Hello community,
I'm looking for a tablet/smartphone app that could help me survey a new site, create an equipment layout, add GPS, generate prints with all the devices, add camera view pictures, etc. Cloud based with iOS client for sure so I can walk the site with ipad mini. Does anyone use something like that? I googled a little bit, and the only app I found is System surveyor. I want to compare at least 3-4 different solutions before purchasing. Does anyone use something like that?
D-Tools has a mobile app that allows you to built quotes in the field while on a walk through. You add systems and locations then add parts or packages and pics to the locations. You can’t build maps but when you get back in your office you can sync the mobile quote to your project so all the info is pushed into your quote. Then you can add the specific parts and build floor plans in Visio.
they don't post the price, just "call for a quote". Usually, it means an overpriced product.
how is that connected? It is just a simple marketing trick: you want to get your customer's contact details before you scare him with the price. Just an extra chance for your sales team to get a new customer. I'm not saying that product is bad or something, I just don't like the way they sale it
System survior sounds like everything you want. I stopped using it because it took to long to plot everything out. The customers did not want to spend that much time.
It wasn't the programs fault any program will take additional time to do that.
Yes, I do agree that using SS takes time to use while you're on the actual job walk. Yes, it does get annoying to tap a bunch of buttons and be stopping to fiddle with it while you're on site. However, I found that in the big picture, it saves more time and maintains more accuracy than walking around with my cell phone snapping pictures. The problem with that is you have to remember where you took the pictures and of what, and when you get back to the office, you have to spend a bunch of time uploading, decoding and renaming all of those files.
Also, being able to drop icons on an actual floor plan is REALLY nice to be able to go back and look at the photos, on top of when your installers go to actually put the product in, they know exactly where to put it.
So, yes, it takes more time on the front end, but on the back end and over the total life of the project, it is a time saver.
(I am not affiliated with SS or involved with them)
I just started using System Surveyor and it is by far the easiest product to use that runs on a tablet.
Been using System Surveyor for the past 2.5 Years and have thoroughly enjoyed watching it grow up. Yes it takes time to document everything as what we do is very technical, but once you learn a few efficiencies it is rather simple at that point.
It does not matter if you do the documentation on the front end or the back end what matters professionally is that you do the documentation to retain the value of the client investment.
Having a service tech try to reverse engineer a system every time they show up for a fix it call is expensive and unnecessary, but we continue to do it because we have always done it that way.
Systems are not getting simpler they are getting more complex, so documenting your work adds value and sets you apart from the competition.
I have twenty people in my organization using System Surveyor that in turn feeds back to our engineers to review along with the cost model. It matters not only are the profits there to do the job, but also will it work.
it looks like there is no alternative to SS. Thank you for your comments, I will have my next big site planning on Wed-Thu, so I'll try this software.
Apple iPad is the tool of choice for SS, but Android support is coming soon. ( I would not want the support burden of the fragmented market that is Android, but it is a market of sorts)
Let me know if you have any questions from the end user perspective and I will help if I can. I do not work for SS, but I use it almost everyday.
I have over 300 sites and probably 700+ surveys and it helps close deals when the customer can visualize what we are proposing.
David what do you when you don't have plans to load? Also can you sync your product database so you can put the correct part number right on the plans?
You can actually use the camera that is built into the Ipad to take pictures directly into S.S. So, in the event of an emergency (or a new building added at the last minute) you can take a picture of the fire escape map on the wall and upload it as a floor plan. It's not pretty, but its better than nothing.
I was playing with SS it does not seem to support multi optic cameras, I.e. let you document each lens independently.
The other thing it sure would be nice if it calculated ppf like the IPVM calculator does. Hey John sounds like a great joint business venture..just a thought.
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