Next-Gen Field Work: What’s Here & What’s Coming Next
Exciting new features are here, and even more are on the way! In this on-demand webinar, our VP of Product Brent Nieder and Strategic Retention Manager Jordan Rash break down the newest tools GoCanvas® has in store for 2025.
From powerful enhancements to upcoming releases, see how these features can streamline your workflow, save you time, and help you work smarter—not harder.
Here’s what you’ll learn:
Builder 3: Redesigned with your feedback, offering advanced loops, a cleaner interface, and enhanced settings.
Repeat Dispatch: Set it and forget it—automate recurring tasks as easily as scheduling a meeting.
Easy Form: Digitize paper forms effortlessly with intuitive drag-and-drop functionality, streamlining your data collection
Issue Tracking: Upgrade how you flag, report, and manage field issues with automated workflows.
Plus, see how features like Video Capture and Mobile Attachments are already helping out in the field.
Don’t miss out! Fill out the form to access the recording now.
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The Future of Construction Project Management
Digital tech revolutionizes construction project management, integrating field and office operations for enhanced efficiency…
Land surveyors play an important role on jobsites by making precise measurements to determine physical property boundaries. As the Department of Labor explains, these skilled workers provide the relevant data needed to understand the shape and features of the Earth’s surface for engineering, mapmaking, and construction projects.
Is There an App for Land Surveying?
While land surveyors typically use specific instruments designed for the job, mobile apps can make it easier for them to collect, organize, and report information right in the field. Land survey apps that allow surveyors to capture data and automatically generate reports are available on iPhone, Android, and other mobile devices.
Top Benefits of Using Land Survey Apps
Using a mobile app for land surveys helps eliminate the use of paper sheets that can easily get misplaced or damaged. In lieu of manual paper-based processes, data is recorded into a specialized mobile app and stored securely in the cloud. Digitizing information can benefit businesses by:
Ensuring accuracy: Using a mobile app for land surveys ensures that data collected on site is recorded in real time.
Creating standardization: Companies can use standardized templates and required fields on mobile forms to facilitate proper collection of all required information.
Increasing efficiency: Mobile apps give workers back the hours of time associated with manually creating reports. They’re designed to automatically generate perfectly formatted reports, saving time and effort for employees.
Scaling operations: For complex organizations with large field operations, software and mobile apps can help scale processes and ensure consistency across different sites and teams.
Reducing risk of loss: While paper sheets can easily be misplaced or destroyed by mistake, digital records are automatically backed up in the cloud, meaning documentation is always available whenever needed.
When choosing a mobile app for land surveying, there are a few key things to look out for that will help make the job easier.
Field Data Capture and Report Generation
A land survey app should allow surveyors to capture data in the field and instantly create reports. Once data is collected, the app can generate and email PDF versions of reports to relevant stakeholders.
Customizable Templates
Most mobile app providers offer templates to use as a starting point and customize as needed. For example, a mine surveyor would need a different template than a construction site surveyor.
No-Code or Low-Code Platforms
If you’re looking for a platform that’s easy for non-technical users to set up and use, no-code or low-code options fit the bill. These types of platforms allow teams to make additions and adjustments using a simple drag-and-drop editor—no IT support needed!
Key Features of a Land Survey App
When comparing apps for land surveys, there are a number of features you should look out for, including:
Signature capture: This feature allows individuals to sign off on documents directly in the field, then immediately send them to relevant parties.
Image capture: Mobile devices make it easy to take and attach photos to surveys, allowing you to enhance reports with visuals.
Offline capabilities: On remote job sites with limited internet, survey apps with offline capabilities allow surveyors to collect and save data locally, then sync to the cloud when a connection is available.
Reference data: Looking to make digital forms even more streamlined? Integrate other data sources into the app to pre-populate information.
Dispatch: Schedule and dispatch land surveyors directly on the app.
GPS monitoring: Leverage your mobile device’s GPS functionality to create a digital record of each jobsite’s physical location.
Integrations and APIs: Seamlessly sync information across devices in the field and back at the office.
Free Land Survey App for iPhone and Android Mobile Devices
Get started for free with the GoCanvas® land survey app, available on iPhone and Android devices. Construction firms and land surveyors looking to save money, boost efficiency, and increase flexibility by digitizing their processes with a customizable mobile app should look no further than GoCanvas for field data collection and reporting.
GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers.
Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.
Check out even more resources
How Digital Work Orders Impact Your Key Business Outcomes
Is your company still using paper sheets to manage work orders? The drawbacks of using paper forms are often hidden, making it difficult to understand the true impact of paper forms on a business…
Centurion is the largest heavy haulage provider in Australia. They deliver national supply chain solutions to the resources, energy, construction & retail sectors throughout Western Australia, Queensland & the Northern Territory…
Companies rely on collecting data in order to operate. In a fast-changing world, companies that focus on streamlining and improving their data collection processes will be able to do more. The good news is that it’s become easier than ever for businesses of all…
In today’s digital age, software integration solutions that seamlessly connect systems are a critical component of business success. The GoCanvas Application Programming Interface (API) allows our customers and partners to enhance user experience and streamline operations by deeply integrating data collection and processing into their workflows.
Why GoCanvas Is the Ideal Choice
For product leaders and decision-makers, GoCanvas API integration offers a proven solution that adds value to software products by enhancing their capabilities with minimal effort. GoCanvas allows businesses to manage job scheduling, collect data in the field, and apply intelligent workflow automation to process that data. The GoCanvas API allows our partners to seamlessly leverage these capabilities as part of their software ecosystem. The benefits of choosing GoCanvas include:
Expertise and reliability: With years of experience in field management software, GoCanvas provides a reliable and tested Form Builder and PDF Designer that developers can trust. You can use our white-label form builder to add your branding for use by your customers.
Support and resources: GoCanvas offers extensive documentation, tutorials, and customer support, ensuring developers have the resources they need to succeed.
Future-proof solutions: GoCanvas continuously updates its Form Builder and PDF Designer to incorporate new features and improvements so your software remains competitive and up to date.
GoCanvas partners are already using our API at scale to deliver great user experiences for their customers. Some common use cases include:
Automated scheduling: Existing job scheduling software can integrate with the GoCanvas Dispatch API. Forms can be partially pre-filled using this data, and field service management can be executed without the need for manual data collection.
Automated data management: If you’re currently managing data that would be useful to have in the field, integrating that data into the GoCanvas Reference Data API gives your customers access to it while in the field—even when they’re offline.
PDF generation: Whether you want to transform data into a rich PDF that matches existing templates or simply provide a more polished document for customer invoices, GoCanvas’s PDF generation API is up to the task.
In conclusion, integrating GoCanvas’s API can significantly enhance your software solutions, making them more efficient, cost-effective, and reliable. By leveraging GoCanvas’s comprehensive features and expert support, product leaders can ensure they provide top-tier tools for managing field workers, ultimately driving success and innovation in their industries. For more information about GoCanvas’s white-label solution and to explore how we can meet your specific needs, visit our landing page or contact our sales team for a demo. Let GoCanvas help you take your field management software to the next level.
GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers.
Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.
Check out even more resources
Gown Your Business with GoCanvas Partner Program
Join our Partner Program and gain instant access to our global network of thought leaders and industry experts enjoying shared collaboration and collective success.
Explore how Forte Supply Chain Solutions partnered with GoCanvas, combining in-house industry expertise with our white-label mobile forms to revolutionize their processes.
Worker safety is a top priority for everyone in the construction industry. It’s in the best interest of workers and employers to comply with all regulations set by OSHA and to follow all of the best practices for safety in the workplace.
Having a robust safety program is good for workers, helping to limit accidents and incidents, and strengthening employee trust in the company. Companies with robust safety management programs benefit from satisfied workers, lowered costs, and greater productivity and efficiency.
Construction project management software is widely used in the construction industry as a way to collect important information about different components of the job and tasks at hand. A simple inspection formcan be used by workers on the job to determine potential hazards and mitigate risks.
3 Types of Jobsite Safety Inspection Forms in Construction
A jobsite safety inspection form is an essential tool used in safety management programs and there is a wide range of use cases for safety forms. This article reviews some of the most commonly used safety forms and templates that construction firms and contractors can use to get started for free.
Construction Safety Inspection Forms – The 10 Most Common OSHA Hazards
OSHA shares data with companies that details the top 10 OSHA violations each year. This data is shared to create awareness around the top preventable hazards in the workplace, so employers know where to focus their efforts to address the most common health and safety issues.
In 2020, the top violations included:
Fall Protection
Hazard Communication
Respiratory Protection
Scaffolding, Ladders
Lockout/Tagout
Powered Industrial Trucks
Eye and Face
Machine Guarding
Construction companies routinely use safety inspection forms to monitor these problem areas, with a safety inspection form designed specifically for each type of hazard. These types of safety forms are designed around one specific hazard and the corresponding list of items to review.
In general, safety inspection forms are meant as a way to evaluate tools, personal protective equipment, fire extinguishers, forklifts, work areas, and other elements for potential hazards or mitigators for hazards. These can be checked as frequently as deemed necessary, whether it be on a daily, weekly, monthly, or annual basis.
Examples and Templates for Safety Inspection Checklists:
Fall Protection
Hazard Communication
Respiratory Protection
Scaffolding
Ladders
Lockout/Tagout
Powered Industrial Trucks
Eye and Face
Machine Guarding
Safety Audit Form
A safety audit form is similar to the safety inspection form listed in the previous section, but instead of examining one component of safety, the safety audit form typically examines the entire Jobsite, looking holistically for hazards in the workplace. This type of inspection form is used to understand all of the safety and health hazards so that they can be addressed before an accident or incident happens. Construction firms should update their safety audit forms regularly to ensure that they are keeping up with changing OSHA standards in the workplace. This type of safety audit or Jobsite inspection checklist may only be used on occasion in the workplace, in order to assess the overall safety of a work zone.
Example and Template:
Typically the safety audit checklist will include examine safety threats across the entire Jobsite, including:
PPE
Housekeeping and Sanitation
Trenching & Excavations
Electrical Installations
Tools, Ladders, Scaffolding
Fall Protection
Steel Erection
Precast Concrete Erection
Roofing Work
Aerial Lifts / Scissor Lifts
Cranes, hoists, and derricks
Rigging, Heavy Equipment
Fire Prevention
Flammable Gases
Welding and Cutting
Spray Painting / Fire Proofing Operations
Air Compressors
Confined Space
Lockout / Tagout
Concrete, Masonry
Fueling Area
And More
COVID-19 Workplace Safety and Health Inspection Forms
Many workplaces have started to use the COVID-19 workplace safety and health checklist to ensure measures are in place to protect workers from exposure to and infection with COVID-19.
In the construction industry, workers have had to continue working as an essential business and this means that workplaces need to take the appropriate precautions to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
The workplace safety and health inspection form is designed to help job sites stay in compliance with new safety regulations and restrictions that stemmed from the pandemic.
Example and Template:
Health screening forms and workplace safety forms will continue to be needed on job sites in the near term to keep workers safe and productive.
Going Digital With Safety Inspection Form
There are many digital tools and forms that can help to formalize your safety program, rather than managing this process on paper forms. The common challenges with paper forms include missing or lost papers, illegible writing, and time-consuming data entry. Using a digital platform like GoCanvas for managing your safety programs will enable your business to gain greater visibility into safety across job sites and make the process seamless for workers to access information from anywhere. The rise of mobile devices has given construction companies the opportunity to leverage apps and forms in the field to both collect and share key safety information with workers.
You can learn more about the benefits of a safety management program managed with mobile apps and forms in a recent article published here. You can also search the GoCanvas Form Template Library for more examples and resources to use for all your safety forms and safety inspection forms. Sign up for a free trial and see how easy it can be to use our no-code platform for mobile apps and forms for construction.
Sign up for a free trial today and see how GoCanvas can impact your business.
GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers.
Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.
Check out even more resources
The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections
Managing a construction project is a complex and stressful process. Among other things, you have to coordinate project team members, materials, and equipment and ensure that contractors are not afflicted by the potential risks and hazards present at the construction site. That said, quality means different things to different people which is why you should…
Your competition is finding faster ways to capture data and get critical insights from the field into their existing systems. In short, they’re not going bigger, they’re getting smarter. In this 15-minute broadcast on the construction industry’s digital transformation, find out why the trend is to modernize workflows – and how you can stay ahead of the curve…
See how VIP Lighting optimized efficiency with GoCanvas
VIP Lighting is a retail lighting and electrical maintenance business that services over 10,000 retail locations all over Australia and New Zealand. Before GoCanvas, VIP Lighting had two separate systems that were impossible to integrate, leading to inefficiencies. GoCanvas made it easy to integrate their systems into single, centralized platform…
Whether you run a property management business or you’re just starting out as a self-employed handyman, nailing down your handyman prices based on the job is vital to your success. Here’s why.
Suppose you price yourself too high, you’ll force potential clients to shop around for estimates from your competitors. On the other hand, if you price yourself too low, either you’ll raise questions about your experience or potential clients will conclude that there’s some sort of catch.
That said, how do you find that sweet spot when pricing your handyman services? Well, continue reading this guide to find out all you should know about the handyman business, including how to price your jobs right.
What Does a Handyman Do?
“Handyman” is an umbrella term for a wide range of jobs and people. A handyman need not necessarily be a man, women can also do the same tasks. We’ll use the term “handyman” in this guide to refer to the entire profession of people with different identities.
So, what kind of services do handymen do? Some standard services include:
Installation of kitchen cabinets
Fixing kitchen sinks
Finding and fixing leaky pipes
Stair repair and maintenance
Carpet removal and installation
Bathroom repairs, improvements, and maintenance
Basic carpentry tasks
Attic insulation
Outdoor repairs and installations such as siding repair, gutter maintenance, and fencing.
Whereas this list is by no means exhaustive, it sets an excellent benchmark for what services a handyman should offer.
What Is a Handyman Estimate Template?
A handyman estimate template is a blank copy of your estimate form, which you can fill out to create a comprehensive estimate after a consultation. These templates can be filled in Microsoft Word, PDFs, Google Docs, Google Sheet Spreadsheets, Excel, handyman estimate software, or even free quoting tools.
You can try out the GoCanvas mobile app for an easy-to-use solution for creating and sending handyman estimates.
When Do You Need to Send an Estimate to Customers?
It’s important that you present the prospective client with the estimate in good time. Ideally, you should furnish the prospective client with the estimate within 24-48 hours after meeting or consulting them. This demonstrates that you’re a professional and enthusiastic about the job. Additionally, some clients want things to move fast, so the first submission of the estimate could win the job.
Why Accurate Estimates Are Important for Handyman Businesses and Impact Your Business’s Bottom Line
High-quality workmanship comes at a price. Property renovation and maintenance projects require a substantial amount of time and effort. It is for this reason that every project should begin with an accurate estimate.
An accurate estimate allows you to properly budget for the job at hand, and avoid any rude surprises when it comes to the materials needed to complete the job and the completion timeline. If you don’t present the customer with an accurate estimate of the entire cost of the renovation or project, you may find yourself in a scenario where you’re significantly under-budgeted. This may mean that you may have to absorb the additional costs or find out where you can reduce costs as the project is progressing. When this happens, besides you jeopardizing the quality of the project, this may also impact your revenue negatively.
Conversely, if your estimate is on the higher side, potential customers may opt to work with other handymen who offer the same quality of service at competitive prices. This will mean you’ll have fewer clients, and fewer clients mean lower revenue generation.
How Do I Write a Handyman Estimate? What Should I Include?
There are three ways of creating a written handyman estimate, namely:
Using a mobile app or software: This is the fastest and easiest method. Creating an estimate using this method takes a few seconds, and you can usually send the estimate right from the app.
Using Excel: This is the oldest way of writing a handyman estimate. In case you only need to send one or two estimates, this is a simple and free way of sending an estimate.
Word processor: Google Docs or Microsoft Word can also be used to write estimates. Any word processor can work.
What to Include in an Estimate?
The details you include in your estimate are far more important than the method you use to write or deliver them. Whether you create fancy written estimates or hand-deliver them, the vital components are always the same. They include:
Description of your work: Ensure that you are ultra-clear about what the estimate covers. In some instances, all you’ll need is a one-line text to describe the work, like “installation of kitchen cabinets.” In other instances, you may need to explain the project extensively.
Price estimation: You can either itemize everything or quote it in one lump sum.
Important disclaimers: There are projects that start out small and end up being much bigger. For instance, if you’re going to replace a damaged siding, you may never know what you will find behind the siding. Your estimate is your chance to manage your client’s expectations so that they aren’t met with additional price charges they didn’t see coming.
Benefits of hiring you: Suppose a potential client is receiving multiple estimates, it’s prudent to find a way of differentiating yourself from your competition. Otherwise, all the customers will use when choosing a handyman is the price quoted.
Components of a Written Estimate
The details of your company (name, address, email, phone number)
Customer details (name and address)
The date the estimate was created
Project description
Estimated cost
Important exclusions and disclaimers
The expiration date of the estimate
Terms of payment
Acceptable payment methods
How Do You Calculate the Price in a Handyman Estimate?
Handyman services usually charge by the hour. However, you can choose to charge by the hour if you feel that it’s a task that you can estimate accurately. That said, it is advisable to set a minimum service charge. This can be something like installing a doorbell or changing a light switch. It’s completely up to you if you want to create a fixed price for small tasks such as these or if you want to set an hourly rate.
Needless to say, the more complex and larger the job, the more you’ll charge per hour. On average, the hourly rate for handyman jobs usually ranges between $60-$65, but jobs that get complex or are part of a larger company can be priced up to $125 an hour.
Another thing you should consider when you’re calculating the price in a handyman estimate is your supplies and materials. Most jobs will require that you come with specific supplies, all of which should be billed to your client. You should also factor in taxes in your pricing estimate.
Given that most handyman jobs aren’t recurrent, it’s likely that you’ll be billing your client once. Keep track of all your expenses and add a markup to ensure that you’re attaining your profit margin.
What’s the Difference Between a Handyman Estimate Versus an Invoice?
An estimate is a rough calculation of the cost of work needed to be done upon initial inspection. Upon a handyman getting into a project, it’s not uncommon that the scope of the work will get expanded. Whether it is due to hidden damages that weren’t assessed or complications during the project, your invoice at the completion may be different from your estimate. An invoice is a bill for the services once a customer hires you for a project. They typically contain itemized costs and terms of payment.
Why Go Digital With Estimates Rather Than Paper Forms
There are many options for creating paper form estimates, including Excel, Word, and Google spreadsheets. Whereas these options are free to use, there are many hidden costs and risks involved when using them. These include:
Human error: When using paper forms, you can mistype formulas or make other errors and not notice that the final calculation is wrong.
Version control issues: It can be challenging to keep track of the latest version of a document, especially if you have multiple versions of the same document.
Lost work: This usually happens accidentally when a computer crashes and the document isn’t saved, or similar cases.
More and more companies are turning to digital forms to create estimates. Digitizing handyman estimates can bring a number of benefits to handyman businesses. Including:
Secure cloud platform for estimates
Automatic calculations
Digital signatures
Image capturing ability
Availability of reference data
How Does Estimating Software Work for a Handyman?
Regardless of whether you’re repairing a drywall or installing a new ceiling, a handyman’s job is never finished. With the hectic schedule and the sheer range of services you may offer, a handyman estimating software can help you manage your inventory and eliminate the sleepless nights of handling endless amounts of paperwork.
GoCanvas estimate software for handyman businesses can help convert your paper estimates into efficient digital forms. It simplifies the contract bidding process with its mobile estimating tools that are both easy-to-use and comprehensive.
With our estimating software, you’ll be able to:
Auto-populate data like prices and parts to minimize manual input and eliminate errors.
Automatically calculate the cost of labor and materials.
Store estimates in the cloud so that you can review and update them anytime, anywhere.
Try out our handyman business estimate form mobile app for free.
GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers.
Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.
Check out even more resources
The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections
Managing a construction project is a complex and stressful process. Among other things, you have to coordinate project team members, materials, and equipment and ensure that contractors are not afflicted by the potential risks and hazards present at the construction site. That said, quality means different things to different people which is why you should…
Your competition is finding faster ways to capture data and get critical insights from the field into their existing systems. In short, they’re not going bigger, they’re getting smarter. In this 15-minute broadcast on the construction industry’s digital transformation, find out why the trend is to modernize workflows – and how you can stay ahead of the curve…
See how VIP Lighting optimized efficiency with GoCanvas
VIP Lighting is a retail lighting and electrical maintenance business that services over 10,000 retail locations all over Australia and New Zealand. Before GoCanvas, VIP Lighting had two separate systems that were impossible to integrate, leading to inefficiencies. GoCanvas made it easy to integrate their systems into single, centralized platform…
Purchase order forms are used to record the details of a transaction between a buyer and seller. Purchase orders, often referred to as POs, are used by different types of companies for their documentation and record-keeping purposes. Purchase orders are most commonly used by companies that need to process sales, with use cases that span from the retail industry, wholesale businesses, restaurants, vendors, service providers, and more.
Like other forms of documentation, order forms are designed to include all of the relevant details of the purchase and clarify what’s included with this transaction between the buyer and seller of goods or services. Purchase orders become transactional documents when both parties sign off on the agreement of the sale.
This article covers common ways to create a purchase order form, with examples and templates from GoCanvas to help you simplify the purchase order management process for your business.
How do I create a purchase order form?
Deciding how to create a purchase order form will depend entirely on your business needs. There are many tools available that your business can leverage to create a purchase order form. Here are a few options for creating PO forms:
Paper: The most basic option is simply using a pen and paper form to fill out POs on the job. However, managing paper forms can become complicated when you have a growing business or multiple locations. To solve the challenges of paper forms, many companies are switching to digital tools to simplify and streamline their business operations.
Word or Excel: For companies starting out in exploring digital options, many look to familiar tools like Excel, Google Sheets, or Word document templates for purchase order forms. While these tools are good for managing your own documents, they can be limited in terms of providing workflow and collaboration tools to manage and share information between multiple people in real-time.
Software and Apps: The best option for companies that need to scale their operations is to consider digital apps and software built for order form management. This category of software provides an easy-to-use system for creating and assigning purchase orders, capturing images and digital signatures, and sharing PDF files in real-time to both the seller and buyer. Going from paper forms to digital software and apps is designed to help companies provide a better service experience, collect payments faster, and maximize productivity by eliminating manual work.
Example of a purchase order form
No matter what format you decide on to create your purchase order, there are some common types of information to include on these forms. Here is an example of how to write a purchase order and what to include in your form:
Seller and Buyer details: When writing the purchase order, it should document the basics of the transaction between parties. Including things like the name of merchant, name of purchaser, billing addresses, and similar types of information typically need to be recorded on the PO.
Purchase Order details: When you are writing the purchase order, it should include all of the specifics relevant to the agreement. Many companies will include things like a unique PO #, the shipping terms, a description of items being purchased, the payment method and payment terms, and the date of the PO.
Calculations: A typical format of writing a purchase order will have a table or fields that are used for calculations, with quantities of items, price per item, taxes, and total amount to be billed. Many software tools for purchase order forms will also help by providing automatic calculations to ensure accurate billing every time.
Images: While much of the purchase order form will be written in text format fields, you may want to include any relevant images that add context to the sales order. This could be branding the document with company logos or even capturing photo images of the items being sold to include along with the order form.
Signatures: Capturing a signature may be required for the purchase order form. In that case, it can be helpful to have software or apps for PO management to sign off digitally on documents and share the final PDF report when multiple parties have signed off on the agreement.
Purchase Order Form Templates
A purchase order is like a blank canvas and writing a form can be done in whatever way makes the most sense for your business. Starting from scratch though can be difficult, which is why GoCanvas has created a wide range of purchase order templates to get you started. These digital form templates can be customized to fit any business needs, and we have different purchase orders depending on your industry or use case. Using our drag and drop form builder, creating a digital purchase order is simple and doesn’t require any advanced training or help from an IT department.
GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers.
Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.
Check out even more resources
Gown Your Business with GoCanvas Partner Program
Join our Partner Program and gain instant access to our global network of thought leaders and industry experts enjoying shared collaboration and collective success.
Explore how Forte Supply Chain Solutions partnered with GoCanvas, combining in-house industry expertise with our white-label mobile forms to revolutionize their processes.
Construction projects require many detailed processes to close out work to a client’s satisfaction. Even with all the best intentions and preparation, things can be overlooked and oversight can happen during different phases of construction. Final repairs or improvements often need to be made to sign off on the final project by all stakeholders. Punch lists are designed to spot any mistakes or incomplete work left on the project and identify the final measures needed to close out the work. This article will discuss the meaning of a punch list and how digital forms can help simplify the process for everyone involved.
What Is a Punch List?
A punch list is a list of outstanding or incomplete work. They are used by property owners and managers, as well as contractors and subcontractors, to ensure all remaining items have been taken care of before a project is considered complete.
For example, if you have just had your home painted, the contractor might specifically note on a punch list that some windows are not properly caulked and need to be re-done. The contractor will not sign off as being finished until those items have been addressed and corrected.
Punch lists don’t have to be limited to construction sites. They can also serve as a helpful checklist during property inspections or move-in/move-outs.
What Is The Purpose of a Punch List?
The primary purpose of a punch list is to identify any tasks that were not completed on-site or on time (for example, installing insulation). However, it may be more about identifying “material” oversights. That is any missed steps that will likely not be completed at all or can be corrected later in the job.
The list also prevents these oversights from being repeated in future jobs. For example, the construction company could update their materials list to include the measurements of bricks they should use for insulation installation. Or maybe cut out other tasks that are likely to fail or cause problems.
Typically, a contractor or subcontractor will also use a punch list as the last step in completing a job. Final walk-throughs, meetings with clients, etc., might also be held before the punch list is finalized.
Who Fills Out a Punch List?
On average, four or more people will likely contribute to the punch list. They include the following:
Contractor: The contractor or subcontractor is typically responsible for the punch list.
Architect: The architect will inspect the site and create a list of changes to be made, in addition to noting any problems with the actual construction.
Site manager: The site manager has been on-site throughout the project and knows what work is incomplete and what needs to be addressed.
Homeowner/Client: The homeowner or client will contribute any changes to their original request or ideas about what still needs to be done.
It is essential for these people to be involved in creating a comprehensive punch list because everyone who has spent time working on the project should be aware of what still needs to get done. They know what has gone right, and more importantly, they know what has gone wrong.
Combining everyone’s experiences increases the chances that everything will get completed or at least identified for later (or corrected if possible). This is especially important when different companies are involved in the same construction project or if the person responsible for completing a punch list is not on-site.
How Do You Write a Punch List?
The specific format of a punch list can vary, but it will generally contain some or all of the following items.
An overall description of the project that includes the name or purpose of the project, date range, and the start/finish dates
A section indicating the room (e.g., balcony, living room, entry way)
A section with itemized tasks to be completed on-site. Each item on a punch list will be identified by a number. The list should be detailed enough to easily be understood by someone who did not manage the project (for example, a new client).
Space for comments about the problems and what still needs to be done.
The list is then given to the client or project manager for review and approval.
A Punch List Example
A punch list could contain dozens or hundreds of individual items. However, here is one example of what a punch list could look like:
Item 1 – Painting on the north wall needs to be refreshed due to cracking.
Item 2 – The west stairwell needs to be re-caulked
Item 3 – The HVAC units need to be re-insulated
Item 4 – The garage door needs its inspection sticker
Item 5– Drywall cracks around outlet in the kitchen
Item 6 – Hole in exterior wall needs to be filled and painted
Item 7 – Ceiling paint is missing in one bedroom
Why Is It Called A Punch List?
Originally, punch lists were small paper forms that were punched with a series of holes. Each hole was used to indicate the status of an individual item.
For example, if the punch list indicated that an item had been completed, the worker would place a metal stamp over one hole in the form. If they skipped an item, the punch list would have two holes. When used correctly, it was easy to see at a glance if an item had been addressed or missed.
The name became famous because of this method of “punching” holes in paper forms. While paper forms are sometimes used today, more companies are switching over to digital forms to simplify the process and bring this important report online to the cloud.
Why You Should Go Digital With GoCanvas Punch List Templates
There are several ways in which using digital punch lists can be beneficial for your business.
Instant reports available online. There’s no need to print and distribute physical copies of the list. It can be completed, signed-off, and sent electronically rather than having everyone on-site re-write it out or wait for a paper form to come back around.
Include photos for more detailed reports. You can also use mobile forms to quickly enter any missing items, attach photos to explain the problem, and even provide notes about what needs attention or how it should be addressed.
Collect signatures and collaborate. After you’ve made sure everything has been noted on the punch list, you can send it back to them for approval or forward it to your client’s project manager.
Get Started for Free with GoCanvas Punch List Templates
GoCanvas can be used to create digital punch lists for your business. Our pre-built templates are built with industry best practices in mind and make it easier than ever to get everyone on the same page quickly without wasting paper or time.
Modernize your operations with punch list templates, along with the other important construction management software like work orders, inspections, safety forms, and more. Visit our website to learn more about GoCanvas for the construction industry or sign up for a free trial account today.
GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers.
Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.
Check out even more resources
The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections
Managing a construction project is a complex and stressful process. Among other things, you have to coordinate project team members, materials, and equipment and ensure that contractors are not afflicted by the potential risks and hazards present at the construction site. That said, quality means different things to different people which is why you should…
Your competition is finding faster ways to capture data and get critical insights from the field into their existing systems. In short, they’re not going bigger, they’re getting smarter. In this 15-minute broadcast on the construction industry’s digital transformation, find out why the trend is to modernize workflows – and how you can stay ahead of the curve…
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VIP Lighting is a retail lighting and electrical maintenance business that services over 10,000 retail locations all over Australia and New Zealand. Before GoCanvas, VIP Lighting had two separate systems that were impossible to integrate, leading to inefficiencies. GoCanvas made it easy to integrate their systems into single, centralized platform…
Construction job sites require workers to use heavy equipment, tools, and other important assets. Keeping track of your equipment is an essential part of the job and having processes in place helps ensure equipment is well managed.
Some companies choose to manage this process with simple equipment checkout forms on site using paper. But paper forms are not always ideal for growing businesses that need to establish documented processes for tracking equipment and inventory checkout. Instead of relying on paper forms, construction firms can use mobile apps and forms for easier management and visibility into job site operations.
Continue reading this article to learn how mobile forms can be used for managing the equipment checkout process.
Why do you need a digital equipment checkout form?
Printable checkout forms using paper have a few disadvantages. Here are some of the top reasons to consider going paperless:
Paper forms can be easily lost or corrupted
Unfortunately it can be very easy to misplace or lose important forms when using paper. When managing assets like equipment, issues with paper work can lead to valuable things potentially becoming lost or misplaced.
Companies looking to simplify inventory management and asset tracking have gone the way of digital apps that make it easy to keep track of checkout and equipment forms. Since records are stored digitally to the cloud (even without an internet connection), you can be sure that forms are never lost and are easily accessible from anywhere.
The other downside with paper forms is that sometimes information is not filled out entirely, leaving off important details on the form. This can require you to track down the information later on or deal with incomplete data. Mobile apps help to ensure that data is filled out correctly every time, with required fields, drop-down lists, GPS tracking, and other features that promote standardized data.
Printable forms provide limited visibility in real-time
Digital apps also provide a better system to work between job site and office. While paper forms tend to become siloed, information stored to the cloud is easy to report on and track from anywhere.
For equipment management, this means your team has greater visibility across multiple job sites and information can be tracked in real-time. This can save time for everyone involved and provide a better solution for documenting and reporting on equipment being used for construction projects. Bringing information online can help to streamline tasks and improve workflows between disparate teams and locations.
GoCanvas Equipment Checkout Form Templates – Start Your Free Trial
GoCanvas is a leader provider of mobile apps for the construction industry, helping contractors worldwide to streamline their operations. Our mobile forms are completely customizable to your business needs, providing an easy-to-use platform for managing how work gets done. GoCanvas offers many pre-built form templates for the construction industry, like our equipment checkout form.
Key benefits of this app:
Equipment log that is designed to keep track of tools and other assets securely from a centralized platform for contractors
Ensure you know where heavy equipment and rentals are being used, helping to avoid lost tools and costly replacements
Customize what information is collected, from name of the tool, serial number, date and time, condition of the equipment, and more.
Collect digital signatures to provide an electronic record
Sync to analytics and reporting tools to easily run reports or export them to PDFs to share via email.
Sign up for a free trial to see how mobile forms can simplify tasks like equipment checkout, inspections, work orders, and much more. Looking for something else? Search thousands of pre-built form templates on the GoCanvas App Store.
GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers.
Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.
Check out even more resources
Gown Your Business with GoCanvas Partner Program
Join our Partner Program and gain instant access to our global network of thought leaders and industry experts enjoying shared collaboration and collective success.
Explore how Forte Supply Chain Solutions partnered with GoCanvas, combining in-house industry expertise with our white-label mobile forms to revolutionize their processes.
Need to leverage contract templates when working with customers? This article covers how contractors can use digital contract templates to simplify the process with easy-to-use software for contract management.
Why Contractors Should Leverage Contract Templates
It’s always a best practice to have an agreement in place when rendering services for a client. For companies with field service teams, a typical workflow is to have a contractor and their team working on site to perform maintenance, repairs, and other types of work for the client.
Unfortunately, disputes are common and people can misunderstand the scope of work or timeline for projects. Disputes can lead to lost time, materials, and productivity, as well as potential legal risks. Having a contract or agreement in place before work begins will allow you to be in the best position should a dispute arise. Your bases are covered with a contract that clearly defines the work to be performed, clearly documenting the specifics of what’s included with the services.
This helps avoid misunderstandings and can provide a better experience for the customer. With clearly defined contracts, the customer has a digital copy of the terms of working together and gets greater transparency into what’s included. Both parties sign off on the contract, setting a clear agreement to reference in case of a dispute.
Benefits of GoCanvas vs. Paper Forms and Documents
You may be asking yourself why you can’t use a Word document, Google Document, or even a simple paper form to manage contract templates. While paperwork and word documents are common solutions, they also create a great amount of risk to your business and they create manual processes that kill productivity.
Digital forms and apps, like GoCanvas, are a better alternative to paper forms or Google documents for managing contracts. GoCanvas provides solutions built for the field, helping thousands of contracting professionals to better manage their workflows and documentation. When it comes to contract templates, there are many reasons why it makes sense to use a mobile form solution. Here is a quick comparison of GoCanvas versus paper forms and word documents:
Lost Paperwork
Losing documents is not something you can afford to do when it comes to managing your contracts. If disputes happen, you need to have the file on hand and lost paperwork would mean you are at a loss in that scenario. Unfortunately, paper forms and even word documents can become easily lost. Files can become misplaced, overwritten, or accidentally deleted from a computer. Paper forms can get lost in the shuffle between the field and office, or they can be misplaced or misfiled, making them difficult to find.
Apps for contract management like GoCanvas provide a simple solution to this problem. With documents managed in the cloud, contracts are always available in a central platform. Having files backed up and stored securely in the cloud ensures best practices for record keeping and provides an easy way to manage all signed documents.
Clear Documentation
Another benefit of using digital tools like GoCanvas is the ability to clearly date and sign contracts with electronic signatures. Digital processes allow you to require fields like a signature before a work order can be initiated, helping to ensure that agreements are signed before work kicks off. Having a signed PDF contract provides a strong record of an agreement. If changes to the scope of work are required, digital solutions like GoCanvas can help to manage this process and document updates along the way.
Improved communication.
Paperwork and word documents are simple solutions, but don’t provide the best experience for the customer. The customer may lose track of their copy of an agreement on paper, but digital solutions provide a better way to communicate with the customer. Everything is managed using digital forms and signatures, with reports available to be sent out via email to confirm the agreement and share a copy of the final PDF report. A fully digital experience is expected and appreciated by customers, who prefer to use digital channels for communication.
Easy-to-use field solution.
Paper work creates manual processes in the field when documents need to come back to the office. Plus, data entry is required once forms are back in an office, creating even more work for operations teams. Word documents were not designed to be managed in the field either, limiting the ability for field teams to use them on a mobile device.
Solutions like GoCanvas provide an easy-to-use field solution for contractors. All of the digital forms can be completed from a mobile device or tablet, and they don’t even need an internet connection to access the apps on their phone. If contractors or agreements are collected on site by contractors, all of this can be completed from a tablet. Collect signatures, generate PDF reports, and capture all of the information needed right from a mobile device.
How to Get Started with Contract Templates
It’s easy to get started with GoCanvas for contract templates and other forms needed for your contracting business. Here is a brief overview on how it works:
Choose a template based on use case. Select a contract template from the GoCanvas app store, with thousands of pre-built templates for contractors.
Customize the template based on need. GoCanvas templates are easy to customize for your business needs, allowing you to change the documents based on your specific use case or customer needs.
Assign work in the field. GoCanvas provides construction process management tools like dispatch and workflow, so you can assign, manage, and streamline work in the field.
Collect signatures on agreement. GoCanvas supports digital signatures to allow for contracts, agreements, and any other forms your contracting business uses for documentation like time cards, work orders, and more.
Receive email with copy of signed agreement. An email copy of the branded PDF report can be generated to instantly share a copy of the document or form with customers or project stakeholders.
Access documents in central cloud location. Easily access all of your documents in the cloud with GoCanvas, or integrate data with other cloud-based tools your business already uses like Dropbox, Google, and more.
To see how it works, get started by selecting a GoCanvas contract template based on your contracting business needs. You can also contact our team any time and we can walk you through the product and answer any questions you may have about leveraging digital technology for your business.
GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers.
Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.
Check out even more resources
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Software solutions for contractors are growing in popularity, with specific apps to help with different types of business projects. One such example are invoice apps that enable contractors to provide a digital invoice to clients. This article covers how invoice apps work and where you can find an easy-to-use template for your business.
What types of businesses benefit from invoice apps?
Typically an invoice app will be used by businesses and contractors that work directly with their clients. Here are some examples of common use cases for invoice apps:
Contractors: Contractors often invoice clients for work like home repairs, HVAC, maintenance, construction, residential services, inspections, and more. Contractors typically provide an estimate and submit the invoice once work has been completed with exact labor and materials used.
Transportation and Logistics: This type of business requires deliveries to be made through trucks or van fleets. Drivers can be responsible for confirming delivery has been made and invoicing the client once services have been completed.
Professional services: Many professional services businesses like independent contractors will provide direct business services, for things like freelance consulting, or legal work. These businesses will use invoices after project completion to bill for their time.
This should give you an idea of what types of businesses benefit from using invoice apps. Most invoice apps are completely customizable for the business type, giving you the flexibility to search for a template and modify the app based on the information you need to collect.
What is an invoice app?
An invoice app is designed to provide software and mobile technology to create client invoices from a mobile device or a computer. Here’s the basic concept on how invoice apps work:
Step #1. Mobile forms
Invoice apps allow you to create digital forms that are used by the contractor or business to fill out the specific details of that job. Typically templates are built and include all of the relevant fields needed to document, like prices, quantities, time worked, scope of work, client information, and other related project fields.
Once the mobile forms are built, contractors on the job can fill in the details using a mobile device or tablet to generate the exact invoice right on the spot.
Step #2. Digital document sent to client to review and sign
After the form has been completed, the invoice app will send a digital document to the client that breaks down all of the job as filled out in the app. This is typically sent via an email link, so that the client can open up their inbox and review the work completed.
A main feature of the invoice app is the ability for the client to sign off on the completed work. Signature capture allows the client to sign off on work and create the final signed copy documenting an agreement.
Step #3. Options for payment processing
Many times another option for the invoice is to offer a digital payment processing solution within the invoice app. By connecting to payment processors like Square, it gives the option to the client to pay via credit card on the invoice. If getting paid faster is a priority, this can be a good option to allow customers to pay securely through the app and processed by Square directly to your bank account.
Step 4. Final Documentation
It’s common for the final step to share the completed digital paper work via email to the client, to keep for their records. A digital receipt sent as a PDF file is helpful for clients to have in their inbox and helpful for your business to ensure that documents are always saved to the cloud for good record-keeping.
Invoice apps can be as simple or as complex as you need them to be. For example, you may want to set up data integrations to ensure that data syncs between your invoice app, accounting system, CRM, and other places you store data. For other businesses, just having a simple invoice app is a much better solution than traditional paper forms, giving a central place to manage all of your invoices digitally.
When do you need an invoice app?
Your business will know when it becomes time to utilize an invoice app. Here are some of the most common pain points that determine when it makes sense to move to a digital invoicing solution:
#1. Limitations of paper
Does your staff get overwhelmed with the amount of paper work needed to manage operations? This is a top sign that going digital can save your business time and money. There are many hidden costs associated with paper usage like manual data entry, lost or missing papers, errors and rework, and inefficient workflows. When the busy work keeps stacking up, it becomes time to consider apps to streamline and automate more of the office work.
#2. Difficult to scale efficiently
Often related to the challenges with paper, you may notice that your business is growing rapidly, but challenged to scale efficiently. Unfortunately, as the business grows in complexity, it can create more of the manual work and tasks for operational staff to support. This is when it becomes time to lean on software that can boost your productivity and help your business work more efficiently.
#3. Competitive markets
The productivity challenges and paperwork may be a pain to deal with, but rising competition is often the biggest argument for switching to mobile and digital solutions. If other contractors or businesses you compete with provide a digital experience for customers, you may be falling behind in terms of what customers want. At the end of the day, technology is all about making it easier for your customers to do business with you and there is a significant opportunity for contractors that embrace digital technologies. If your competitors are lagging behind in this area, moving first can create value for customers and result in repeat business, referrals, and online reviews stating how easy it is to do business with your company.
Invoice App Template to Get You Started
GoCanvas is a leader in mobile forms and software to streamline operations and increase productivity. Our invoice apps can be customized to fit any business or contractor’s needs – simply start with one of our pre-built templates and use our no-code designer to fit your requirements.
GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers.
Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.
Check out even more resources
The Ultimate Guide to Quality Control Inspections
Managing a construction project is a complex and stressful process. Among other things, you have to coordinate project team members, materials, and equipment and ensure that contractors are not afflicted by the potential risks and hazards present at the construction site. That said, quality means different things to different people which is why you should…
Your competition is finding faster ways to capture data and get critical insights from the field into their existing systems. In short, they’re not going bigger, they’re getting smarter. In this 15-minute broadcast on the construction industry’s digital transformation, find out why the trend is to modernize workflows – and how you can stay ahead of the curve…
See how VIP Lighting optimized efficiency with GoCanvas
VIP Lighting is a retail lighting and electrical maintenance business that services over 10,000 retail locations all over Australia and New Zealand. Before GoCanvas, VIP Lighting had two separate systems that were impossible to integrate, leading to inefficiencies. GoCanvas made it easy to integrate their systems into single, centralized platform…
