Estimator and CRM
Strine’s Heating and Air Conditioning
Strine's Heating & Air Conditioning has been serving the York, Pennsylvania area since 1972, offering comprehensive HVAC services to both residential and commercial clients. Their commitment to customer satisfaction and community involvement has made them a trusted name in the industry. They offer 24/7 emergency services, energy-efficient solutions and financing options to meet our customers' needs.
Client Overview
The Challenge
Strine’s was using an outdated sales and quoting application on an iPad that required multiple applications to lookup, quote and sign new customers. The developers of the iPad application stop updating and supporting the application. Licenses were not able to be purchased and keep the application running. They were down to one working iPad that needed to be shared between multiple salesmen, and the sales manager was worried that they would be unable to quote.
Several off-the-shelf applications were reviewed, but many of the applications didn’t do the same process as Strine’s, and they would have had to re-engineer the entire sales/quoting/job process. This was unacceptable. There were a few applications that were about 55% close, but even those were costly.
The Solution
Coulson Solutions built and supported a ground up application writing on the Microsoft Azure platform. Leveraging many of the high-end Microsoft security protocols, hosting and scalability that is unfound in many modern applications. Strine’s now has a database of products, pricing and inventory.
The customer can now get quoted, salesmen can add images and customer can sign. Once signed, the information is automatically emailed a link in the office to see the signed order, and being the job/project setup.
The Result
Strine’s has developed a product that can be used by everyone in the company, from any device, to quote, sel and service customers all from a single application. This has resulted in significant cost savings on third-party licensing and provides them with an application for running their business. The idea of making it multi-tenant was discussed, which would allow Strine’s to license the application to other HVAC companies, potentially turning the application into a profit center. This application meets their needs with minimal overhead.
Moreover, the customized application has streamlined operations, reducing the time and effort required for various tasks. It integrates seamlessly with existing systems, providing real-time data access and enhancing decision-making processes. For Strine’s, this means faster response times, improved customer satisfaction and increased efficiency across departments.
Other HVAC companies should seriously consider having a custom application written to meet their exact needs. A tailored solution can address specific pain points unique to their business, optimizing workflows and eliminating unnecessary steps. By investing in a bespoke application, these companies can achieve greater control over their operations, improve client interactions and enhance overall productivity.
In addition, custom applications can be designed to scale as the business grows, ensuring that they remain relevant and effective over time. They offer flexibility for future updates and modifications, allowing HVAC companies to adapt quickly to market changes or new regulatory requirements. With a custom-built solution, businesses can also ensure higher security standards, protecting sensitive information and maintaining customer trust.
Ultimately, a custom application can transform an HVAC company's operations, providing a competitive edge and driving long-term success.