The Ultimate Software Guide for UK Heating Engineers

In the upcoming series of articles, The Boiler Business will develop the ultimate guide to software for the heating industry.

We will research & explain the different types of software available and how they will help you build & scale a profitable Heating business!

The 2023 Software Poll

 
To start this series, we asked the 1800 members of The boiler business community to list which software they use to run their businesses.

Our research starts with the September 2023 Community Poll, which shows that most heating companies are using CRM software to help run their business. So, this seems to be the sensible place to start our research for the upcoming series.

CRM's
Customer Relationship Management

Without a doubt, the first software you need to consider is the software that will manage your customer database, your day-to-day jobs & sales.
With hundreds of features packed into most CRMs, you should focus on how well the software performs these five essential functions.

Customer Contact Management
Quoting Jobs & Sales Communications
Job Scheduling and Management
Invoicing and Payment Integrations
Safety Certificates, Compliance & Data

The Top 3 CRMs &
Job Management Software

Gas Engineer Software

For UK-based heating engineers, Gas Engineer Software offers a tailored solution designed specifically for the industry. Gas Engineer Software, being the lowest costing of the three, is a popular option for Sole Traders who frequently issue Gas Safety Certs and want to minimise overheads.

Pros include specialised features for gas safety compliance, efficient job management, invoicing and attractive pricing. However, it lacks the broader functionality & flexibility found in other premium CRMs, such as ServiceM8 & Payaca.

Payaca

Payaca CRM is quickly growing in popularity and possibly becoming the premium software of choice for UK heating businesses who want to grow their business through sales of Boilers, Heat Pumps, AC installations & reoccurring revenue via service plans.

Based in Bristol, Payaca historically was a quoting solution for UK heating engineers. However, in the last 3 years, the software has developed an all-in-one CRM & Job management software, focusing on Sales for the UK heating industry.

ServiceM8

Service M8 is an excellent option for established businesses with existing customer databases. With a focus on job management & scheduling team members, ServiceM8 offers a user-friendly interface for both the office staff and onsite engineers.

On the downside, the Australian all-trades option lacks built-in UK heating industry requirements like in GES & Payaca. You can customise the software yourself, but many people choose to use a ServiceM8 partner to build the gas certificates, forms and automation for you.

Take your time

Ultimately, your choice of software depends on the level of specialisation needed and where you want to take your business in the future. All three software options above have their merits for sole traders and can be used by larger companies with teams. However, larger firms tend to choose the more costly software for added features and time savings.

Any feature-rich top-end software will likely require time invested upfront to get the most value back in time saved and the extra profits that come with owning a more efficient business.

Our advice is to sign up for the free trials available and hang out in the various Facebook communities for some time, speaking to other users and seeing how best to implement the software into your business model. Take your time to research the options available.

Remember, you can always change your mind like you can move house again next year, but let's face it, nobody wants to move house again unless the new house is better for your long-term future. And if that is the case, how much time will you invest into getting your new house up to the standard so you can enjoy life?

Google Analytics
for Beginners

Google Analytics for Beginners shows new users how to create an account, implement tracking code, and set up data filters. You'll learn how to navigate the Google Analytics interface and reports, and set up dashboards and shortcuts. The course will also demonstrate how to analyze basic Audience, Acquisition, and Behavior reports, and set up goals and campaign tracking.

Professional SEO Software

Professional SEO software allows you to get more granular in your research and reporting. We use search grids to monitor how visible your Google Business Profile (GBP/GMB) is in the local map pack for your most profitable services. The results found here can influence your online plan or highlight that significant effort is needed to get the results you are not currently achieving.

Ranking on National Search

When planning your website, you should have planned Topical Authority and which keyword phrases are used to find your business's services. Setting up tracking to monitor how your website performs for these keyword phrases is essential. These results are similar to your Local Search Grid results, but you will compete with regional & national companies competing for those same keyword phrases.

Although organic search results have national competition, you, as the local business, will have the advantage over them if your website is planned and built for topical authority. You need to track Google rankings and be ready to create more "local content" than the competition to succeed.

Tracking Authority
Backlinks & Citations

Many factors go into a successful SEO campaign, and building backlinks and citations is one of the most important for new websites or existing websites competing in competitive industries. Unless you are a national company competing with British Gas and Boiler Guide, most of your competition (local heating businesses) do not have solid online authority. A new website still needs links from trusted websites and a citation-building campaign to get the ball rolling towards dominating the local search.

We use professional SEO software to keep track of all the links pointing to your website and ensure that they are high-quality and authoritative. This helps to improve your search engine rankings and increase your overall visibility online. Our software allows us to monitor your backlinks in real-time, identifying any issues or negative SEO tactics that may harm your site's reputation. By staying on top of your backlinks and citations, we can help you achieve long-term success and build a solid online presence.

Competitor Analysis 

To beat your competitors, you need to understand what makes their website and rankings stronger than your own. Our Competitor Analysis tools provide valuable insights into what they're doing and how to outsmart them. By examining rivals' SEO strategies, keyword targeting, and backlinks, we identify opportunities and gaps in the market. With our help, you'll make informed decisions and gain an edge in your local area.

Ok, hands up, I confess..

We have not yet completed the ultimate guide to software for the heating industry, but here is the first part in the series, as featured in the October issue of HVP magazine. 

Keep your eyes peeled for the follow-up articles that dive deeper into what software options can help us build & scale a profitable Heating business of the future! 

Tommy Lee-Zmuda
@TheBoilerBusiness