Daylight saving time is here, and suddenly, the struggle is real. We are on the countdown to Christmas, and all your clients want their work completed before the man in the red suit pops down the chimney, but there are fewer daylight hours for you and your crew to get the job done! If this sounds familiar, read on because, in this article, we share three tips on how to maximise efficiency when workdays are short.
How to maximise efficiency when workdays are short:
1: Work smart and stay on top of your schedule with apps:
If you’re still tracking where your team is and they’re tracking jobs with spreadsheets or phone calls, it’s time to go digital. Plenty of Xero-compatible apps, like ServiceM8 and Tradify, help with seamless scheduling and task management.
If a job requires daylight or is outside, it makes sense to schedule these earlier in the day, and both apps let you customise your working hours from within your account settings.
Both apps will also remind your clients about your team’s upcoming visits. So, they will help save on administrative phone calls while ensuring your client is at home and ready for your visit, which will not impact your tighter schedule in winter hours!
2: Time-saving job prep:
Wherever possible, prepare your tools and materials for the next day’s job list in advance. Complete an inventory to ensure nothing is missing. This organisation helps avoid delays caused by last-minute trips for supplies. It also means you get every minute of daylight to do the job!
Create labelled, compartmentalised toolboxes or bags for each type of job you do. This ‘grab-bag’ system ensures you always have the right equipment and are ready to go.
3. Use your Profit & Loss to identify seasonal tasks:
As bookkeepers for tradespeople, we’re fond of the P & L sheet! Regular profit and loss tracking (P&L) can reveal the most profitable jobs. Take on the most profitable over winter when the clock changes reduce your working hours, and keep the cash flowing!
We hope you’ve discovered something new from reading this article. Another great way to maximise efficiency when workdays are short is to outsource administrative and professional tasks. So, pass us the bookkeeping burden and get back the time to do what you do best: provide your services and build your business. Call us now to save daylight hours, money and stress!