Reducing paperwork
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Discussion

robinh73

Original Poster:

1,129 posts

216 months

Friday 30th September 2022
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Afternoon all, I run a tree surgery/grounds maintenance business and am finding that I am duplicating my work/paperwork. To keep this brief and so you get an idea of what is what, I go to view the job with my notebook, jot down what is needed. If I win the job, I transfer the info onto an A4 job sheet which goes into a folder. I also at this point enter the brief job details on a spreadsheet so I know what is lined up etc. I am trying to find a way to eliminate the notebook and jobsheet side of things by using a Google document on something tablet/PC based that would save the info and upload it to Google cloud. I have looked at things such as the Remarkable tablet system, the Moleskine and Rocket Book ones but these seem to use only their own document systems. I like the fact that you can use a stylus and essentially have a digital notebook, but is there something else out there? I am sorry if this sounds very waffly and vague, I am trying to type and think what I need at the same time and it is confusing! Cheers!

BoRED S2upid

20,763 posts

256 months

Friday 30th September 2022
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Can you not just use something like MS teams? Ok you probably don’t need the video calling but but you have a planner for your jobs you can save your spreadsheet in there somewhere probably a invoice template as well and you have the Calendar to block out all your jobs. It’s also free from the App Store so have it on your phone, tablet.

paulrockliffe

16,205 posts

243 months

Friday 30th September 2022
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I'm not 100% on the free stuff, but Excel online has forms for excel built in. You create a form to capture your info and it stores it in a table in excel, where you can do anything you like with it.

If you combine it with Power Automate you can tick a box and have invoices emailed out, record payments and automate the chasing of debtors, then add on reporting to do all your accounts, filings and generally keep yourself straight.

Office 365 is really a complete bargain if you invest the time learning how it can do the boring bits of your job for you.

robinh73

Original Poster:

1,129 posts

216 months

Friday 30th September 2022
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Many thanks for the suggestions, I shall have a look into them. I use Xero for my accounts package so my invoices are done through that.

wheelerc

228 posts

158 months

Friday 30th September 2022
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You could use the Xero app on a mobile device to generate Quotes. If you win the job you can convert them to Invoices.

Should work on an Android powered tablet (e.g. something from Samsung) with a stylus. Galaxy Note comes to mind.