Case Studies - Centra Windows
Headquarters: British Columbia, Canada
Sector: Construction
Function: Field Service, Dispatch Operations, Scheduling, Reporting, Timesheets
Solution: Flowfinity Actions
Benefits: More efficient scheduling and job costing, more
effective use of resources,
reduced overhead, better
customer service
"Flowfinity and Centra have a good partnership. It’s one of our core technologies and is key to us moving forward. Their service and support has been fantastic. Flowfinity allowed us to automate and move our proven business processes to a mobile, efficient system."
- Garett Wall, CFO, Centra Windows Ltd.
Challenge
Centra Windows Inc., a windows manufacturer and installation company, wanted to replace a paper system for job costing, scheduling of installation crews, and managing on-site projects. Paper processes were causing delays in communication between departments and branches, were error-prone, and did not provide an accurate up-to-the-minute snapshot of the status of jobs. Centra needed a solution that would allow them to:
- Replace paper forms with mobile forms on smartphones to eliminate manual data entry and improve data accuracy
- Speed up job costing and streamline scheduling to better plan and control costs
- Improve communication between departments
- Automate their proven existing business processes and workflows without having to modify them
To achieve these goals, Centra needed robust and flexible mobile technology that would support the rapid growth of their business.
Solution
Flowfinity Actions was selected to replace paper forms and manual procedures with a dynamic workflow system accessible from both head office and mobile apps installed on field staff’s smartphones. The system is used to automate job costing, provide centralized scheduling, and improve visibility into operations.
Previously, paper forms were used to record materials and time, which all had to be verified. With this process, it could take up to 2 to 3 months to cost a job. Now, timesheets and materials line items are entered into forms on smartphones through Flowfinity Actions. This has improved the accuracy and speed of job costing, reducing the cycle to just 15 days and saving at least one full-time position.
Centra also saw an opportunity to use Flowfinity Actions to improve scheduling of installation crews, migrating from a local branch-level activity to a centralized system managed from head office. "The Flowfinity scheduling calendar is an invaluable tool, allowing managers to maximize available manpower by adjusting the schedule as the days and weeks progress,” says Ed Vandermeer, VP of Customer Service, Centra Windows.
As Centra was expanding and opening new branches, the company took advantage of Flowfinity Actions workflow tools to improve their business processes by efficiently replacing faxes and automating approvals going back and forth to head office. This has improved visibility, communication, and accountability for all staff. "We use Flowfinity as a key communication tool between our departments. Instead of phone calls and emails, it’s all centralized in Flowfinity Actions," says Garett Wall, CFO, Centra Windows.
Business Impact
- Reduced administrative overhead through elimination of paper
- Less management cost per employee through automating key processes
- Lower job costs from more efficient manpower scheduling
- Ability to grow by scaling proven business processes to newly opened branches
- Reduced working capital requirements through just-in-time manufacturing
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