Rapid and unexpected growth probably sounds like a good problem to have for your commercial contracting company. But, what’s a business owner supposed to do when they find themselves with a sudden influx of projects and a serious need to scale their workflow, fast? Well, if you’re Brent Larson, member-owner and CFO of BP Mechanical LLC., you turn to BuildOps for a complete operational overhaul. We had the chance to catch up with him and ask about how BuildOps was able to offer a solution that would help solidify communication from the back office to their technicians in the field, improve reporting processes, and help with all the aches and pains that come with a rapidly growing business.
BP Mechanical is a fast-growing, mid-sized commercial HVAC and plumbing subcontractor operating out of Gilbert, Arizona. Their area of expertise is centered around commercial and industrial construction—with a service team to support these efforts. Since March of 2020, they went from 12 to 65 employees in just under two years. That’s an increase of 440%! They needed to find the right software to help scale their operation—from the first 400%, all the way to the next!
Looking For a Scalable Software Solution With BuildOps
Before setting his sights on a new solution, first, Brent had to have a proper sense of existing roadblocks inside his workflow. “We needed an in-field solution to get information from the back office, onto the job site, and back that could also help manage our rapid growth rate,” he said. “Not to mention better job costing information to help track job progress and profitability—and the ability to integrate with our Quickbooks accounting software.” Brent was also looking to streamline change order processes, change purchasing controls, and bring in an all-in-one platform for daily reporting and time management.
“It became clear that we were behind the times by not having a reliable field service management tool,” he told us. “Managing a larger workforce required more than just a quick phone call or weekly visit to the job site.” With a growing client list and additional headcount, Brent identified a brand-new opportunity to mitigate mistakes, streamline inefficiencies, and create a new unified workflow for their business.
The team over at BP Mechanical felt like BuildOps, with its true commercial workflow, presented a real opportunity to make a difference for their organization.
Real-time Data Gathering—And How it Helped Enhance Operational Effectiveness
The first thing that really stood out for Brent specifically was how true to their word the team was throughout the implementation process. “They really meant what they said about being willing to work with us,” he said. With a designated implementation manager along with a weekly call to go over any ongoing questions or concerns, Brent said he had never experienced such a willingness to listen to their problems and find a solution for the company going forward. “Most of the time, once they’ve hooked us, other software providers would move straight over to the next sale—leaving us to decipher their online troubleshooting guides and figuring out our own workarounds.”
He went on to tell us about how intuitive the software has felt for him and his team. Adoption has been swift, and Brent says that he’s been fortunate enough to have some bright, tech-savvy team members to help bridge the communication gap between themselves and the BuildOps support team.
“Before BuildOps, we weren’t able to gather any real-time input on each job,” he said. “Now, we have real-time hours worked on a daily basis—not a week and a half later when time cards are finally submitted and processed.” He raved about their ability to execute purchase orders in the field and track those purchases to the right jobs. “We can even initiate charge order requests at the field level—allowing our project managers to remain aware of those changes, and negotiate accordingly,” Brent told us. And the ability to send pictures and plan changes was a huge bonus for them too!
Brent is happy to report that his team has seen reduced stress levels on the part of their field leaders and project managers. Office staff have been more efficient, he says, and customers are happier than ever with quicker turnarounds across the board.
Scaling Responsibly With the Right Growth Management Tools
“We’re not done growing,” Brent told us when asked about how BuildOps could help provide future growth opportunities. “We feel that BuildOps will help make the whole process of scaling our business go smoother—avoiding the pitfalls of growing without the proper management controls.” He went on to say that there are also plans for developing their service department—which is an area where BuildOps truly stands out.
He finished by telling us that he’s been involved in multiple software implementations with competing service management providers when working with other subcontractors. “I can honestly say that this has been the least difficult experience with software installations,” he said. “BuildOps is unparalleled in their willingness to listen to our needs—and act on them.”
There’s nothing we enjoy more than the kind words of another satisfied customer. Interested in becoming one of them? Check out our product demo and see if switching over to BuildOps might be right for you and your service business.
