“We can pump a quote out in seconds” – Nathan Gill

Automated Innovation prides themselves on creating innovative solutions in all things electronic automation. Their projects vary greatly from home theatre solutions to security, lighting, audio visual and communications installations in corporate spaces. Their attention to detail has put them at the top of their industry, as confirmed by the several project awards they have one at the national Cedia Awards.

“We are a contracting business that can deliver the total package from electrical to high end audio visual custom solutions.”

The Challenge:

AI were founded when 2 companies combined. The other company used Microsoft Outlook for scheduling and found difficulties with the system. They were already looking into a new system and had researched simPRO. A board member of Automated Innovation was confident with the simPRO system, which gave them the foundation to begin the company using simPRO from day one in order to avoid the problems of the past.

The Solution:

Automated Innovation chose to combine simPRO Enterprise, with iPads and iPhones for the team in the field. They needed the full software system to enable them to accurately manage and monitor the project work and larger jobs that the company excelled at.

The Result:

As a business owner, simPRO gives me flexibility.

I can be at home or working in the field, and easily do quotes or variations on the fly. It makes my business completely mobile with the ease of using just one piece of software.

I can also look at where the technicians are any time. We are about to roll out iPads to the project managers so they will have the ability to generate orders and do variations.

In the workshop we have set up a touch screen for all the technicians. They use it to see all their jobs at a glance every morning and know what’s expected of them for the day.

We can now track every aspect of the job; who raised it, who entered a part number, reminders, tasks… it’s all visible and easy to control.

simPRO saves me a day of my time every week, I’m no longer travelling back to the office all the time. I can work from where ever I am and I’m not chasing staff for order numbers or other information. It’s all at hand.

A quote that would take hours to do in a traditional way, Automated Innovation can pump out in a few seconds. I’ve been able to give clients a data quote within 30 seconds, and trying to do that on something else would be pretty much impossible. Because it’s all in one system, once the quote gets accepted a deposit invoice can be generated and sent. I’m not relying on my admin team to get a hold of the quote and send me or the client the information, which now saves me time.

Thanks for your time Nathan, may the simPRO system continue to help your business maintain excellence.

We’ve narrowed the reason down to the fact the browser has cookies disabled. To correct the correct this issue, enable cookies in your browser. For help, please refer to our help guide here.

Time savings are among the biggest advantages Ben mentions he’s gained from simPRO in the 4 years of using it. He points out that he had to spend an hour every afternoon sorting and scheduling the next day. With simPRO, it now happens as soon as the job comes in, meaning he gets those hours back.

We have created an automated release which has been issued and will update simPRO overnight.

If you find your simPRO build still experiencing problems tomorrow, please contact the email hidden; JavaScript is required.

Our own Lynelle Hills, Chief Financial and Commercial Officer, talks about three ways to improve electrical contracting businesses by:

• Managing cashflow
• Implementing business systems and procedures
• Understanding and managing direct and indirect costs

Read the Magazine here

Date

Friday 3rd February

Time

8:00am – 5:00pm

Location

Viaduct Events Centre
161 Halsey Street
Viaduct Basin, Auckland

simPRO’s seamless integration with Xero makes it an excellent accounting package for our users. Watch the case study video below to hear what Michael Howes from Espresso Ninja has to say about this powerful software combo.

“The interface between Xero and simPRO is very simple, very easy to use and just makes life so much easier.”

The statement was about a breach of Copywrite, although we aren’t familiar with this term Copywrite, we are making the assumption that the FPA is referring to a breach of Copyright, not the rap artist from Ohio.

At simPRO we take this matter seriously and are currently investigating whether any of our fire forms could potentially be caught up in the alleged breach of Copyright for the FPA’s log books, however our legal advice has told us that we have no issues to be concerned about with our fire forms.

We will have the results of our investigation completed within the next few days and will make the findings available to all our fire clients and prospective clients when available.

Please note our Christmas trading hours are as follows:

• Monday, 26 Dec CLOSED (Public Holiday)
• Tuesday, 27 Dec CLOSED (Public Holiday)
• Wednesday, 28 Dec 09:00 – 17:00
• Thursday, 29 Dec 09:00 – 17:00
• Friday, 30 Dec 09:00 – 17:00
• Monday, 2 Jan CLOSED (Public Holiday)

Update: Following on from our recent advice about the recent release of MYOB AccountRight 2011.

The ODBC* files released by MYOB for us to work with contain numerous bugs and at this stage we are unable to nominate a time when we can release a simPRO Accounting Link update that will work with MYOB AccountRight 2011.

We recommend that you do not upgrade to MYOB AccountRight 2011 at this time. We will post a notification to this site when it is ok to do so.

*Read more about ODBC Drivers.

QuickBooks

QuickBooks 2011/2012 have no issues and there are no known issues with the our ability to link via the simPRO Accounting Link. So you may upgrade your QB at anytime.

NOTE: As for all 3rd party integrations – we recommend that you do not upgrade those applications without getting confirmation from simPRO that we have updated to work with their changes. This is especially relevant with the simPRO Accounting Link.

Sporting the new look V8 Supercar for the Sydney Telstra 500 Fujitsu Series, simPRO Racing regular Chaz Mostert is jumping in the drivers seat for simPRO/Royal Australian Navy Ford Performance Racing team. Racing with the symbolic number 100 representing the centenary of the Royal Australia Navy, we wish Chaz the best of luck for the race in Sydney.

Chaz even promised simPRO CEO Nolan LeSueur this morning that he was going to keep the new paint work in good condition for a podium finish so we can have a few nice photo opportunities.

Chaz Mostert

The 2010 Australian Formula Ford Champion and current leading rookie in the Fujitsu Series, Chaz Mostert is a hot favourite to win the Mike Kable Young Gun Award for best first-year V8 Supercar driver.

Not since Mark Winterbottom’s 2002 debut in the national Formula Ford Championship has Australian motorsport seen such a promising young talent dominating the most respected feeder category in the country.

Chaz has won multiple Australian karting championships, which lead him to become one of the youngest drivers in Australia to make a national Formula Ford debut without progressing through a state championship.

“I am really ecstatic to be working with FPR,” said Chaz.

“I have dreamed about driving for the factory Ford team since I started racing so to be part of it, even for a couple of races, is just amazing.”

It’s been a dream year Chaz, keep it up and best wishes for the weekend!

Our own Darren Leo staking his claim

Read Ford Performance article here

Read Navy backing article here