Replacing spreadsheets with a job management system
How a small trades business could move from spreadsheets and text messages to one simple system.
Challenge
A growing trades business tracks jobs in a shared spreadsheet, assigns work by text message and builds weekly reports by hand. Information is often out of date, and jobs occasionally slip through the gaps.
Approach
Map the current process from enquiry to completed job, identify where information is duplicated or lost, and agree a focused first version covering the most painful steps.
Solution
A browser-based job management tool where office staff log jobs, assign them to team members and update status, with a simple mobile view for staff on site.
Key features
- Job list with status, priority and assigned staff
- Mobile-friendly job view for staff on site
- Customer records linked to job history
- Automatic weekly summary report
- Role-based access for office and field staff
Technology
- Next.js
- React
- TypeScript
- PostgreSQL
- Tailwind CSS
Outcome
The intended outcome is a single, reliable source of truth for jobs, less time spent on manual reporting and a system that can be extended with quoting and invoicing later.