BUSINESS MANAGEMENT

By Robert Augsdorfer

Your pen fell in that crack again , between the truck seat and console . It ’ s gone . That ’ s okay ; you don ’ t need it to keep track of expenses , mileage , hours , and other work essentials . Numerous apps can help you digitally track your day-to-day workload , saving you time and increasing your efficiency .

Use tools you already have

It could be as easy as filling out an online spreadsheet . Applications like Google Sheets or Outlook ( if you ’ re using Microsoft Office and have permission from an admin ) are as easy as pen and paper and will update in real time . This would give you the most flexibility to keep track of expenses , mileage and scheduling for your team .

Text messaging through personal or company-provided phones , or even Teams or What ’ s App messages , can be essential for quick communication , especially if employees are on the road driving to jobsites . Pair your phone with an infotainment system like Apple Car Play or Android Auto so you can quickly glance at the message without taking your eyes off the road . If you have two or more people per vehicle , whoever is riding shotgun can respond to the message before picking the next song on the Spotify playlist .

Use business-specific applications

Beyond the basics of digital messaging and spreadsheets , we found apps to help you track specific business info . Some HR service providers , like ADP , have apps that allow a manager to keep track of working hours , and employees can apply for health benefits and even get some discounts on personal purchases .

Emburse App

Gas Buddy

For hourly employees , apps like Workday or Dayforce let them punch in and out with a tap of a button on their mobile device . If employers so choose , they can give employees the option to punch in or out remotely , or limit that to a specific location . Employees can also request time off or call in sick from these apps and can set up a direct deposit for pay stubs .

For expense tracking , one app I personally recommend is Emburse . I used it for the first time earlier this year and it is by far the easiest way I ’ ve found to keep track of expenses and mileage for both personal and company reimbursed . In the Emburse app , you simply take a picture of your receipt and the software will pull the information off the receipt . It ’ s not perfect , and you may have to manually enter information depending on the quality of the photo , but as long as your supervisor can verify it , it should be fine . This app eases expense tracking and will speed reimburse time .

You can upload digital cards to the app . A manager can set a credit limit on a company card and can program it so the employee has the digital company card for a specific amount of time ( i . e . a card with a $ 1,000 credit for one week ).

For mileage , you can enter the starting and ending addresses with stops along the way if applicable and Emburse will automatically calculate the mileage and the amount for you . It ’ s not as complicated as entering an equation on Excel or pulling up the route on Google Maps and use a calculator to enter the amount you ’ re owed on a spreadsheet .

Gas Buddy is also a good app for those on the road trying to find the cheapest gas prices to fill their vehicles and their gaspowered equipment .

For more landscape specific software , there ’ s Aspire and Go LMN . Both applications can give you estimates to see profit potential for jobs . Aspire can also do scheduling and crew management , giving you all that essential information right in your pocket .

Software like Jobber has become increasingly popular for its range of business management features . You can keep a client da-

20 OPE + April 2024 www . OPE-Plus . com