Dan Pollard
Grace Plumbing, specialising in residential plumbing, gas fitting, and drain laying, was facing several operational challenges as they grew. With inquiries coming in through various channels and key information often getting lost in email threads, managing jobs efficiently became a struggle. The team also found it difficult to keep track of payments, reconcile supply dockets, and ensure smooth communication between the office and their tradespeople in the field. As their workload increased, they needed a streamlined system to bring all these tasks into one place—something Fergus would soon provide.
At Fergus, we are always excited to hear how our job management software helps tradies like Grace Plumbing grow and streamline their business. In a recent conversation with Nik, the office manager at Grace Plumbing, we gained valuable insights into how Fergus is transforming the way they manage their daily operations—from enquiry management to accounting integration.
All-In-One Enquiry Management System
One of the standout features for Grace Plumbing is the enquiry management system. Nik shared how this tool has made a noticeable difference in their day-to-day operations:
"Before, we were dealing with inquiries via email, and things would sometimes get lost or end up in spam. But now, with Fergus, everything is in one place. We’ve added Fergus’s form to our website, and enquiries come directly into the system, which makes it easy to convert them into jobs."
Nik also emphasised how helpful the ability to track the status of inquiries has been for their team. The "mark as contact" status allows their office team to collaborate more effectively:
"I love the new inquiries feature, especially because you can mark them as ‘contacted’ and track everything in one spot. Plus, that phone feature where you can text clients a form is brilliant—it saves time and ensures we get all the info we need without back-and-forth emails."
Streamlined Scheduling and Team Collaboration
Fergus also plays a crucial role in helping Grace Plumbing manage their team and schedule jobs. The intuitive calendar and job management features allow Nik and her team to work more efficiently:
"Fergus organises our whole day. I manage the calendar and all the jobs, and the system makes it really easy to see everything in one place. It’s also been great for collaborating with Brad, the business owner, who isn’t super tech-savvy. Even he finds it straightforward to use."
Nik mentioned how the colour-coded job statuses and notifications simplify team communication:
"We use the ‘Send to Trade’ feature to notify our tradespeople about jobs, and I love that I can see if a client has opened an email or not. It’s super useful for following up on overdue invoices too."
Seamless Accounting Integration
Another game-changer for Grace Plumbing has been the seamless integration of Fergus with Xero, their accounting software. This feature ensures that no invoice, payment, or supply document falls through the cracks.
"Everything is integrated with Xero, so our invoices and supply docs automatically sync, making it so much easier to keep track of payments. Fergus Pay is great too—it lets us know when things are paid even before Xero updates."
Nik noted that Fergus has positively impacted their cash flow management, with the system helping them stay on top of invoices:
"Because everything is up-to-date and integrated, it’s much easier to chase payments and keep cash flow steady. We can see right away if something’s overdue and follow up."
Top Features That Make Life Easier
When asked which Fergus features stand out the most, Nik highlighted two in particular: the enquiry management system and the tracking of client communications.
"The enquiry management system is a lifesaver. It’s something we’ve been waiting for, and it’s made a huge impact. It’s so easy to create jobs and track client communication. I also love that we can see if a client has opened an email—it helps us follow up on overdue invoices and jobs."
Nik also mentioned how the integration with their merchants helps with managing supply dockets and invoicing:
"The way Fergus integrates with our merchants makes it super easy to reconcile supply dockets and send out invoices daily. It saves us so much time."
Why Grace Plumbing Recommends Fergus
When it comes to recommending Fergus to other tradies, Nik was clear about why she believes it’s the best job management software for the industry. She recently recommended Fergus to another plumbing business and highlighted three key reasons:
- Ease of Use: "It’s really simple to navigate, even if you’re not tech-savvy. The dashboard is clean, and everything is laid out in a way that’s easy on the eyes."
- Integration with Merchants: "The supplier doc integration is fantastic. Whatever our tradespeople purchase on-site is automatically synced with the system, which makes invoicing a breeze."
- Managing Credits: "Fergus is the only system we’ve found that handles credits in such an efficient way. It helps us make sure all costs are accounted for, which is so important in a trade business."
Grace Plumbing’s experience with Fergus is a testament to how the right software can transform business operations, from enquiry management to job scheduling, invoicing, and payments. We’re thrilled to have played a part in their growth and look forward to continuing to support them as their business evolves.
