48 replies to this topic

[Service Engineer]

Quote

Hello. We are a medium sized alarm company and I am looking for a software programme to help me manage our intruder alarm customer base and make the maintenance visit scheduling easier. Do you have any suggestions, the SSAIB recommend BASE but on speaking to someone who has used this in the past, they were not very impressed and gave up on it. Thank you

What do you company owners use to manage your customer database.?

[norman]

Dons Pete's hat:- KISS software and mention my name

[whistle]

Alarm Guard, on Aug 22 2006, 10:37 PM, said:

I have constructed my own multi-relational database using Access. I can adapt it to the requirements of another company if they are interested.

Being Access based, it is very powerful and competely seemless.


Elements include:
Customer details. Job details. Invoicing. Automatic VAT calculations. Reports. Monthly maintenance lists. Customer reminders. Jobs by day, or engineer, or by customer. Unfinished jobs. Unpaid invoice checking. Unpaid invoice reminders (3 stages). Installation details with zone details, resistances, voltages, Etc...

I can call up all details of any customer in seconds and keeping a check on maintenances, Etc. is a breeze.

We use this and find it very good.

[Nova-Security]

In house Access DB now with PDA link (nearly finished)

[xx badwolf xx]

i use a product called service life has
install, service, visits, callouts, invoices with sage, quotes schedules sections and some more does most of the things i require icluding the 4hr tracking
We have used this for about 4 years now can be bought outright sales or on a yearly contract

[Service Engineer]

I'm fairly sure my last employer used "Alarm Master", he seemed to be happy enough with it but I remember he frequently used to be getting updates to the program.

[gupster]

wilsdensec, on Aug 22 2006, 11:04 PM, said:

i use a product called service life has
install, service, visits, callouts, invoices with sage, quotes schedules sections and some more does most of the things i require icluding the 4hr tracking
We have used this for about 4 years now can be bought outright sales or on a yearly contract

Got a website for them?

Really im after something web based then i can alter it to exactly what i want. I just need something with the bare bones so i dont have to start from stratch.

[SystemQ]

We used a program called “RADIX”. Very powerful and feature packed but we had our own written to replace it for more control. As an off the shelf program Radix has a lot of features;

1- To dos
2- Projects
3- Appointments
4- Call outs
5- Phone messages
6- Support desk
7- Contact Mangager
8- Notes
9- Time sheets
10- Invoicing
11- Email

It’s free for personal use but this may restrict features.

Worth a look.

http://www.hurstridge.com/index.shtml


Paul.

[j.paul]

I would try a few different ones first, to make sure they do what you want them to do and you are happy with it before you part with your money.

[norman]

Peter James, on Sep 7 2006, 08:14 PM, said:

norman, on Aug 22 2006, 10:40 PM, said:

Dons Pete's hat:- KISS software and mention my name

Swerve KISS like your life depends on it!

Elaborate please, I thought you were up for having his babies?

[gupster]

At the miniute im just doing subby work so i dont need a massivly complex system to record what im doing.

Does anyone have an excel or access type job logging system i could have a look at? I understand that you would have made this yourself at your own time and money so may not be willing to dish it out! Im just after something really basic to look at maybe something someone has created years ago and not used anymore?

Thanks,

Adam

[gla.ssfp]

Where do you get the Alarm Mater software from?

[IPAlarms]

gupster, on Sep 23 2006, 01:50 AM, said:

At the miniute im just doing subby work so i dont need a massivly complex system to record what im doing.

Does anyone have an excel or access type job logging system i could have a look at? I understand that you would have made this yourself at your own time and money so may not be willing to dish it out! Im just after something really basic to look at maybe something someone has created years ago and not used anymore?

Thanks,

Adam

Hey gupster,

I wrote the Windows based AlarmPro software years ago and I don't market it any more due to other projects. It is probably still used by dozens of NSI and SSAIB approved companies. I have often thought of offering it free of charge to new Alarm Companies that do not yet have computerised systems. So, I guess now would be a good time to start doing so.

You, and anyone else on this forum are welcome to download it from my web site on the understanding that I cannot offer support and that it will not be upgraded in the future. I will make the files available and post a link as soon as someone let's me know they are interested.

AlarmPro has been replaced by a web based version which allows you to install the software on a server and have your engineers and customers access it with a browser at any time. If allowed by you, Customers can request services and view alarm and maintenance history. I think it was written too early, but might gain momentum in a few years time as internet acceptance becomes more widespread.