About Reviews Videos FAQ System Requirements
Q:
Can we know which system will allow us the greatest profit?
A:
Yes if you do the right research. With management software the recommendation is to find industry-specific software that meets at least 80% of your needs. We expand that to include finding the system that (a) requires the least amount of people time (the most efficient) to therefore deliver the greatest profit, (b) provides the greatest level of security, helping to protect owner assets from being mismanaged by staff. To have software exactly to your specs normally requires building a custom system; that usually costs several hundred thousand dollars or more, and takes several years.
Q:
How is software efficiency related to our profit?
A:
Whatever system allows you to get the most done with the fewest human resources and fewest mistakes is the most efficient, and the most efficient software will make your business the most profitable. The feature lists of two systems may give one indication, but the actual proven results accessible through a client list that has a large client list that have switched to JobRunner has become a real-world case study in the contrast of software efficiency. One MAJOR segment of advantage to your efficiency is the fact that JobRunner is truly paperless by design. Other software documentation includes complicated and intricate paper processes that must be accomplished in conjunction with the software.
Q:
How does Pacific Solutions service compare?
A:
• Beliefs We know that the collective wisdom of our clients vastly exceeds our own.
• Attitude Our employees are dedicated, experienced, and people who enjoy serving others. We never talk down to our clients.
• Methods We listen, research, plan & then program. The resulting efficiency empowers our clients to get more done with fewer
people and enjoy greater profit.
• Capacity Pacific Solutions staff to client ratio: 1/20
Competitors staff to client ratio: 1/50 (based on their ads)
Pacific Solutions has double the capacity to respond to your needs.
Q:
Which leadership is best positioned to serve our needs today and in the future?
A:
Pacific Solutions executive leadership is mid-40’s and early 50’s, therefore positioned for the next 20 years. Ron Hudson, founder and developer of ProCent commercial software, evaluated systems and joined Pacific Solutions in 2012, adding his lifetime career of commercial flooring experience, both as a software designer and a highly successful commercial flooring contractor. Pacific Solutions is not controlled by a buying group or posturing to be acquired.
Q:
Can we accurately compare software systems?
A:
Our demo CD is not a sales pitch. It is a tutorial of the basic job process in our system. After each person who will be involved in the decision has watched the CD you will know if you want to learn more or keep searching. If you want to learn more, we will meet on the web or in your office and further analyze the system’s fit for your staff, efficiency, profit, and security.
Q:
Do many companies switch to Pacific Solutions from other flooring systems?
A:
The majority of our sales switch from other flooring or construction systems. They know which system allows them to accomplish the most with the lowest cost, and therefore, highest profit. If you do NOT talk to several companies that have run on two (or more) flooring systems and KNOW the bottom-line difference you would miss out on a priceless, factual comparison that is readily available with just a little of your time conducting several phone interviews. No matter which system you choose, be SURE you know the real contrasts before you buy.
Q:
Some systems require large portions of the business process to be paper-only, and Pacific Solutions systems are designed to run paperless. How big a difference does that make?
A:
As a flooring automation consultant put it regarding another flooring system, “How can they call it a ‘management system’ when huge parts of the process are paper-only?” How much is paper-only has direct bearing on how much your staff can get done in a period of time, and greatly effect the degree of accuracy. People time is extremely expensive; errors and omissions can be. So use their reference list to interview users on their latest release and find out which aspects of their control process are still a paper process, how much admin time cost is consumed accomplishing them, and how often do they experience human error or communication breakdown in the paper-only zones.
Huge timesaving is inevitable with software that is designed to run paperless. Pacific Solutions systems reduce salary requirements by one-two salaries of companies doing $2 million, more for larger volume businesses. The total amount of staff time required is the measure of any process efficiency, so compare their ‘Workflow’ of other systems to a true paperless system.
Why should we call references?
$ Call the references, they use it every day and will discuss what it has meant to them; most of our sales result from these candid one-on-one discussions with other JobRunner users.
$ Your commercial business is by nature similar to many of us doing commercial, so what better way to get some insider information.
Q:
How do we use each reference list to create a complete comparison?
A:
A. Outline the questions, make notes of their answers, and then meditate on the dollar value for your business;
B. Do not assume you know what they are going to say based on which reference list they are on or the size of their company. If their Reference List includes businesses they list as having switched off of Pacific Solutions software, be especially sure to call them. Owners are usually very candid about software systems; do not assume what they will probably tell you just because they are on a certain reference list … just make the calls to find out what they know.
C. Be persistent; talk to ten, fifteen, or more users that have switched from other flooring systems. Ask them to describe the difference in their operational efficiency, overhead, stress, freedom, control, and net profit. One five-minute phone call can harvest years of real world results and provide you with measurable contrast in systems. Even though it means playing phone tag with busy owner operators like you, invest the time.
Q:
Why integrate operations with internal accounting versus QuickBooks, MAS, Simply, etc.?
A:
$ Automating the moneymaking portion of the business, sales and project management, offers the highest return possible from a business; much greater return than accounting systems alone can produce.
$ Industry-specific provides the highest level of step-by-step process automation of pre-sales, sales, and operations, the highest accomplishment per people hour, and therefore the highest profit.
$ Blending commercial sales and project management into tightly integrated accounting is the only way to have up-to-the-minute financial reports that are pin-point accurate. They are an exact byproduct of each and every job cost related to all of your projects, each at their own stage of completion. Being exactly correct and current enables decisions that produce the greatest financial health.
$ Adjustments to jobs and materials automatically produce accounting entries not visible to every user. Project management software with a closely integrated General Ledger can provide a much higher level of security for your cash and materials, and greatly inhibit employee’s ability to mismanage your assets … intentionally or unintentionally.
Q:
What size companies use JobRunner?
A:
Our largest client’s annual sales are over $100 million; our smallest is around $3 million.
Q:
How many simultaneous users?
A:
Unlimited. Your license price is based on your simultaneous user requirement. User logins and networked workstations are unlimited for all versions of JobRunner and FloorManager.
Q:
How many product categories?
A:
Unlimited Alpha & Numeric. Our unlimited design means JobRunner is endlessly flexible and comprehensive to manage health care, educational, institutional, insurance work, insurance claims, carpet, carpet tile, VCT, ceramic tile, stone, wood, granite slab, laminates, counter tops, accessories, fabrics, tools, imports, supplies, furniture, cabinets, tool rental and check out, services, trip charges, maintenance contracts, and so on and on.
Q:
How many labor or service categories?
A:
Unlimited. Unlimited significant expands your business capacity.
Q:
Can JobRunner run on a Windows or Mac Unix server and workstations?
A:
Yes; run a Windows or Mac Unix server with either workstation (or combinations). Mac Unix servers are significantly faster, dramatically more stable, and much lower cost than Windows (both initially and over time). Large companies benefit most from the zero down time. Small companies are grateful for the dramatically reduced cost (also see Cloud Computing for more on reduced cost). And the entire JobRunner system runs native and optimized on iPad and iPhone (no web browser which makes ALL the difference in being truly “usable”).
Q:
Are JobRunner (management) and FloorRight (estimating) really Windows?
A:
They run natively on Microsoft Windows and always have. JobRunner can run multiple sessions per workstation on Mac, single session on Windows.
Q:
Is JobRunner multi-threaded; take advantage of multi core Processors; is it a true relational database; is it true client/server?
A:
Yes, yes, yes, and yes.
Q:
Our local IT service provider does not support Mac
A:
Our systems run flawlessly on either Windows or Mac servers. We want whichever platform will best serve your business efficiency and securely, whether that is a Windows or Mac server (or workstations), and we are happy to support you and your IT service provider on either platform. And the drastically improved stability and reduced cost might still be an option even if your local IT provider does not support Mac. Many of our clients have local IT companies that do not support Mac but still choose a Mac server for JobRunner very successfully and stress-free for themselves and their local IT service provider. It often is the best choice for the most mission-critical system in their business. Ask Pacific Solutions for more details.
Q:
Cloud Computing - can we run JobRunner via the Cloud?
A:
Yes, we offer Cloud or hosted solutions (ASP), and in some cases that might be the best option. The most important consideration is what is in the best interests of your business, today and in the future?
Cloud or hosted solutions often have (a) low setup cost and therefore easy entry and (b) eliminate the need for local server maintenance. The negatives include the facts that (a) if internet service is interrupted at your facility or theirs, your mission-critical business management system and data is inaccessible for the duration of that time and (b) when it is time to migrate to a better software solution you either lose expedient access to all the job information created in your Cloud system or get held hostage to subscribing to that Cloud solution into perpetuity. (Be sure to ask your vendor how you will look up historical job records when you have switched from their Cloud solution. We regularly serve clients facing this dilemma; a factor they did not consider when they put their business in the Cloud.)
Mac Unix server costs are so low they eliminate any savings from Cloud solutions because the startup costs are comparable and their maintenance for the user is near zero, which means you can afford startup while keeping your system and data in your hands, rather than having your system and your data controlled by a vendor who might need to be replaced one day.
If your business has multiple locations then a Cloud solution may be your best choice, though Pacific Solutions can easily and inexpensively provide you with the best of both while still keeping your system and job data within your own control. Ask for more details on wide area network, Cloud, or hosted solutions for your business. We happily support your best solution.
Q:
How does FileMaker compare to the programming languages in other flooring software?
A:
FileMaker (and FileMaker Server) by Apple, is the only database with the user efficiency that has propelled Apple beyond any other software technology company. We have the only flooring system that runs native, optimized, in its entirety on the Apple iPad and iPhone, it is likely to be exclusive for many years or longer, and is a result of our decision to develop using Apple technology back when we began our system development over 15 years ago. Companies well over $500 million use FileMaker for their mission-critical business software. JobRunner runs entirely in FileMaker, it is a single-software system. Other flooring systems are actually comprised of two software systems communicating back and forth. How does that affect your profit? Ask them what software they currently use for their user interface, and then compare the number of steps and amount of time required accomplishing individual tasks and task groups. The level of efficiency of the user interface, the software that is actually programmed by the software provider (not which 3rd party database they link to in their two-software system platform) is what dictates the amount of time it takes an individual user to complete their tasks, as well as how long it takes the average person to become proficient with the software. Do you want to be able to train a new sales person in a few days, or in a few months? Do you want your users to become proficient in a matter or months, or in a matter or years?
Q:
We would create our own procedures that are required for all employees?
A:
Yes, by combining;
(a) Your ownership’s knowledge and objectives
(b) The education, training, and recommendations of Pacific Solutions
(c) Industry best practices for your business model
(d) The insight and full participation of your project leaders
(e) The complete participation of their bookkeeping and accounting staff who must be willing and able to learn the automatic postings from operations into accounting, and constantly offer their observations accurately to ownership and operations management, so the entire process is efficient, profitable, and accurately accounted for.
Note: Only consider JobRunner if 100% cooperation from each user is a requirement.
Q:
Is JobRunner’s accounting audited by external CPA’s?
A:
Yes. We do not rely on solely our own staff knowledge for accounting. The CPA firm that audits the accounting functions of JobRunner is available to you and your CPA for consultation on an as-need hourly or monthly contract basis. Of course they are licensed, insured, uphold the CPA’s Code of Ethics, and there are no financial strings between them and Pacific Solutions beyond their auditing and advisory services.
Q:
Is JobRunner fcB2B compliant?
A:
JobRunner has integrated fcB2B for the Product Catalog from Mohawk, Shaw, Beaulieu, Dal Tile, and about 40 distributors in the US and Canada. If you are part of Carpet One, JobRunner also supports Product Gateway data download / import. Purchase Order, Invoice, and Advance Ship Notice are available with Shaw Industries, and other vendors are being added in 2012/2013. Ask your Pacific Solutions contact about a specific vendor. If you are part of a group you can also setup Private B2B very inexpensively with Master Sync software available from Pacific Solutions.
Q:
How many characters in the Item (description) master field does JobRunner allow? Why does this matter? How does it compare to other flooring software?
A:
The number of characters in the Item Number (description) field of JobRunner is (and always has been) unlimited. For other systems this is a factor when they try to smoothly accommodate fcB2B. Equally important, having an unlimited Item Number master field as JobRunner does, means users can include as much description information as they like, including both the manufacturer’s (or private label) name and number, along with size, finish type, size, and so on and on. This makes it easier, faster, and less prone to error for sales staff to identify and sell products, and also makes it much clearer to the customer to see and understand what they are buying, when they see it printed on their Quote and Invoice.
Q:
Commercial work is so different from residential, what makes JobRunner right for commercial?
A:
A group of commercial contractors with over $1 billion in revenue conducted software research to select the best platform to integrate their needs into a commercial flooring software system; they chose JobRunner. Eighteen months of extensive evaluation and comparisons were conducted on behalf of the commercial group, and their experts to compare all software options, not just every flooring system available, but also software from Sage, MAS 200, Timberline, Maxwell Systems, and others. Their research clearly showed Pacific Solutions had the best software foundation, technology, and future positioning from which to enhance JobRunner for commercial flooring businesses. It is the first and only research of its kind ever performed within the flooring industry, and not influenced by politics, legacy systems; only the requests of commercial flooring contractors.
Beginning with a very detailed and extensive scope of work, Pacific Solutions released the first iteration of JobRunner in 2007, with multiple updates being released every year since. The same $1 billion group continues to provide collective wisdom to help direct JobRunner development, ReSource Commercial Flooring Network (Now Fuse Alliance), Ron Lee, executive director, is accessible to any commercial flooring business considering JobRunner. JobRunner is wholly owned and controlled by Pacific Solutions.
Q:
Is JobRunner faster than using spreadsheets to build commercial bids?
A:
Nothing is more free and fast getting the bid out than using a spreadsheet; just copy paste from similar bids, adjust a few numbers, and your bid is “done” … right? Well perhaps the bid is done, and setting aside the error and risk potential of spreadsheet bidding, running a high profit commercial flooring business involves much more than submitting bids. Spreadsheets are not within a controlled data management system; therefore they are not truly controlled.
Most of us experience the occasional pain from accidentally deleting a formula or copying some of the wrong information, and other easy spreadsheet mistakes. Often they are identified after the bid is won. The larger the bid, the greater that pain. Some have had prior sales people take (or email) key spreadsheets out of the business to use in going into business for themselves, sometimes taking key sales accounts along with them. It is difficult for anyone other than the original sales person to follow up on bids, even temporarily (vacation, sick time), since each is an independent electronic file. It is also very difficult to measure and monitor the sales pipeline with consistency.
JobRunner; conversely, offers integration with FloorRight estimating to reduce human error and increase speed, maintains your bids inside a system that delivers outstanding pre-sales pipeline management and security. But the advantages in bid control and pipeline management of the bid process are just a small part of the overall profit advantages from JobRunner.
JobRunner advantages go way beyond the bid process. It will dramatically streamline project management, with accurate WIP numbers being instantly available, clear visual control of large or small projects, create internal staff synchronization that eliminates errors and late responses to job changes, creates internal accountability, and allows more job production with lower people-time and better managed material cost, empowers higher customer service, and higher profit.
AIA billing forms G702, G703, moisture test reports, stop work orders, request for information, pre lien and lien notice, change order management, bundled bid options, integrated CRM including integration of existing Outlook contacts and synchronization of Outlook email, meeting, and tasks, integration with ADP and Paychex, Vertex, FloorRight estimating systems, and more.
Q:
What companies should or should not partner with Pacific Solutions?
A:
You should consider Pacific Solutions if your company encompasses all of the following:
1. You maintain a partnership like relationship with your primary software system provider.
2. Your primary system objective is to achieve optimum sales and operational efficiency while benefitting from the increased security provided by integrated accounting. You believe optimizing the efficiency of sales and operations while maintaining control is the path to maximum profit.
3. The highest authority in your business will (a) lead by example and (b) require proper procedures are observed by every user as a condition of employment. You will not allow any individual user to dictate their own level of compliance with proper workflow procedures.
4. Your system implementation leader is clearly identified and fully empowered, fully capable, and 100% committed to defining and training all other users on your specifically defined procedures, including the creation of process steps list (not a flow chart of every yes/no possibility). “All users” must include sales, operations, and accounting.
5. All users are required to follow your defined workflow throughout every step to use the system to its fullest potential. Rather than hiding mistakes or lack of system knowledge they will quickly alert you to weak spots in their knowledge so you can stop the leaks in efficiency.
6. You are committed to ongoing education because you know it is more expensive to neglect education then it is to invest in it. You make sure system leaders are completely trained on the system originally and then train all users. As updates are released they receive training as needed, and then train all users. Any new staff or replacements are equally trained. You will follow the training of your software system provider to define how you direct each user of our software.
7. You and your entire staff are diligent, ethical, and committed to outstanding success, and your owner’s desire accurate feedback on staff performance, not only during initial training and implementation, but also throughout the lifetime of your use of our system.
Q:
How can I trust your system will continue to be the most fully developed?
A:
Several proprietary methods and technical tools allow us to develop much faster than our competition. Our unique approach (explained above) also helps us deliver systems that are not just long feature lists, but concepts that are superior. The fact that our system is already much more capable than systems that began to be developed ten to fifteen years prior to Pacific Solutions is clear testimony to the superior methods and technology employed by Pacific Solutions.
Q:
What is Pacific Solutions mission statement?
A:
Pacific Solutions will provide software and support services that deliver optimum efficiency in sales and operations, and therefore peak profit and owner security for the business of our clients.
Can we know which system will allow us the greatest profit?
A:
Yes if you do the right research. With management software the recommendation is to find industry-specific software that meets at least 80% of your needs. We expand that to include finding the system that (a) requires the least amount of people time (the most efficient) to therefore deliver the greatest profit, (b) provides the greatest level of security, helping to protect owner assets from being mismanaged by staff. To have software exactly to your specs normally requires building a custom system; that usually costs several hundred thousand dollars or more, and takes several years.
Q:
How is software efficiency related to our profit?
A:
Whatever system allows you to get the most done with the fewest human resources and fewest mistakes is the most efficient, and the most efficient software will make your business the most profitable. The feature lists of two systems may give one indication, but the actual proven results accessible through a client list that has a large client list that have switched to JobRunner has become a real-world case study in the contrast of software efficiency. One MAJOR segment of advantage to your efficiency is the fact that JobRunner is truly paperless by design. Other software documentation includes complicated and intricate paper processes that must be accomplished in conjunction with the software.
Q:
How does Pacific Solutions service compare?
A:
• Beliefs We know that the collective wisdom of our clients vastly exceeds our own.
• Attitude Our employees are dedicated, experienced, and people who enjoy serving others. We never talk down to our clients.
• Methods We listen, research, plan & then program. The resulting efficiency empowers our clients to get more done with fewer
people and enjoy greater profit.
• Capacity Pacific Solutions staff to client ratio: 1/20
Competitors staff to client ratio: 1/50 (based on their ads)
Pacific Solutions has double the capacity to respond to your needs.
Q:
Which leadership is best positioned to serve our needs today and in the future?
A:
Pacific Solutions executive leadership is mid-40’s and early 50’s, therefore positioned for the next 20 years. Ron Hudson, founder and developer of ProCent commercial software, evaluated systems and joined Pacific Solutions in 2012, adding his lifetime career of commercial flooring experience, both as a software designer and a highly successful commercial flooring contractor. Pacific Solutions is not controlled by a buying group or posturing to be acquired.
Q:
Can we accurately compare software systems?
A:
Our demo CD is not a sales pitch. It is a tutorial of the basic job process in our system. After each person who will be involved in the decision has watched the CD you will know if you want to learn more or keep searching. If you want to learn more, we will meet on the web or in your office and further analyze the system’s fit for your staff, efficiency, profit, and security.
Q:
Do many companies switch to Pacific Solutions from other flooring systems?
A:
The majority of our sales switch from other flooring or construction systems. They know which system allows them to accomplish the most with the lowest cost, and therefore, highest profit. If you do NOT talk to several companies that have run on two (or more) flooring systems and KNOW the bottom-line difference you would miss out on a priceless, factual comparison that is readily available with just a little of your time conducting several phone interviews. No matter which system you choose, be SURE you know the real contrasts before you buy.
Q:
Some systems require large portions of the business process to be paper-only, and Pacific Solutions systems are designed to run paperless. How big a difference does that make?
A:
As a flooring automation consultant put it regarding another flooring system, “How can they call it a ‘management system’ when huge parts of the process are paper-only?” How much is paper-only has direct bearing on how much your staff can get done in a period of time, and greatly effect the degree of accuracy. People time is extremely expensive; errors and omissions can be. So use their reference list to interview users on their latest release and find out which aspects of their control process are still a paper process, how much admin time cost is consumed accomplishing them, and how often do they experience human error or communication breakdown in the paper-only zones.
Huge timesaving is inevitable with software that is designed to run paperless. Pacific Solutions systems reduce salary requirements by one-two salaries of companies doing $2 million, more for larger volume businesses. The total amount of staff time required is the measure of any process efficiency, so compare their ‘Workflow’ of other systems to a true paperless system.
Why should we call references?
$ Call the references, they use it every day and will discuss what it has meant to them; most of our sales result from these candid one-on-one discussions with other JobRunner users.
$ Your commercial business is by nature similar to many of us doing commercial, so what better way to get some insider information.
Q:
How do we use each reference list to create a complete comparison?
A:
A. Outline the questions, make notes of their answers, and then meditate on the dollar value for your business;
- How long does it take to get a new sales person fully operational on each system?
- What is the difference in paper-only steps, and how do they affect admin time and human error?
- How different is your bottom line efficiency?
- How different is your delivery and level of customer service with Pacific Solutions system?
- How different is the level of freedom you enjoy in your life due to system differences?
- How different is your level of stress?
- How different is your level of control you wield over the business?
B. Do not assume you know what they are going to say based on which reference list they are on or the size of their company. If their Reference List includes businesses they list as having switched off of Pacific Solutions software, be especially sure to call them. Owners are usually very candid about software systems; do not assume what they will probably tell you just because they are on a certain reference list … just make the calls to find out what they know.
C. Be persistent; talk to ten, fifteen, or more users that have switched from other flooring systems. Ask them to describe the difference in their operational efficiency, overhead, stress, freedom, control, and net profit. One five-minute phone call can harvest years of real world results and provide you with measurable contrast in systems. Even though it means playing phone tag with busy owner operators like you, invest the time.
Q:
Why integrate operations with internal accounting versus QuickBooks, MAS, Simply, etc.?
A:
$ Automating the moneymaking portion of the business, sales and project management, offers the highest return possible from a business; much greater return than accounting systems alone can produce.
$ Industry-specific provides the highest level of step-by-step process automation of pre-sales, sales, and operations, the highest accomplishment per people hour, and therefore the highest profit.
$ Blending commercial sales and project management into tightly integrated accounting is the only way to have up-to-the-minute financial reports that are pin-point accurate. They are an exact byproduct of each and every job cost related to all of your projects, each at their own stage of completion. Being exactly correct and current enables decisions that produce the greatest financial health.
$ Adjustments to jobs and materials automatically produce accounting entries not visible to every user. Project management software with a closely integrated General Ledger can provide a much higher level of security for your cash and materials, and greatly inhibit employee’s ability to mismanage your assets … intentionally or unintentionally.
Q:
What size companies use JobRunner?
A:
Our largest client’s annual sales are over $100 million; our smallest is around $3 million.
Q:
How many simultaneous users?
A:
Unlimited. Your license price is based on your simultaneous user requirement. User logins and networked workstations are unlimited for all versions of JobRunner and FloorManager.
Q:
How many product categories?
A:
Unlimited Alpha & Numeric. Our unlimited design means JobRunner is endlessly flexible and comprehensive to manage health care, educational, institutional, insurance work, insurance claims, carpet, carpet tile, VCT, ceramic tile, stone, wood, granite slab, laminates, counter tops, accessories, fabrics, tools, imports, supplies, furniture, cabinets, tool rental and check out, services, trip charges, maintenance contracts, and so on and on.
Q:
How many labor or service categories?
A:
Unlimited. Unlimited significant expands your business capacity.
Q:
Can JobRunner run on a Windows or Mac Unix server and workstations?
A:
Yes; run a Windows or Mac Unix server with either workstation (or combinations). Mac Unix servers are significantly faster, dramatically more stable, and much lower cost than Windows (both initially and over time). Large companies benefit most from the zero down time. Small companies are grateful for the dramatically reduced cost (also see Cloud Computing for more on reduced cost). And the entire JobRunner system runs native and optimized on iPad and iPhone (no web browser which makes ALL the difference in being truly “usable”).
Q:
Are JobRunner (management) and FloorRight (estimating) really Windows?
A:
They run natively on Microsoft Windows and always have. JobRunner can run multiple sessions per workstation on Mac, single session on Windows.
Q:
Is JobRunner multi-threaded; take advantage of multi core Processors; is it a true relational database; is it true client/server?
A:
Yes, yes, yes, and yes.
Q:
Our local IT service provider does not support Mac
A:
Our systems run flawlessly on either Windows or Mac servers. We want whichever platform will best serve your business efficiency and securely, whether that is a Windows or Mac server (or workstations), and we are happy to support you and your IT service provider on either platform. And the drastically improved stability and reduced cost might still be an option even if your local IT provider does not support Mac. Many of our clients have local IT companies that do not support Mac but still choose a Mac server for JobRunner very successfully and stress-free for themselves and their local IT service provider. It often is the best choice for the most mission-critical system in their business. Ask Pacific Solutions for more details.
Q:
Cloud Computing - can we run JobRunner via the Cloud?
A:
Yes, we offer Cloud or hosted solutions (ASP), and in some cases that might be the best option. The most important consideration is what is in the best interests of your business, today and in the future?
Cloud or hosted solutions often have (a) low setup cost and therefore easy entry and (b) eliminate the need for local server maintenance. The negatives include the facts that (a) if internet service is interrupted at your facility or theirs, your mission-critical business management system and data is inaccessible for the duration of that time and (b) when it is time to migrate to a better software solution you either lose expedient access to all the job information created in your Cloud system or get held hostage to subscribing to that Cloud solution into perpetuity. (Be sure to ask your vendor how you will look up historical job records when you have switched from their Cloud solution. We regularly serve clients facing this dilemma; a factor they did not consider when they put their business in the Cloud.)
Mac Unix server costs are so low they eliminate any savings from Cloud solutions because the startup costs are comparable and their maintenance for the user is near zero, which means you can afford startup while keeping your system and data in your hands, rather than having your system and your data controlled by a vendor who might need to be replaced one day.
If your business has multiple locations then a Cloud solution may be your best choice, though Pacific Solutions can easily and inexpensively provide you with the best of both while still keeping your system and job data within your own control. Ask for more details on wide area network, Cloud, or hosted solutions for your business. We happily support your best solution.
Q:
How does FileMaker compare to the programming languages in other flooring software?
A:
FileMaker (and FileMaker Server) by Apple, is the only database with the user efficiency that has propelled Apple beyond any other software technology company. We have the only flooring system that runs native, optimized, in its entirety on the Apple iPad and iPhone, it is likely to be exclusive for many years or longer, and is a result of our decision to develop using Apple technology back when we began our system development over 15 years ago. Companies well over $500 million use FileMaker for their mission-critical business software. JobRunner runs entirely in FileMaker, it is a single-software system. Other flooring systems are actually comprised of two software systems communicating back and forth. How does that affect your profit? Ask them what software they currently use for their user interface, and then compare the number of steps and amount of time required accomplishing individual tasks and task groups. The level of efficiency of the user interface, the software that is actually programmed by the software provider (not which 3rd party database they link to in their two-software system platform) is what dictates the amount of time it takes an individual user to complete their tasks, as well as how long it takes the average person to become proficient with the software. Do you want to be able to train a new sales person in a few days, or in a few months? Do you want your users to become proficient in a matter or months, or in a matter or years?
Q:
We would create our own procedures that are required for all employees?
A:
Yes, by combining;
(a) Your ownership’s knowledge and objectives
(b) The education, training, and recommendations of Pacific Solutions
(c) Industry best practices for your business model
(d) The insight and full participation of your project leaders
(e) The complete participation of their bookkeeping and accounting staff who must be willing and able to learn the automatic postings from operations into accounting, and constantly offer their observations accurately to ownership and operations management, so the entire process is efficient, profitable, and accurately accounted for.
Note: Only consider JobRunner if 100% cooperation from each user is a requirement.
Q:
Is JobRunner’s accounting audited by external CPA’s?
A:
Yes. We do not rely on solely our own staff knowledge for accounting. The CPA firm that audits the accounting functions of JobRunner is available to you and your CPA for consultation on an as-need hourly or monthly contract basis. Of course they are licensed, insured, uphold the CPA’s Code of Ethics, and there are no financial strings between them and Pacific Solutions beyond their auditing and advisory services.
Q:
Is JobRunner fcB2B compliant?
A:
JobRunner has integrated fcB2B for the Product Catalog from Mohawk, Shaw, Beaulieu, Dal Tile, and about 40 distributors in the US and Canada. If you are part of Carpet One, JobRunner also supports Product Gateway data download / import. Purchase Order, Invoice, and Advance Ship Notice are available with Shaw Industries, and other vendors are being added in 2012/2013. Ask your Pacific Solutions contact about a specific vendor. If you are part of a group you can also setup Private B2B very inexpensively with Master Sync software available from Pacific Solutions.
Q:
How many characters in the Item (description) master field does JobRunner allow? Why does this matter? How does it compare to other flooring software?
A:
The number of characters in the Item Number (description) field of JobRunner is (and always has been) unlimited. For other systems this is a factor when they try to smoothly accommodate fcB2B. Equally important, having an unlimited Item Number master field as JobRunner does, means users can include as much description information as they like, including both the manufacturer’s (or private label) name and number, along with size, finish type, size, and so on and on. This makes it easier, faster, and less prone to error for sales staff to identify and sell products, and also makes it much clearer to the customer to see and understand what they are buying, when they see it printed on their Quote and Invoice.
Q:
Commercial work is so different from residential, what makes JobRunner right for commercial?
A:
A group of commercial contractors with over $1 billion in revenue conducted software research to select the best platform to integrate their needs into a commercial flooring software system; they chose JobRunner. Eighteen months of extensive evaluation and comparisons were conducted on behalf of the commercial group, and their experts to compare all software options, not just every flooring system available, but also software from Sage, MAS 200, Timberline, Maxwell Systems, and others. Their research clearly showed Pacific Solutions had the best software foundation, technology, and future positioning from which to enhance JobRunner for commercial flooring businesses. It is the first and only research of its kind ever performed within the flooring industry, and not influenced by politics, legacy systems; only the requests of commercial flooring contractors.
Beginning with a very detailed and extensive scope of work, Pacific Solutions released the first iteration of JobRunner in 2007, with multiple updates being released every year since. The same $1 billion group continues to provide collective wisdom to help direct JobRunner development, ReSource Commercial Flooring Network (Now Fuse Alliance), Ron Lee, executive director, is accessible to any commercial flooring business considering JobRunner. JobRunner is wholly owned and controlled by Pacific Solutions.
Q:
Is JobRunner faster than using spreadsheets to build commercial bids?
A:
Nothing is more free and fast getting the bid out than using a spreadsheet; just copy paste from similar bids, adjust a few numbers, and your bid is “done” … right? Well perhaps the bid is done, and setting aside the error and risk potential of spreadsheet bidding, running a high profit commercial flooring business involves much more than submitting bids. Spreadsheets are not within a controlled data management system; therefore they are not truly controlled.
Most of us experience the occasional pain from accidentally deleting a formula or copying some of the wrong information, and other easy spreadsheet mistakes. Often they are identified after the bid is won. The larger the bid, the greater that pain. Some have had prior sales people take (or email) key spreadsheets out of the business to use in going into business for themselves, sometimes taking key sales accounts along with them. It is difficult for anyone other than the original sales person to follow up on bids, even temporarily (vacation, sick time), since each is an independent electronic file. It is also very difficult to measure and monitor the sales pipeline with consistency.
JobRunner; conversely, offers integration with FloorRight estimating to reduce human error and increase speed, maintains your bids inside a system that delivers outstanding pre-sales pipeline management and security. But the advantages in bid control and pipeline management of the bid process are just a small part of the overall profit advantages from JobRunner.
JobRunner advantages go way beyond the bid process. It will dramatically streamline project management, with accurate WIP numbers being instantly available, clear visual control of large or small projects, create internal staff synchronization that eliminates errors and late responses to job changes, creates internal accountability, and allows more job production with lower people-time and better managed material cost, empowers higher customer service, and higher profit.
AIA billing forms G702, G703, moisture test reports, stop work orders, request for information, pre lien and lien notice, change order management, bundled bid options, integrated CRM including integration of existing Outlook contacts and synchronization of Outlook email, meeting, and tasks, integration with ADP and Paychex, Vertex, FloorRight estimating systems, and more.
Q:
What companies should or should not partner with Pacific Solutions?
A:
You should consider Pacific Solutions if your company encompasses all of the following:
1. You maintain a partnership like relationship with your primary software system provider.
2. Your primary system objective is to achieve optimum sales and operational efficiency while benefitting from the increased security provided by integrated accounting. You believe optimizing the efficiency of sales and operations while maintaining control is the path to maximum profit.
3. The highest authority in your business will (a) lead by example and (b) require proper procedures are observed by every user as a condition of employment. You will not allow any individual user to dictate their own level of compliance with proper workflow procedures.
4. Your system implementation leader is clearly identified and fully empowered, fully capable, and 100% committed to defining and training all other users on your specifically defined procedures, including the creation of process steps list (not a flow chart of every yes/no possibility). “All users” must include sales, operations, and accounting.
5. All users are required to follow your defined workflow throughout every step to use the system to its fullest potential. Rather than hiding mistakes or lack of system knowledge they will quickly alert you to weak spots in their knowledge so you can stop the leaks in efficiency.
6. You are committed to ongoing education because you know it is more expensive to neglect education then it is to invest in it. You make sure system leaders are completely trained on the system originally and then train all users. As updates are released they receive training as needed, and then train all users. Any new staff or replacements are equally trained. You will follow the training of your software system provider to define how you direct each user of our software.
7. You and your entire staff are diligent, ethical, and committed to outstanding success, and your owner’s desire accurate feedback on staff performance, not only during initial training and implementation, but also throughout the lifetime of your use of our system.
Q:
How can I trust your system will continue to be the most fully developed?
A:
Several proprietary methods and technical tools allow us to develop much faster than our competition. Our unique approach (explained above) also helps us deliver systems that are not just long feature lists, but concepts that are superior. The fact that our system is already much more capable than systems that began to be developed ten to fifteen years prior to Pacific Solutions is clear testimony to the superior methods and technology employed by Pacific Solutions.
Q:
What is Pacific Solutions mission statement?
A:
Pacific Solutions will provide software and support services that deliver optimum efficiency in sales and operations, and therefore peak profit and owner security for the business of our clients.
