In September 2014, NAC adopted the GoCanvas platform to address these challenges. GoCanvas, the global leader in mobile forms for businesses, has helped thousands of HVAC businesses replace cumbersome paper forms with highly customizable mobile forms that improve data collection and productivity.

Businesses can search the GoCanvas application store for over 20,000 mobile form templates. These templates can be completely customized with the online drag-and-drop App Builder tool, which many businesses use to build their own forms from scratch. Factor in features like Dispatch, Workflow, uploading price and customer lists, and integration with other systems, and GoCanvas dramatically changes the way work gets done.

“Before choosing GoCanvas… we tested several tablets and platforms, as well as using fillable PDFs and third-party file-sharing apps. At one point, we thought we had finalized an acceptable process using iPads and a file-sharing service, but we discovered GoCanvas and it was an enormous change for the better.” –Chris Kaufman, General Manager

Setup

As with most GoCanvas subscribers, NAC’s implementation was done in stages, with the substantial benefits outweighing the time commitment.

“After testing some GoCanvas forms with five users, we went all in and pushed [GoCanvas] to the field with very little difficulty,” Chris said. “Surprisingly, it was very smooth.”

To facilitate this smooth transition, GoCanvas worked closely with Chris throughout the entire adoption process, from testing to full deployment.

After Adoption

NAC now has over 50 technicians using the GoCanvas platform and filling out a combined total of over 1,200 mobile HVAC forms each month. All data from these forms is immediately transmitted to the office.

Technicians

• NAC’s HVAC technicians receive jobs on their mobile devices via GoCanvas’s Dispatch feature, which tells them where to go and what to do on the job site.
• The HVAC Work Order Ticket form contains a list of serviceable items (boiler, chiller, cooling tower, heat pump, evaporator coil, etc.) and provides the ability to capture detailed information about the work technicians do and the materials they use. Technicians can even take and upload pictures of the unit name tags on each piece of HVAC equipment they service.
• Drop-down fields and checkboxes are used whenever possible to speed up the data entry process.
• Technicians use the “talk to text” feature on their iPads to quickly capture information. This allows them to provide more detail than ever, without taking any more time out of their busy days.
• To streamline time tracking and payroll processing, technicians record their hours and capture a GPS location for each job.
• Technicians do not receive their next job until they have submitted their completed ticket or HVAC report.

Back Office

• To automate the payroll process, GoCanvas’s Professional Services team connected GoCanvas to a SQL server database that automatically generates a spreadsheet.
• Billing is now done daily instead of weekly, with NAC typically billing customers within 30 minutes of HVAC services being completed.
• With GoCanvas, sales engineers can quote jobs more accurately and much sooner without having to drive out to sites, as they’re now able to access pictures of HVAC equipment and unit labels that show them exactly what they’re dealing with.

Ready to Rethink How You Work?

GoCanvas has helped a variety of businesses across multiple industries transform their jobsites and rethink their project management, ultimately saving them money. Why not do the same? Reach out to one of our experts today to kickstart your process revolution.