As described in the SD-Mobile Handbook, there are strong reasons for setting up a flat-rate system — designed, specifically, to automatically integrate as you or your techs are creating mobile tickets.
There are two broadly-different paths you may take, in this regard.
One of these options (at least assuming your trade is in appliance repair, as opposed to some other industry) is to integrate with the professionally-configure BlueBook system. This is a very sophisticated flat-rate system that, for many years, has been an appliance-industry standard. There is a significant subscription cost, but the system will likely persuade you to charge so much more for your work than otherwise, and this will repay your BlueBook subscription cost many times over. It also gives you “cover” for charging more, because it allows your techs to explain and show that pricing comes from a nationally-recognized guide.
If use of the BlueBook is your preference, use the above-provided hyperlink to connect with the good folks at Service Company Solutions. They’ll guide you in setup, options, and so on.
The other option is to use your own, internally-managed flat-rate system. The remainder of this manual is designed to guide you in that direction, if it is indeed your preference.
Assuming yes (i.e., you wish to create and manage your own flat-rate system), the first thing to understand is that any such system must be based on a flat-rate list (which is, essentially, a listing/catalog of labor-item descriptions, with a specified price for each). There are many methods by which such a list may be created. We’ll here suggest a few possibilities, but please nevertheless understand you may use any method you wish, so long as you end up with a structure that fits a quite simple mold. Details of that mold are as follows:
Your list should be a simple text document that contains four columns, each separated by a tab. The first column is for each line-item’s "Code," a short alpha-numeric reference to the item involved (up to five digits). The second column is for a verbal description (up to 65 characters) of the actual work item. The third column is for price as applicable if it's the first labor item on the ticket (in other words, this price includes an implicit base fee to cover trip charge and diagnosis). The fourth column is for price if it's other than the first labor item (in other words, prices in this column do not include that implicit base fee).
Your list must also be given the name and placed in the location where SD-MobileLink knows to look for it. Specifically, the file must be named "RateSheet.txt" and it must be located in the "\sd\netdata" folder on your server.
Once you have your list saved to that location and under that name, SD-MobileLink will see it, and upload to the remote server. Each tech’s SD-Mobile program will then see the data, and download for his use.
Now we’ll describe a few different ways to approach creation of this file. We’ll begin with the easiest.
To make getting into it maximally easy, I have created a ready-to-use file. It’s adapted from a flat-rate system I had in my service business years back. Because it’s from years back, many of the items are dated, but for lack of anything better to start with, you might try it.
To do so, all that’s needed is to open this zip folder:
http://rossware.net/downloads/SDM/FlatRateFiles.zip
Inside, you’ll see two files. One is called RateSheet.TXT. You may simply copy this into the \sd\netdata folder on your server. That’s it. It's all that's required to use (if you wish) this now archaic list.
You'll likely not like my particular flat-rate scheme (it's so old, after all), but at least, by adopting it even temporarily, you’ll have an operational Flat-Rate list, and with almost zero effort. Also, you might choose simply start with us, and revise to make it more relevant to current situations.
In the same folder where you found the RateSheet.TXT file, you’ll see another called FlatRateCreator.xls. Given the extension, you’ll likely recognize it’s an Excel file.
Copy then paste this file to a convenient location, then open it in Excel. You'll see something like this:
In particular, you’ll see that columns F and G contain text in red. The text is red to signify these are base values, which you can change, and have actual rates (in the direct line-items) change in consequence.
To be more specific, each line-item Column F has a value that represents the number of minutes I’ve figured as an average (a generous average, to be honest) for the work-item described.
In Column G you’ll see there is an expanded cell (in yellow) that is labeled to include (and does include) a figure wherein you may designate your base hourly rate. Another expanded cell (in blue) is labeled for (and has place for) you to indicate the foundation charge on top of which others begin. The idea is that each line-item’s actual charge is calculated on the basis of values you are permitted to change in these locations.
Thus (and as an example), if you changed the base hourly rate to $120, and a particular line-item had average minutes set at 30, the system would auto-calculate the second-column charge for that item at $60. If your foundation charge (kind of like a service call) was set at, say, $75, it would auto-calculate the first-column charge (for same item as just described) at $135.
Anyhow, the idea is you can vary those two simple numbers to suit preference, and all the actual rates change immediately. You can also do any other editing you wish (remove line-items, add new ones, change estimated minutes, etc.)
Bear in mind that what you’re dealing with here is a tool to create, change or otherwise customize rates. It is not the actual file that SD-Mobile needs. Once you’ve used the tool to makes the line-items and rates just as wanted, the next step is take the operational data, and place it in a file (and in the particular format) SD-Mobile needs.
As a first step in making this transition, you need to pull the operative text, and place it in a new spreadsheet.
To do this, use your mouse to select all the cells that contain black text (those are the actual line-items that will go into the final file). With that text selected, hit on your keyboard to copy to the Windows Clipboard (or with right-click with your mouse and in the popup select "Copy").
Now, go to a new spreadsheet, right-click in its top-left cell, and, under "Paste Options," select "Keep Text Only."
The above action will insert the particular text, as previously copied, into the new spreadsheet (please note that a simple paste would have copied the formulas underlying each cell, rather than resultant values, and that’s not what you want here).
Now you’ll want to save that new Excel spreadsheet with the name (and in the location) where SD-Mobile can use it (as described earlier). To do this, choose the sequence: File>>>Save As>>>Save as Type = Text (tab delimited), then pick the correct path and filename.
Voila! You should now have your customized file.
There’s a guy name Mark Fearnehough who’s put together a much more sophisticated Excel/Creator tool than mine (it’s underlying, textual line-items are likely more up-to-date, as well). To a significant extent, his works on the same principle, where you can change a variable and have all actual rates adjust, but a whole lot more time and effort has gone into his. Mark sells his tool for $100.
If you use it, you’ll need to do the same extraction/save-as process as described in conjunction with my tool (in other words, to go from the spreadsheet/calculator mode to actual file as used by SD-Mobile).
If interested, contact Mark at, or call 831-426-8299 (ext 105).
If you examine the file I’ve created, you’ll see the structure that’s required. It truly is simple. It’s just lines of text, each describing a work item, and each containing (within the line) four (or, optionally, five) items of text, each separated by a tab.
When you load this kind of structure into Excel, that program will line up the fields in nice columns. If you open it in Word or similar, those programs will typically not line up the columns so nicely, though in fact the content is the same.
Regardless, this content/structure is the simple end result you’re seeking. To produce it, you can use Excel or whatever else seems most convenient. For most people, Excel (or similar) is likely best.
The basic thing to remember, to get from Excel to the simple, text-only, tab-delimited format, you must save in the latter format. It’s an option in the “Save As” dialog box when you go save.
In regard to creating your flat-rate list, most of the above discussion assumes you’re an servicer. Neither my list nor Mark’s will apply if you’re in another trade (though, at minimum, you coulduse either as kind of a model to create your own).
Regardless, if you’re in another trade, it’s obvious the pre-made options (above-described) will not in the end work for you. You’ll have to begin at a more basic, “from-scratch” stage. We’re sorry.
On the other hand, if you do create your own Flat-Rate list and are proud of it, we’d be happy to advertise it here. Indeed, if it’s really good, you may even want to offer it for sale, just as Mark Fearnehough has his. We’ll be happy to help.
Upon examining it, you’ll see my flat-rate setup has an extra column, beyond what I described as the basic four. It’s titled NoteField. This is a field I used to denote the two-letter abbreviation for the make of machine each line-item applies to (as in WP for Whirlpool, MA for Maytag, etc.). In a number of cases, you’ll notice the two letter abbreviation is AL. This means the line-item is not specific to any make; it refers, essentially, to all. Regardless, you may use that column for whatever such notes as you may wish.
You’ll also notice each of the job Codes begin with a two-letter sequence. At least for such usage as I've designed, this denotes the kind of machine the item applies to. Thus, DI is disposal, DW dishwasher, and so on. You’ll see some entries for MS, and may wonder what kind of machine that is. It stands for miscellaneous. These line items are sort of generic in that they describe work items that might be done on most any kind of machine. Again (and regardless), you may use whatever such code scheme as you wish.
As a final matter, you may wonder, if you've prior setup to use the BlueBook and wish to revert to your flat-rate system, how do you do that?
The answer is SD-Mobile looks in the SCS BlueBook setup (i.e., what you've configured on your SCS account) to see if the logging-in tech is enabled there as a BlueBook-authorized user. If yes, it integrates with BlueBook, over-riding any internal flat-rate system that you may have otherwise setup. If it does not see that the logging-in tech is so authorized, it then looks for an internal flat-rate setup, and will use that if found. (Please note it remembers during the course of any day if it prior found Bluebook authorization, so if you de-authorized during the course of a day with intent to cause reversion to internal flat-rate usage, you'll need to induce a completely fresh login of the SD-Mobile interface.)
