The Green Industry's Resource Center

JayD · #1 02-23-2011, 10:36 PM

What do you all use to keep track of customers week after week.

What I mean is, I have always used my yahoo calender on line to schedule my rout. I like using it because I can go back and make changes at will and I can print out the whole month, take with me and can see who I mowed each week/day.

Problem is, Yahoo went and changed up the fore mat and I cant stand it. It does not work for me like the old one did.

I know that there is programs out there that schedules for you but I don't want something that is going to be a hassle to change. Some times it may rain and then you have shift you whole schedule by a day or two.

Any ideals guys what I can try/use?

Thanks

crslolbkr · #2 02-23-2011, 11:26 PM

i'm going to try google calendar this year. it has a lot of options. i have my business' email account through google so it all syncs up with that gmail account. all my contacts are in my gmail contacts. i can also seperate them into groups. it seems like a good idea because i just got an android phone which is google powered so if i get a call from someone in the field i can take their info and enter it into my contacts on the spot. also my phone will alert me to any appointments i have scheduled in google calendar. i think it will be a nice system.

I used groundskeeper pro demo for a little bit last year and it was a great tool but i did not have $400 to buy it when the demo expired. you might read up on that if you are looking for a professional software solution.

JayD · #3 02-23-2011, 11:46 PM

Yeah, I looked at getting that last year and like you did not have the $$ to spend. I looked at the google calender and it does not do what I want like the old yahoo one did.

What I want is where I can type in every customers name that I will service that day in the little squares. Then I fill out the whole month and print it out so I can see the whole month. Now, the calenders let you fill in the squares but wont show the whole month to print...I hope I am making sense here....it is so hard to put in words LOL..

Southern Pride · #4 02-23-2011, 11:57 PM

I've been trying to find something as well and was completely unaware of the google calendar. I'll sign up tonight and check it out. With only 25 accounts it's not too much, so google calendar should work great. I sure wish I had one of those smart phones so I could use it out on the go too.

crslolbkr · #5 02-24-2011, 12:01 AM

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thedoub...ess/163886716/

i'm not sure if this is comparable to yahoo's old calendar but you can get monthly view and print it out too. it looks like you can only fit about 6 or so name/appointments but it is possible.

GMLC · #6 02-24-2011, 07:20 AM

I use the microsoft outlook calender which syncs with my blackberry and my email. You can print out daily, weekly and monthly schedules. Plus it stores all the customer info and sends alerts for appointments.

yardatwork · #7 02-24-2011, 08:53 AM

I have a weekly schedule that is broken down in half hour increments per day. I hand write my client route each day. I make a copy of the schedule each week and hand write each week. I'm more old school and like hard copies of stuff and I like using a pen and paper vs. going with the computer. I always have a pen and paper with me....I don't always have my lap top with me!

crslolbkr · #8 02-24-2011, 11:28 AM

I've had outlook for years and I have never used it. I don't even have a reason other than it seemed hard to set up the first time I tried a few years ago. Thanks for the idea, I'm definitely going to check it out. Hopefully it can sync up with my google calendar. I'll post my thoughts on it later.

Also if you have "windows calendar" I have heard good things about it too if your looking for something that comes built into most pc's... not windows 7 os though. But I think you can go to microsofts website and download it for free. I could be wrong but it's worth a try.

GMLC · #9 02-24-2011, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crslolbkr

I've had outlook for years and I have never used it. I don't even have a reason other than it seemed hard to set up the first time I tried a few years ago. Thanks for the idea, I'm definitely going to check it out. Hopefully it can sync up with my google calendar. I'll post my thoughts on it later.

Also if you have "windows calendar" I have heard good things about it too if your looking for something that comes built into most pc's... not windows 7 os though. But I think you can go to microsofts website and download it for free. I could be wrong but it's worth a try.

The only reason I started using outlook was because it was already on my computer. Once you get the hang of it its a really great tool. Then when you get really good with it you can import info to and from excel spread sheets and powerpoint slide shows. The microsoft office suite is really good for running a business. I have invoices, expenses, letter templates and everything I use at my finger tips with my blackberry synced to it!

XLS · #10 02-24-2011, 02:50 PM

just use groundskeeper pro i cando proposals ,estimates ,see money to date ,money owed, taxes the gov gets , keeps up with all my expenses, add customer details schedule services today and see every month and the date it will be done today so it schedules for the year .and to reschedule its as easy as changing the date of a service for a date in 3 days and it instantly updates the rest of the year