If you’ve recently started a service-based company, you probably see yourself investing too much time in tedious operational tasks. Do you want to know how you can automate mundane business operations without hampering productivity? 

Time is precious for businesses new to the service industry. Of course, as a startup founder, you desire to get more work done in less time. The only way to do that is by investing in automation tools. 

Your company will need automation tools to keep up with the competition and reach financial milestones. These tools will also help you juggle and coordinate multiple administrative tasks. 

In this blog, we’ll discuss three automation tools that can transform how your service-based business operates. 

#1. Field Service Management Solution

Fee Structure: USD 20 to USD 80 monthly or USD 500 to USD 1,500 upfront fee

As a service-based startup founder, you should continuously look for ways to make your services efficient, productive, and dynamic. To offer a superior experience, you’ll need to invest in a field service management solution. With this software, your company can easily manage and optimize the availability, positioning, and skills of field-based labor resources. 

This tool will come in handy if your business offers on-site technical service. Examples include cleaning, moving, maintenance, delivery, etc. With this, you can organize route planning, provide work instructions or assignments, and allocate resources to your on-site service professionals. 

One such field service management solution is Lowe's Pro Desk. This software takes a business-first approach that focuses on offering convenient tools, pricing, and services. Irrespective of your business size, this tool can help you source products, gain tax exemptions, obtain purchase approvals, etc. 

According to Workiz, businesses can benefit from the discounted, quick, and convenient service pro packs. Your on-site service personnel can also use this software to provide updates on transportation times, task completion, inventory updates, etc. 

#2. Scheduling Tools

Fee Structure: Usually free, but you can expect to pay between USD 20 and USD 200 per month for add-ons and extra features.

As the owner of a service-based business, you probably spend multiple minutes on employee and client schedules every day. But what if you can automate these operations without hassle? That’s where scheduling software comes in.

These tools can automate to-do list management, offer customizable calendars, ensure efficient scheduling functions, etc. It’s essential if you want your business to run efficiently and boost revenue. With this, you can track employee time and assign job requests. You can also perform online bookings and manage employee schedules. 

Overall, scheduling software could help you with the following business operations: 

• Efficient resource allocation
• Enhanced communication between employees and clients
• Improved customer satisfaction
• Accurate billing at the end of the month
• Increased productivity among employees

You can also integrate this software with your field service management tool for an optimized and automated workflow. Overall, these tools can help with resource management, reduce labor costs, save time, and avoid scheduling conflicts. 

#3. Accounting Software

Fee Structure: USD 9 to USD 999 monthly with a one-time license fee of USD 96

Managing business finances for a service-based startup can get difficult. You’ll need to learn about the basic accounting principles and bookkeeping strategies. If done manually, you might have to manage the cash flow daily. 

That’s why you can benefit from accounting software, as it can automate your business finances. This tool can help you perform time-intensive and complex tasks without making mistakes. You can also automate recurring tasks like inputting receipts, creating invoices, managing payroll, filing taxes, and generating reports. 

Accounting software for service-based startups will have features like invoicing, payment processing, inventory management, etc. Integrating this into your business operations will help you keep track of and secure your business financials and expenditures. 

With this, you can instantly generate key financial reports for analysis and review. You can also save time by syncing all the financial data to promote accuracy and reduce inventory errors. Moreover, you can access business statements that give a detailed insight into your company’s operations. 

In conclusion, your service-based startup will succeed only if you integrate certain automation tools into your existing digital infrastructure. These include scheduling tools, accounting software, and a service management solution. Most of their fee structures for these tools are affordable for any small business. 

With the help of such software, you can automate boring and mundane operational tasks like organizing schedules, managing accounts, etc. As a result, you can focus on the other important bits, like customer management and marketing, to grow your business.