Additional Products

• JOB TRACKER DIRECT

  Go one step further and reduce the need for you to enter your jobs on Job Tracker. Let your clients enter their jobs directly via our on-line web portal Job Tracker Direct.

• JOB TRACKER ONLINE

  With Job Tracker Online let your customers view job updates via our password protected on-line web portal, driven directly from Job Tracker Professional.

• SAGE INTEGRATION

  No need to re-key your financial information into Sage Line 50. Let our integration tool take that error prone, time consuming task from you.

• JOB TRACKER MOBILE

  Give your field engineers Jobs while they're out and about and stop the excuses for late or missing paperwork. Collect signatures, record times on site, complete jobs and more.

• TRAINING SOLUTIONS

  We offer various training solutions such as Train the Trainer - Customized 1 on 1 training at our offices, or on-site training with your team.

• CUSTOMISED SOFTWARE

  You can truly have Job Tracker Professional or any of our software products the way you want them. Call to chat about tailor-made software modifications of interest to you.

• ONGOING SUPPORT AND UPGRADES

  Lease option of Job Tracker Professional includes upgrades and ongoing support as standard. For details of alternative support options please contact us for more information*.

• SMS

  Send SMS directly from within Job Tracker, and with the ability to add your own templates you can do this without needing to re key the information.

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Job Tracker Cloud

What is cloud computing?

Cloud computing has become one of the hot topics in the technology world recently, but what does it mean and is there an advantage in using it in your business? In this article we define cloud computing and then take a look at the advantages and disadvantages associated with it

Definition of cloud computing

Cloud computing (or cloud solution) is the term used for running an application remotely over the internet. In a cloud solution, the software, back-end database and the server it runs on are located on a remote server accessed securely over the internet, rather than on a machine running in the local office. The user of a cloud solution will see the same icon on their desktop, and the software will look identical. The only difference is that the program they are running will be presented to them via the internet rather than from their own physical machine. Many people already use cloud solutions without realising it. Online email services (e.g. Hotmail and Gmail), Twitter, Facebook etc. are all examples of cloud solutions. All are software programs where the data is stored on and run from the internet. While there are many variations on the theme, in this article we are specifically looking at running an application that is private to the company, and for all intents and purposes, the end-user experience is the same as if they were running the application on their own desktop.

Benefits of cloud computing

Access anywhere, at any time
A major advantage is that you are not tied to your desktop or laptop pc to access your data. Using a cloud solution you can access the application from anywhere you can get an internet connection. Additionally you are not limited by office opening hours, allowing you to work when and where you want to.

Use many types of device
A cloud solution means you can access your data using many different types of device, including web browsers, tablets and mobile phones (depending on their capabilities), as well as windows PCs and laptops.

Reduced hardware and IT costs
Most modern software applications use data from a database which is stored on a server. When this machine is based locally the cost of the server together with its associated maintenance and support costs have to be taken into account. Using a cloud solution, you don’t need to pay for these as they are taken care of by the cloud service provider.

Backup and disaster recovery
On top of the physical costs of purchasing, installing and running a server, you also have to look at the costs of administering and backing up the server. It is vital to have backups of all your data and to ensure that you can restore them when needed. In a cloud solution all this is taken care of for you.

Server faults (fail-over)
Fail over is a rather grand term which means that if the server you are using develops a fault, then the service provided by that server is automatically (and seamlessly) taken over by another machine without the end-user knowing it. In most small businesses the cost of doing this is prohibitive, but this comes as standard in a cloud solution, meaning you have full access to your data. Fail-over is vital if you are running an application that is critical to your business.

Drawbacks of cloud computing

Need an internet connection
By their very nature, cloud computing solutions require an internet connection to work. Although they don’t require a super-fast broadband speed, the faster the connection, the better the solution works. If you have problems with the speed of your internet connection generally then a cloud solution is probably not for you.

Security and privacy There are two aspects to cloud computing security. From the provider’s point of view they must make certain their systems and infrastructure are secure, and from the customer’s point of view they must ensure their provider has the right systems in place to protect that data. From a privacy aspect it is vital that users of a system are restricted in the data they can view, for example keeping certain information for management users only. However this is not specific to cloud solutions, and is a concern for all forms of software programs.

Who owns the data? When using a cloud solution the physical data is stored on another company’s computer hardware and is not in the customer’s physical location, so it is vital to know who owns the data, and what should happen to that data when the contract ends. In other words can you always get access to your data? This is a key question to ask before signing up for any cloud solution.

About this article

Written by James Park, Sales and Marketing Coordinator for Sherwin Business Systems Ltd, the developer of Job Tracker Professional and Property Maintenance Tracker. Job Tracker Professional and Property Maintenance Tracker have been developed to assist companies to track and manage their quotations, estimates, jobs, invoices, and field staff. Developed over many years and in use in hundreds of companies worldwide, the software is highly regarded and relied upon by many companies to run their business. Available now as a cloud solution, the software is highly configurable, yet easy to operate.