You’ve heard about the benefits of job management software from other roofing contractors: time saved, profits increased, a full pipeline of qualified leads, and much more. But you’re not sure how to pick between the many options on the market.

How can you tell if a software system is right for you? Are there any solutions that are truly easy to use and built for roofing contractors, or would it be better to build your own software? As the leading all-in-one business management software for roofing contractors, we’ve learned a lot about how to develop the best job management software.

In this blog post, we’ll explore:

• Downsides to DIY solutions
• Essential characteristics of roofing job management software
• Job management software that helps businesses thrive

Downsides to DIY solutions

When contractors first realize that managing their businesses with spreadsheets or generic technology isn’t working the way they want it to, many decide to build their own software solution from scratch. After all, choosing the right software takes up a lot of time, and nothing could be more effective than a custom system that has everything you want—right?

While this seems like the logical answer, there are some serious downsides to building your own software system, including:

• High costs: When you hire a company to create your own custom software, you’re not just paying for the platform—you’re paying for a project manager, designers, and programmers on top of hosting fees, customer service, and maintenance. Add an app or offline services, and that’s a lot to take on for any business. Some estimates put the cost for custom CRM development between $20,000 and $100,000, depending on the features you want to include.
• Long development processes: Building a custom platform from the ground up takes time. You’ll find your first few months consumed by meetings, discussing everything from how it works to how it looks. It could be 6 to 8 months of programming, implementation, and training before you actually get to start using your product, all on top of the other work.
• Difficulties with updates or changes: While customization is a major benefit of DIY software, it can be a double-edged sword. Problems arise down the line when you want to add features, upgrade, or make changes to a platform that was designed as a one and done tool. Everything you do is an extra cost, and at the end of the day, you’ll have to keep investing to keep up.
• Additional demands on your staff: If you’re an owner or a business manager, your focus is on running and growing your roofing business, so you’ll need to allocate some of your other resources to manage and maintain a custom software. You may need to pull staff away from other job functions to handle this process, hire additional team members with software expertise, or pay for third-party management.

Building your own software solution is an appealing idea, and can seem like it will save you money, time, and complications. But ultimately, the hidden costs in time and money, as well as the expertise needed to maintain and update the system, mean that most roofing contractors are better off finding an existing software solution.

Essential characteristics of roofing job management software

Luckily, if you put in the time to review the functionality of established software systems, you can find one on the market that will fit your needs and act like a custom solution. Here are a few essential characteristics to look for when evaluating roofing job management software.

Designed for the roofing industry

If you’ve tried a software in the past that was created for many different industries and found it frustrating or difficult to use, it’s because you were using a tool that wasn’t made for the job. Finding software that was designed specifically for roofing contractors will help you operate your business efficiently.

AccuLynx is designed with features that meet the specific needs of roofing contractors. We don’t serve any other industries—instead, we focus exclusively on the roofing trends, challenges, and opportunities in the industry to help you meet them head-on.

Easy-to-use with robust support

Many contractors associate software with a steep learning curve. And some systems can be confusing to navigate. But not all software requires prior technical expertise or hours to learn the ins and outs. Contractors who are new to roofing CRM software should look for systems that are simple to learn and use.

AccuLynx understands that contractors would rather spend time growing their businesses than figuring out how to use a complicated system. We made our roofing software as intuitive as possible, so everything in AccuLynx works the way you’d expect it to. You can implement it quickly and get positive results that make a difference for your business.

In addition, every new AccuLynx user receives personalized onboarding to help them get up and running. Our dedicated customer support team is on hand to answer your questions whenever they arise, whether you’re a new user or a longtime customer. Live help and on-demand training are included with every user license and available via phone, online, or in person.

Simplifies day-to-day work

The best job management software for roofing contractors is not only easy to use and learn, but also makes your day-to-day work easier. Some contractors are overwhelmed by the thought of switching to a new software to manage their businesses. But with the right system, they’ll find the initial adjustment pays off by saving time, money, and energy in the long run.

We’ve built AccuLynx to simplify some of your most complex business processes. Take estimating, for instance. You can order an aerial measurement report directly from AccuLynx, use those numbers to automatically populate a digital estimate, and send that estimate to a homeowner for review or turn it into an online material order with just a few clicks.

All-in-one functionality

Relying on multiple tools to manage your business means lots of time spent learning to use each program, communication challenges, and entering customer data in multiple places. AccuLynx brings together every aspect of your business in a single program so you can work more efficiently and improve collaboration among your teams. From initial lead to final invoice and beyond, our features cover every step of a roofing job.

We also integrate with a wide range of third-party roofing tools, so you can truly manage everything from our platform.

Job management software that helps businesses thrive

Managing your roofing business with the right software system can help you grow your profits and save hundreds of hours every year. By using these tips outlined in the blog you can be confident that you are choosing the best software for your roofing business. Schedule a custom demo to learn more.