Forum Discussion

ryaantuttle's avatar
ryaantuttle
Jobber Ambassador
1 year ago

How Are You Building Your Systems & Processes?

I’ve been diving into ways to build better systems and processes lately, and I’m curious to learn from the community. Whether it's managing workflows, tracking progress, or using flowcharts, there are so many tools and methods out there to explore.

What are you using to stay organized, efficient, and productive?

  • Are you a fan of tools like Lucidchart, Trello, or Asana?
  • What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in building systems that actually work for you or your team?

Personally, I’ve been experimenting with Chatgpt and Lucidchart, but I’m always looking for fresh ideas to improve. Let’s share what’s working (or not!) and inspire each other to level up our workflows.

Looking forward to hearing about your tools, processes, and insights!

10 Replies

  • WiringByron's avatar
    WiringByron
    Jobber Ambassador

    I've been using Zapier Canvas. I like that it allows you to choose the app + the person that's responsible. I'm going through my client journey right now trying to squeeze a little more juice from the lemon.. 

  • shawn's avatar
    shawn
    Contributor 2

    Hi ryaantuttle ,

    Fantastic question! This should be a section in itself: systems and processes.

    Regarding flowcharts, I used to use Lucidchart but stumbled across Figjam for flowcharts and haven't turned back.  It's really simple to get started with their AI tool as well. You type a command like "flowchart for a sales process" and it gets you started.

    Here’s a screenshot of a flowchart I created for a client. It illustrates the workflow after a job is completed in Jobber. This flow listens to Jobber’s API and showcases how a custom app (built in Retool) integrates with Jobber to enhance its functionality.

     

    • ryaantuttle's avatar
      ryaantuttle
      Jobber Ambassador

      Great work! I can't wait to check out Figjam. And, I agree with you.
      Systems & Processes should be an entire section here, since it's so important and crucial to EVERY type of business.

      • shawn's avatar
        shawn
        Contributor 2

        Figjam is actually fun and easy to use. I've used it for brainstorming sessions as well where you can have multiple participants. It can take a zoom meeting to the next level.

  • Training and documentation is the key a successful business.  For us (we are a residential cleaning company) it is imperative that we continously train and monitor our team to make sure they are doing their work properly.  We use Trainual where we have all of our training videos and we also do quizzes.  This way we can determine which questions the team struggles with.  In the office we use Jobber as a task manager for the admin team.  This way we see who is doing what.  We also have our SOP's in Trainual.  

    • ryaantuttle's avatar
      ryaantuttle
      Jobber Ambassador

      Very cool! I've heard of Trainual and never looked into it, but I will now.

  • I’m still building my business systems, but one thing I’m learning is that having a clear process makes everything feel more professional and less overwhelming.

    Right now, I’m focusing on organizing my client intake, pricing, service agreements, payment steps, follow-up messages, and document tracking. I want each client to know what to expect from the beginning, what information I need from them, and what the next step is after they submit their request.

    For me, a good system means better communication, fewer mistakes, and a smoother experience for both the business and the customer. I’m interested in learning what tools or steps other business owners use to keep their workflow organized as they grow.

    • Randy_Warner's avatar
      Randy_Warner
      Contributor 4

      The instinct you have here is exactly right: wanting each client to know what to expect, what's needed from them, and what happens next. That clarity is the process. The system's job is to support it, not create it.

      One thing worth keeping in mind as you build: the process and the system need to agree with each other. If your process requires the system to do something it isn't built to do, that gap becomes a manual step every single time. And manual steps are where good processes break down.

      The practical version of this for Jobber: map out your client journey the way you want it to work — intake, quote, agreement, job, invoice, follow-up, etc then check each step against what Jobber handles natively. Where they line up, the system runs it for you. Where they don't, you either adapt the process or extend the system.

      Most friction in service business workflows isn't a people problem or a discipline problem. It's a process and system that were built separately and never properly introduced to each other.

      Happy to help you think through where Jobber fits your workflow as you build it out. What does your intake step look like right now?