As technology continues to advance, more and more industry mobile applications are becoming available for smartphones and tablets. These mobile apps can be valuable tools for HVACR customers, contractors, distributors, and manufacturers.

Here at The NEWS, we will be spotlighting several of these mobile apps each month. If you have an app you would like included in the App Zone, please email jenanesi@achrnews.com.

Bell & Gossett Catalog

Company: Xylem Inc.

Platform(s): Apple and Android mobile devices

Released/Updated: May 2013

Cost: Free

Available for download: iTunes, Google Play, and http://bit.ly/16fUZUV

Description: The mobile app provides industry professionals with one-touch access to brochures, submittals, performance curves, drawings, specifications, part lists, and installation and operation manuals. The Bell & Gossett Catalog app brings real-time information straight to users’ fingertips. The app provides a complete, user-friendly tool for engineers, consultants, and designers. Features include: a quick search for products by product name, category, or type; quick literature search by document ID, title, or product name; up-to-date product information; easy access to all product literature; ability to easily view and sort by product categories and types; and the ability to view and email documents from inside the Bell & Gossett app.

User quote: “Great app! Love this useful product guide for Bell & Gossett.” — Google Play review

ESC Mobile 13

Company: dESCO LLC

Platform(s): Apple, Android, and Windows mobile devices

Released/Updated: September 2013

Cost: Free

Available for download: iTunes, Google Play, Windows Phone Marketplace, and http://bit.ly/H4825k

Description: ESC Mobile outfits your mobile workforce with the tools they need to be successful and productive in the field. This powerful smartphone, tablet, and laptop app works with ESC service management software to give the field the ability to receive dispatches, create invoices/quotes, view vital customer account information, process payments, capture authorization signatures, and more. New features added with ESC Mobile 13 include QR and bar code scanning, new dispatch alert notifications, improved inventory searching, mobile printing, customer quote presentation features, and more.

User quote: “ESC version 13 thinks of it all — from the smallest changes meant to make their system more convenient and user friendly to the incredible new mobile features that have my service technicians rejoicing. ESC is a company that truly cares how their customers use their software. I know version 13 will continue to make managing my service company that much easier every single day.” — Katie Fowler, Fowler Heating & Cooling, Marion, Ill.

Johnstone Supply HVACR

Company: Johnstone Supply

Platform(s): Apple and Android mobile devices

Released/Updated: July 2013

Cost: Free

Available for download: iTunes, Google Play, and http://bit.ly/16aMnEl

Description: Barcode scanning is now available with the Johnstone Supply mobile app. Finding products when contractors are in the field is easier than ever with instant on-site access to more than 60,000 HVACR parts. Users can buy online, scan their products directly with their phone, use saved lists, or add items directly using the quick entry order pad. Customers get real-time inventory availability and pricing, and much more. They can even start an order at the job site, add to it all day long, then send to Johnstone for completion at the end of the day — their order stays with them on all devices.

Developer quote: “Saving our customers’ time and increasing order accuracy has been the driving force behind all of our new smart device and mobile computing services. Being able to simply scan a product and have it become a live order is an incredibly practical and convenient way to leverage today’s mobile device capabilities, and instant access to real-time pricing and inventory is a huge advantage. Along with, of course, having our 60,000-plus parts and supplies catalog right there on-site.” — Andrew Verey, vice president of sales and marketing, Johnstone Supply

Greenheck Toolbox

Company: Greenheck

Platform(s): Apple and Android mobile devices

Released/Updated: August 2013

Cost: Free

Available for download: iTunes, Google Play, and http://bit.ly/1ernNiv

Description: Greenheck’s new Toolbox App contains a fan law calculator and a ductulator to help engineers and contractors make quick calculations. With the fan law calculator, users input the existing specifications for rpm, cfm, static pressure, and horse power, and then input any one measurement they would like to change and the remaining values will automatically calculate using standard fan laws. The ductulator allows users to easily size HVAC duct by inputting duct shape, rounded dimension, air temperature, elevation, and roughness. Sizing can then be determined by airflow or dimensions. Select velocity, or friction factor, input the volume, velocity, and aspect ratio and the results are automatically calculated and displayed.

User quote: “Great app! This is the best app in its class. Not just a bunch of formulas, but actual calculations we can all use.” — Ronnie Cheney, Google Play review

NexTraq Connect Time & Attendance 

Company: NexTraq

Platform(s): Apple and Android mobile devices

Released/Updated: October 2013

Cost: Free

Available for download: iTunes, Google Play, and http://bit.ly/1erpc8J

Description: The mobile Time & Attendance module for the NexTraq Connect mobile app gives employees in the field the ability to communicate time worked while ensuring managers have the correct hours for accurate labor costs. Employees save time and fuel by not driving into the office every day to clock in and out, increasing worker productivity. Powerful reports give better insight and help manage hours worked and control labor costs. The mobile Time & Attendance module eliminates the headache of manual time cards and streamlines the payroll process as managers can see all hours worked in one system. Additionally, the NexTraq Fleet Tracking solution has multiple attendance and work history reports to verify payroll information.

Developer quote: “With an increase in workforce mobilization, technological advances have enabled companies to take advantage of decreased costs and improved productivity. At NexTraq, it’s important that we provide industry-first applications to ensure our customers have a competitive advantage in the crowded service and distribution marketplace.” — Mike Scarbrough, CEO, NexTraq

iFleet

Company: My Service Depot

Platform(s): Apple mobile devices

Released/Updated: 2013

Cost: $24.99 per month

Available for download: http://bit.ly/1alEKua

Description: iFleet enables technicians to build work orders, capture signatures, email customer receipts, capture pictures, enter notes, and more while in the field. The system also provides mapping features and GPS information, which are relayed back to Smart Service in your office. Technicians can quickly get directions to their next appointment at any time, even if their mobile device has no cellular service, since iFleet does not need an active Internet connection to store and display job information after the initial download. Features include: accurate time tracking, full invoicing system, customer signature capture, advanced routing, inventory tracking, access to customer and office notes, ability to email completed work orders, and automatic data synchronization.

Developer quote: “Our goal in creating iFleet was to revolutionize the way the service industry operates. iFleet enables a business to go completely paperless, streamlines their dispatching, and turbo-charges a company’s billing cycle.” — Skip Stringfield, president, My Service Depot

Publication date: 10/28/2013

Want more HVAC industry news and information? Join The NEWS on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn today!