Tablet estimating

[Tegrey]

I would guess that most large companys are using electronics for estimating. We have bought into the Pacer program of the PDCA. We'll be using the Motion Computing LE1700. The software will be downloaded through the PDCA. This will give us the availability to estimate any project using our numbers instantly. If changes are needed, they can be done on site. Estimating any project will become minutes vs. 1/2 hr. then email or sending an estimate back to the customer. We will print the estimate through our vehicle printer on site. With larger companys I'd assume the savings has to be great. Training a new estimator will be very easy as the info is already there. What form of electronic estimating do you do? How much time does your business spend on estimating? How about the cost for an estimate? I figure our cost saved for estimating will pay for the system within a few months. Any suggestions? Thank You.

 

[PowerWash Pros]

I just take the laptop with me, plug it into my little pixma printer in the car and print estimates right on site. I save the file to my laptop when done so then I have a copy. I hate paper copies everywhere, I lose stuff. You can buy an adapter for your cig lighter for $14 BUCKS at wally mart, then just plug your printer in and connect to your laptop via usb....couldnt be easier. Print 1 copy, give it to the person and off you go. We have efax so when they send the signed copy back via fax I just save it as an PDF. I back up onto a thumb drive daily for all the documents and quickbooks. I back up onto CD about every month, if I remember. I have a 2g and 4g thumb drive and havent ran out of space yet.

 

[Chris Francis]

That is cool Nicole sound like the laptop is working for you I was thinking geting pda for the same reason you have the lap top

 

[Roof Clean USA]

We use a Laptop plugged into inverters under the seat of our trucks. Any USB2.0 printer will work. If you have a super or crew cab and a back seat in your truck you can even use a small LASER printer and you have a complete mobile office. We recommend Service CEO software for Pressure Washer and Roof Cleaners. Best service business COMPLETE TOOL for estimating, scheduling, contact manager, bookkeeping software bar none. If you are interested in Service CEO complete business management software- Account Rep. Richard Winant is a real help in setting everything up. Tell him Dave Westerman from PW institute and ROOF CLEAN USA referred you. You can get a well made laptop vehicle mount from Laptopmounts.com or on ebay for 39.99 and they are easy to mount and work perfect. My Windows mobile PDA is Synced so I can get quotes emailed to estimators and we can PDF to clients. Then have them pay by paypal. Super simple.