With 2020 behind us, now is the time to reflect on the year that was and use what we’ve learned to push for a successful 2021.
The trades, services and construction sectors have been changed forever, in ways we’re all still trying to fully grasp for ourselves. From our corner of the world, we saw how AroFlo’s usage shifted to meet the demands of both working by distance and operating with public health and safety in mind.
As a community, we were frequently reminded of not only how resilient tradies, builders and service professionals can be when the going gets tough, but also how resourceful they are when faced with changing circumstances. Overall, it’s been amazing to see our community adapt how they’ve used our job management software and continue to thrive even under strict lockdown conditions.
We’ve also been excited to see our users readily revisiting our support and training to unlock as much functionality from their AroFlo systems as they can. In this article, we’ll uncover what this has taught us about getting the most out of AroFlo and how it can assist you in growing your business. This includes which features were adopted the most by users during 2020 and why, as well as our considerations on how these features will continue to be relevant post-pandemic. We’ll also delve into what COVID-19 has meant for the future of how we build AroFlo and where we’re taking our software next.
Which features have seen the most uptake?
Overall, we saw a huge increase in users wanting to add additional functionality to their AroFlo systems. For the sake of brevity, we’ll highlight the top three features and discuss what contributed to their increased popularity.
1. Gantt Charts
One of our flagship releases of last year, AroFlo Gantts saw a massive uptake by users across virtually every industry. Gantt Charts already bring lots of functionality to the table compared to manual methods of project management and 2020 only served to further increase their value. As a means of remotely administrating projects, Gantt Charts have been a lifesaver for many AroFlo users faced with the prospect of managing multiple teams across a project with severely limited physical interaction.
Functions like dependencies and milestones ensured that everyone was on the same page, letting work continue as usual even when project meetings couldn’t be held in person.
Keep a close eye on your projects with AroFlo’s Gantt Charts.
2. GPS Tracking
One of the most interesting parts of working during this pandemic is no doubt how it has forced us to re-evaluate whether our existing systems are still capable of providing for us. In the case of our AroFlo users, we’ve seen many professionals begin using our built-in GPS feature ‘AroPoint’ to help keep track of field operations while working remotely.
Break out box: We’ve covered the power behind AroFlo’s AroPoint system in a previous article, check it out here if you haven’t read it yet.
External and commercial GPS alternatives simply could not keep up with the demands of our users and AroPoint quickly saw a large uptake due to its interconnectivity with AroFlo’s other features. With the ability to facilitate job scheduling, real-time fleet tracking and even feed data into pinpoint accurate timesheets, AroFlo was a gamechanger for many of our users.
We’ve covered the power behind AroFlo’s AroPoint system in a previous article, check it out here if you haven’t read it yet.
3. Payment Gateway Integrations
All eyes have been on financial stability during this pandemic. But for the trades, services and building sectors, getting paid on time has always been a pressing concern when it comes to operating successfully.
So why the sudden shift to payment gateways during COVID-19?
We put it down to the need for contactless on-the-spot payment options, as well as more payments being taken after work is complete during the pandemic. With 8 payment gateway partners currently available to integrate with AroFlo, our users quickly found innovative new ways to keep their cash flow moving throughout the pandemic. Features such as payment links in invoices and the ability to turn a mobile device into an EFTPOS machine also provided a flexible means of taking payment with minimal contact, which many users have taken advantage of.
Improving your cash flow system to help you succeed in 2021.
How will these features continue to be important after the pandemic?
The need to work in different ways than before has forced many professionals to reassess the logistics of their existing business practices and adapt where necessary. Some of our users may have assumed that they’d return to their old practices once the pandemic has come to an end. However, they’ve now found just how useful these features are and with proper hands-on testing they’ve made them a permanent fixture within their businesses.
Because AroFlo’s features are so broadly applicable by design, we’ve found COVID-19 has served as a gateway into exploring parts of our software that many users simply didn’t have the time or the need to bother with before now. The more features you use within AroFlo, the more powerful our software becomes and many of our users have found that their old practices now feel outdated and slow by comparison.
Has COVID-19 affected AroFlo’s future direction and if so, what’s next?
If anything, COVID-19 has made us more aware of the need to continue on the path we’ve set for ourselves as a job management software provider. We’ve always prioritised remote operations and automated processes that make the work of professionals in the trades, services and construction sectors easier. The pandemic has shown us that AroFlo is capable of doing this even in the face of a global catastrophe and if we continue growing our software as we have, we’ll continue supporting the needs of you, our valued users as well.
And now we’d like to hear from you. Are you getting the most you can out of AroFlo?
Whether you’re a new user or an AroFlo veteran, we’d like to ensure you’re getting the most out of your AroFlo system. If there’s a feature you’d like to learn more about, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Submit a support request for more information or book a training session. 2021 is here and we’d love to help you give your business the best possible start on the path to growth and success in the new year!
Author:
James Burgess
Content Specialist
