appointment time. The person booking the call might not be asking the right questions, so you have to call the client back to get more details. You might need pertinent information in the field that is only available at the office – and the assistant is out to lunch. And so on…
The solution: Use dispatch management software for smoother communication from office to field.
Certain tools allow you to manage incoming calls from anywhere in the field, and to send all customer information, call information, and job details directly to the inspector.
For example, mpengo’s Dispatch Board integrates with mobile devices, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers, and integrates seamlessly with mpengo’s Service Call app. You can view the history of a client call later for reference and schedule and dispatch jobs for any technician in the field.
The problem: Budget cuts.
Either your organization is trimming back, or you don’t have the budget available to hire an assistant to help prepare inspection reports and invoices. You’ve been told you have to manage it yourself – alongside your other responsibilities.
The solution: Save up to 70% on your reporting and invoicing time with technology.
The mpengo Fire Door Safety Inspection App makes preparing high-quality reports easy, including pictures. Most of the work is done during the inspection itself, so when the time comes to create the report all you have to do is tap a button.
With the app, you can also send out invoices from your phone, too. This allows you to save time, and potentially even bring in more billable hours – all without an assistant.
The problem: No overtime, but you still have to get the work done.
Unlike self-employed fire door inspectors, if you work for an organization you might be operating on someone else’s time table. If you are in a 9-5 role (or other specified schedule) you leave the office at the end of the day.
This is a benefit as it means you’re not up late into the night preparing reports, booking calls, and invoicing – but what if there is still work to do?
The solution: Save time with technology.
If you’re finding there just isn’t enough hours in the day to get everything done and working late isn’t an option (or you just don’t want to stay at the office longer than you have to!), the answer lies in technology.
The most time-consuming part of the fire door inspection process can be the reporting stage. But with technology, like the Fire Door Safety Inspection App, you can reduce that time by up to 70% and never have to stay late at the office again.
What’s it worth to you to be able to spend time with your family in the evening instead of sitting at your desk or at the kitchen table doing paperwork? $2, $3, or $5? You bet it is!
Want to download a free trial of the Fire Door Inspection App? Get yours today: https://mpengo.com/fire-door-inspection-app/.
Learn about mpengo’s other apps, including Service Call and Dispatch Board, by calling 1-855-840-3064 or visiting www.mpengo.com.
