From introducing new, robust security measures to expanding our existing products, let’s dive into the top nine features that took Method to new heights this year.

1. Stepping up security with 2FA

This year marked a significant leap in our security protocols. Here at Method, we understand the importance of safeguarding your data. And with 2FA, we’ve added an extra layer of security to your Method account. Learn more about setting up 2FA and rest easy knowing your information is safer than ever.

2. Effortless repeat purchases with a single click

We’re thrilled to announce our new repeat purchase functionality in the Method customer portal. This update makes repurchasing your products a breeze. As a result, you:

• Simplify your workflow. 
• Save valuable time.
• Speed up cash flow.

Say goodbye to the hassle of manually copying transactions. Your customers can simply hit the “Create order request” button on the bottom-right of their invoices, sales receipts, or lists of previously purchased items. 

Once you approve the order requests, just sit back and watch as the repeat orders rain in!

3. Get swift approvals and deposits from customer portals

Some more great news: our new swift approvals and deposits are a game-changer. Your clients can now easily approve estimates through your Method customer portal, simplifying the approval process and speeding up projects. 

You also have the option to add an upfront deposit requirement to your estimates. Your customers can pay this conveniently through the customer portal, ensuring smooth transactions for a better bottom line.

The best part? When an estimate moves to the next stages — whether it’s converted into a work order, then an invoice, or into an invoice directly — Method automatically factors in the upfront deposit to simplify your billing process.

Now, you can manage client approvals and deposits for estimates with clarity and efficiency.

4. Method:Field Services meets Xero

Method:Field Services is now available for Xero users! Previously exclusive to QuickBooks, this updated platform now offers top-notch field service management for Xero loyalists, including:

• A two-way sync with your Xero software to reduce manual data entry and paperwork.
• Simplified scheduling and dispatching for efficiency and customer satisfaction.
• Integrated invoicing and payments for quick billing and a healthier cash flow.
• A field service mobile app for on-the-go access to schedules and customer info.  

Really, Method:Field Services’ integration with Xero is more than an update — it’s a transformation for your field service workflow.

5. Get the story behind your numbers with Chart Builder

Our new Chart Builder turns your data into visual, easy-to-understand insights. With charts that are as intuitive as they are functional, you can now start creating visuals that speak volumes. Here are some of the Chart Builder’s fresh, new functions:

• Real-time preview: Watch your chart take shape instantly with every tweak. 
• Expand charts: Magnify individual charts, which is especially beneficial if your dashboards are brimming with multiple data visualizations.
• Stories behind the stats: Click on any data point and explore the underlying records to understand your data better. 
• Revamped user interface: A sleek, user-friendly interface for you to build charts in no time. 

6. Discover Hub to navigate workflows with ease

Introducing the Discover Hub — your new ally in mastering Method! This latest feature provides interactive demos, including tips and tricks to guide you through your new processes. 

With intuitive modules, every step is clear and manageable. Whether you’re tackling invoice-creation or simplifying payment collection, this hands-on approach ensures that you stride through your Method journey with confidence. Stay tuned for more!

7. Easier, smoother, better proposal payments

This year, we’ve also made significant updates to proposal payments. Now, you can easily add and change payment methods on recurring proposals. 

Plus, your customers can now update their payment methods via the guest portal. Here, they also have access to service agreements and proposal details. And with automated email alerts for payment issues, staying on top of your finances has never been easier.

With these key updates, get ready for seamless transactions and a hassle-free 2024.

8. Internal notes to keep your team in sync

Earlier in 2023, Method was thrilled to introduce a feature that makes internal communication among your field crew more efficient than ever. You now have the ability to add and view notes to your work orders. 

You also get full control over who you send these notes to, and they’ll get an email with a link to see it and respond. It’s that simple! 

This addition for your team keeps everyone in the loop and on the same page. It’s all about making teamwork as seamless as possible.

9. SMS reminders for smarter dispatching

And there’s more to come! We’re rolling out SMS dispatch reminders to transform how you communicate with your customers. This update focuses on efficiency to take your customer service to the next level.

This means no more disruptive phone calls or slow emails. SMS hits that sweet spot of being both quick and convenient. Ideal for technicians who deal with time-sensitive matters and are always on the move, SMS communications provide the flexibility necessary to keep up. 

With this addition, you can expect: 

• Fewer missed appointments. 
• Faster approval processes.
• Happier customers.

As we close off the year, we’re filled with gratitude for the opportunity we’ve had to improve Method in ways that resonate with your needs. Looking forward, we’re even more excited to continue this journey of evolution. Growing alongside your success is at the heart of everything we do. 

Image credit: Thapana Onphalai via Vecteezy

The post 2023 year in review: Method’s top product updates appeared first on Method.

With the latest product update, Method offers a new approach to reorders — directly from your customer portal. This is a breath of fresh air to Method users and their customers because the repeat purchases feature offers:

• One-click repeat purchases for your customers.
• More repeat business for you. 
• Improved insights on purchase behavior.

What’s new

Previously, you were required to “make a copy” of a transaction for any repeat purchases from your customers. This was often a tedious process as transactions were difficult to locate. So, we took this as a challenge to create the best self-serve experience for repurchases.

Here are the top three things to look forward to. Let’s dive in!

1. Effortless repeat purchases for your customers

Say goodbye to struggling with copying orders manually. From the customer portal, your customers can now click the “create order request” button on the bottom-right of:

• Invoices.
• Sales receipts.
• Previously purchased items.   

Once a reorder is requested from your customer, , you get a notification in your inbox to approve or reject it.

2. More repeat business for you

Once you approve the repeat purchases, sit back and watch the repeat business rain in.

This feature is a delightful reminder to your customers why they chose you. They’ll love how easy it is to buy the items they need from you repeatedly. Need a pause on repeat purchases? You’ve got complete control here as well. Toggle this in the preferences settings of your invoices and sales receipts.

3. Better insights on customer behavior

Method makes it simple to see how likely it is that customers will repurchase from you. 

Since the repeat ourchases are differentiated from first-time purchases in the Opportunities app, you get a clear picture of:

• Your top-selling items.
•  Whether your customers stick around. 

Reorder FAQs

How do I get the reorder feature?

The reorder feature will be automatically added to your Method account if you haven’t customized your portal before. Make sure to enable it in your “Opportunity preferences.” If you have customized your portal, please reach out to your Customer Success Manager to turn the feature on for you. 

Can customers reorder services from my company?

Currently, the reorder function is limited to repurchasing products. Since reordering services requires scheduling, this workflow still needs to be developed on our end.  

Can I set item level preferences for reordering?

At the moment, reorder preference settings can only be done at the Opportunities app level, which applies across all transactions. 

Depending on demand, future updates may allow preferences to be applied at the customer, individual transaction, and/or item level.

Can I make net new orders?

At present, you can only make repeat purchases for items that you have already bought. Stay tuned for future updates! 

Keep your customers happy with effortless repeat purchases. Sign in to Method to get started.

The post Why repeat purchases are a must-have feature in your Method account appeared first on Method.

In the same vein, we know there is still a long way to go — after all, women make up only 26% of the STEM workforce.

“Women hold only 26.7% of all tech-related jobs.”

— Statistia, 2021.

With the recent tech layoffs, it’s estimated that 45% of those impacted were women.

Currently, women make up over 10% of CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. And although this is an improvement from the last few years, only 3% of these are women of color.

“Women CEOs run over 10% of the Fortune 500 companies.”

— Fortune, 2023.

This year’s IWD theme is #EmbraceEquity. It reminds us that we must continue pushing for greater equality and representation in the tech space and beyond.

As we celebrate today and strive for a better tomorrow, let’s remember to put equity at the forefront of our journey toward gender parity.

What International Women’s Day means to Methoders

The first International Women’s Day happened in March 1911, when a million people rallied to support women’s rights in Europe. The day gradually gained traction and became a global celebration.

Today, IWD recognizes the social, economic, political, and cultural achievements of women while acknowledging that there’s more progress to be made.

Here’s what International Women’s Day means to some of our very own:

A day for inclusivity

“For me, International Women’s Day is about celebrating the accomplishments of women across borders and industries. IWD is about an intersectional approach to inclusion and progress for womxn no matter their race, sexuality, or religion. It’s a day that is especially important for those in STEM to recognize as, without gender equity, global innovation remains stagnant.”

Eilis McCann, Manager of SEO and Content Marketing

Recognizing the experiences of the women in our lives

A friend in university once told me that a guy in her high school computer science class once told her she’d “never be a good developer.” She took the comment in stride and used it to fuel her throughout her degree, not to prove to him that she could do it, but to prove to herself that comments like that wouldn’t stop her from achieving anything she wanted to.

I want to foster an environment where women aren’t fueled by a need to prove anything but simply follow their passions. That being said, my friend crushed her degree and is now a well-established developer!

Khamil Alhade, Product Manager

“Nearly 60% of women  from all racial backgrounds  experienced unwanted comments or jokes about their gender.”

— Lever, 2021

Having the support to do it all

For working moms like me, IWD means recognizing that women in the workplace often juggle supporting their families and accomplishing their professional goals. Raising kids requires a lot from women, especially in recent years, where we’ve gone through multiple lockdowns and have been informed of school closures with little notice. 

Having an employer like Method that’s flexible, understanding, and supportive of the life of a working mom has allowed me to put my family first — something that is very important to me.

Julia Poon, Digital Marketing Manager

Knowing that the sky’s the limit

As Manager of Human Resources, I strive every day to create a space where women feel empowered to reach their full potential and ensure they feel valued for their immense contributions. On this Women’s Day, I wish for us to continue striving for equality for all.

Growing up in South America, women often have their paths laid out for them from the time they’re born. Many women there barely finish high school before getting married off to a suitor. I always questioned this custom until my hero, my aunt, showed me that it’s okay for women to follow their own path. 

Today, my aunt is the proud owner of her own business, and I work for a company where I feel respected by my peers. So for me, IWD should be a time for women to celebrate themselves and one another, as well as work together to help others pave their own paths.

Saudia Allie, Manager of HR, Finance, and Operations

Acknowledging the women who cleared the way

“My mom has naturally always been a very influential person in my life, and I’m very proud of her accomplishments. She earned her engineering degree from Polytechnique in Montreal, the school where 24 women were shot in 1989 simply because they were women studying engineering. 

IWD helps me remember those victims and their potential contributions to society that were lost. I acknowledge that if my mom had started/finished her degree a few years later, she might have been one of those victims. She has shared with me some stories of the difficulties she endured throughout her career, and I try to think about what might have been different if her path hadn’t been so difficult.”

Phil Cote, Product Manager

Shifting the narrative for future generations

“So much of who I am today I owe to the women of my family. I grew up hearing the stories of my grandmothers who never had an education because the day they married was the day their fate was sealed. I listened to their tales of interrupted dreams, of leaving their home country and working menial jobs to ensure their children would have a better shot at life.

It is the work and legacy of the women who raised me that pushed me to accomplish everything they weren’t allowed to. I am the first woman in my family to get a degree and  work in STEM. For me, IWD is all about appreciating those who paved the way for us and committing to work harder to create an even better tomorrow for our children.”

Filipa Alves, Content Marketing Strategist

The takeaway: Go beyond International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day reminds us of the issues women face in the workforce and every other aspect of their lives and what we need to do to address them. It’s a chance to reflect on the achievements of the women around you and re-evaluate how you support them daily — not just yearly.

This International Women’s Day, let’s commit ourselves to creating a more equitable world for everyone. By educating ourselves and others about gender disparity, supporting women and BIPOC-owned businesses, speaking out against inequality, and making our workplaces more inclusive, we can create lasting change.

At Method, we celebrate the amazing women whose contributions play a huge role in our success and who we continue to learn from every day.

Learn about one expectant mother’s journey navigating the job market in this blog!

Image credit: Ketut Subiyanto via Pexels

The post Celebrating International Women’s Day: What it means to us appeared first on Method.

1. Our growing Method team

Although 2022 presented a challenging economy for many companies; Method saw a growth in numbers.

We worked hard to expand our team, inviting 37 newbies onboard. We’re finishing the year strong with 85 employees to support our customers better.

This hard work paid off, as our efforts gained us several acknowledgments. More on this below. 

2. Being recognized with best-in-class awards

Thanks to our amazing customers and Method:Partners, we were able to climb our way to the top! Method was given the Momentum leader badge in Spring 2022 and Summer 2022.

Momentum refers to products in the Leader tier in the Momentum Grid® that rank in the top 25% of their category’s products by their users. This is something we were proud to accomplish this year!

According to G2, we also continue to be leaders in the CRM category. We’re honored to have been recognized for our commitment to helping small businesses grow. Let’s see what else we can achieve in the coming year!

3. Taking our product to the next level

The teams at Method were hard at work this year. From doing more user interviews than ever to shipping updates fast and furiously, 2022 was one for the books.

We celebrated exciting new product updates, and the following were rated as our partners’ favorites:

• The ability to brand your customer portals. 
• The launch of our Xero integration.
• Better analytics in the Email Campaigns app.
• Quicker data transfer with our import and export tool.
• Automatic sync and schedule to Google calendar from anywhere.

4. Supporting our local community

At Method, we’re committed to giving back. And this year, we took things a step further! Here’s how.

We began our partnership with Kelly at Troop, to create meaningful social impact for local causes.

Engaging our team this way raised our awareness of the issues faced by our community.

Methoders vote for where and how we want to make an impact every month. In return, we got to see and feel our connection to the charities we supported.

Here’s a part of the team wrapping gifts to participate in the Christmas toy drive for children at Homes First.

5. Switching back to in-person events

Along with returning to the office, we saw a return to in-person conferences. Here are some of the top moments for our Methoders: 

• Reconnecting with everyone at QuickBooks Connect:

• Meeting existing and potential partners at the Scaling New Heights event:

6. Connecting IRL

With the global pandemic subsiding, Methoders were eager to get to know each other offline. Our awesome People Operations team made this possible with some killer in-person events. 

The first of 2022 was the annual Methoder retreat. The team met up for some fun in the sun at Trinity Bellwoods park. 

Just a few days later, everyone got together for an MLB game at the Rogers Center. The cheers of Methoders resulted in a 8 – 1 win for the Toronto Blue Jays!

Last year, Method went virtual for Halloween. This year, though, we showed up in full costume for a wicked party, including some fun food and drinks at the office.

Not to mention that our very own Alicia Farinacci came in 3rd place in the accounting Halloween costume contest run by Relay.

Check out what critics had to say about her costume below!

Method also had its end of year Holiday Party at The Lodge on Queen, where we had awesome turnout of 90 attendees! 

It was a great opportunity for the team to come together since Method’s last Christmas party was pre-pandemic in December 2019.

The event also gave our many new faces a chance to meet and get a warm welcome here at Method. 

With warm hearts and full bellies, it’s safe to say that the event was a success!

7. Sharing good food and even better conversations with Ritual

Last but not least, Method partnered with Ritual to bring our team together at lunch! 

What could be better than thousands of food options to choose from? Methoders get to skip the wait at restaurants to grab our grub just in time for break!

Here at Method, catching up with the team over lunch on Wednesday has become our ritual. 

As we end the year on a high note, we’re eager to see what 2023 has in store for us. It’s onward and upward from here!

The post 2022 year in review: The top 7 Method moments appeared first on Method.

Companies often join in on the celebration by sponsoring Pride parades and working the Pride flag into their branding. But what happens to companies when Pride month ends? The initiatives of the month are often forgotten.

While it’s important for your business to show support for the LGBTQ+ community during June, it’s key to be authentic and consistent with your support throughout the year. This is especially true for those who keep your business going: your employees.

If you want to learn the responsibilities of companies after Pride month, you’ve come to the right place. Here are the top 5 ways to take your support for your LGBTQ+ employees beyond June Pride month.

1. Respect other people’s pronouns

One of the simplest yet most impactful ways for companies after pride month to support their employees is by using and respecting everyone’s preferred pronouns. 

To start, ask for job applicants to include their preferred pronouns with their application. This way, everyone is on the same page before an interview.

You want to avoid assuming someone’s pronouns based on how they look. If you’re not sure, ask. Better yet, make an effort to learn your employees’ pronouns as soon as you meet them.

Create a safe space by first introducing yourself with your pronouns. This allows your employee to comfortably tell you their pronouns and get it out of the way. 

Encouraging your employees to indicate their pronouns on tools like Slack or in their Zoom names further normalizes sharing your pronouns and acts a friendly reminder for your team!

What’s more, if your employee prefers a name that is not their legal name, respect them by using their preferred name.

If you accidentally misgender someone, here are the three things you should do:

• Apologize.
• Correct yourself.
• Move on. 

Don’t be overly apologetic or make the moment about you. The best apology is to try to do better.

2. Provide channels for feedback

A key part of evolving as a company is listening to your employees. 

There may be flaws in your current company culture that may not make all of your employees feel safe . 

To fix that, you should provide a space for them to give you feedback directly or anonymously, and act on that feedback.

An essential part of supporting your LGBTQ+ employees year-round is to not take criticism personally. You may not realize that your actions hurt your employees, but you have the power to fix the problem and ensure that everyone feels comfortable at their job.

June Pride month is a good time to open the door for feedback if you haven’t already. However, continuous feedback for companies when pride month ends is the best way to ensure long-lasting, psychological safety for all your employees.

3. Stay up to date with current events

How often do you see something happen in the news and brush it off because it doesn’t immediately affect you? We’re all guilty of it. But when you manage a team, it’s important to consider their needs.

Human rights are an everyday issue. June Pride month isn’t the only time that the LGBTQ+ community exists, and unfortunately, its members experience hardships throughout much of the year. 

There are continuous discussions and changes in laws and policies that affect minority groups, including the LGBTQ+ community. 

When you keep up with these changes and address them, it shows your team that you pay attention and care. 

Beyond that, Pride isn’t the only awareness celebration for the LGBTQ+ community. Learn about the other awareness days that affect the LGBTQ+ community for year-round awareness. 

Here are just a few additional dates to put on your calendar:

• March: Bisexual Health Awareness Month and Women’s History.
• March 31: International Transgender Day of Visibility.
• May 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia.
• June 28: The Stonewall Riots Anniversary.
• November: Transgender Awareness Month.

By staying mindful of these dates, you’re automatically in a better position to support your employees and become known as one of the authentic companies when Pride month ends.

4. Strive for representation at all levels of your organization

Another positive move for companies after pride month is to encourage diverse representation across their organization. 

It’s important to note that this doesn’t mean filling a quota or pushing for anyone to share information they don’t want to. 

In fact, many people never disclose their full identity at work. According to the Human Rights Campaign, 46% of LGBTQ+ employees are closeted at work.

However, you should still stay mindful of building a diverse company that encourages people to be their authentic selves.

Take a close look at your company. If your leadership positions are comprised of all cisgender heterosexual men, ask yourself why that is and whether it’s time to reframe your hiring processes. 

You may not prioritize LGBTQ+ values or other values of marginalized communities in your recruitment process to attract a wide range of candidates.

5. Continue to educate yourself

June Pride month should not be the end of your LGBTQ+ support. 

The most effective way for companies when pride month ends to maintain LGBTQ+ support is to educate themselves year-round. Here are some ways to do that:

• Train all staff on discrimination policies.
• Seek LGBTQ+ literature.
• Learn the proper terminology.
• Encourage open conversations.

Business owners and managers have control over their companies when pride month ends and have a responsibility to continue to educate their employees throughout the year.

Don’t forget: Listen to your employees’ experiences, but only if they choose to share. It is not your employees’ responsibility to educate you.

Bonus: Put your money (and time) where your mouth is

Throwing a rainbow logo on your social media is often seen as a poor attempt by companies at allyship. Instead of this performative action, think about how your company positively impacts the LGBTQ+ community.

Here are a few examples to get the ball rolling: 

• Start a scholarship fund for members of the LGBTQ+ community.
• Donate your time and capital to a local charity that supports LGBTQ+ people in need. 
• Invest in unconscious bias training for your employees. 

Recap: Companies when Pride month ends.

Companies after Pride month should continue to work with their LGBTQ+ employees to foster a safe and comfortable environment for all. 

This Pride month, here’s how to make a long-term impact:

1. Respect others’ pronouns.
2. Provide channels for feedback.
3. Stay up to date with current events.
4. Encourage representation across your organization.
5. Educate yourself.
6. Look for actionable ways to support your local LGBTQ+ community.

Image credit: Mercedes Mehling via Unsplash

The post 5 words of advice for companies when Pride month ends appeared first on Method.

When Gabi started at Method in July 2021, she was 3 months pregnant. But her story begins after she came back from her first maternity leave at a previous employer in 2019.

“I was excited to have my first child, but I was sad to leave” says Gabi. “I worked with a great team, and they were very supportive.”

After a heartfelt goodbye to her team, Gabi went on maternity leave and spent quality time with her newborn son: Lucas. 

Due to the pandemic, she was unable to bring her son to meet everyone on her old team but knew she would have the opportunity to do so when she went back to work.

Unfortunately, that didn’t happen because her previous employer went through a transition period while she was away. 

When she came back from maternity leave, most of her original team had left, and it no longer felt like the same company she worked at before having her son.

She returned to work, but soon felt like she was lacking support and that the company was no longer a great fit for her. Under regular circumstances, the natural step is to find a new job. There was just one problem — she recently found out she was pregnant with her second child.

This news made leaving her position a difficult decision, but staying wasn’t in her best interest or that of her developing baby.

“I was scared,” says Gabi. “But it was the best decision for my mental health and the baby. So I had to do it.”

Plunging into the job market during pregnancy

Gabi was now faced with two choices: stay home and unemployed for the remainder of her pregnancy, or look for a new job. 

The second choice was unpopular among her friends and family. Some said no one would hire her knowing she was pregnant, and others thought it was useless to start a new job only to leave months later. But Gabi knew that it was still worth a try.

“No one knows your situation, so you have to do what’s right for you.”

— Gabriela Betancourt, 2021.

Luckily she had the support of her husband and the guidance of a friend who worked in HR to help her navigate the job interview process.

Navigating the job market while pregnant

So the job hunt began, but not without some anxiety. Suddenly, not being pregnant felt like a major advantage in the job market.

Gabi couldn’t decide when in the interview process to reveal her pregnancy—if at all. Some of her friends told her not to reveal her pregnancy until she started working, but she also felt like she didn’t want to hide this from a potential employer.

“It was a very stressful time,” says Gabi. “I didn’t want to get hired, tell my employer I’m pregnant, and then find out that it’s an issue.”

Her HR friend suggested that she reveal her pregnancy after she got an offer, but Gabi felt better about telling them right before the offer. 

“If an employer wants me, and is ok with my pregnancy, then that’s where I want to be.”

Gabriela’s experience joining Method

When Gabi found the Growth Marketing Manager opportunity at Method, she knew what she had to do. But it wasn’t easy. 

Passing each stage of the interview process with Method was bittersweet—as she moved closer to getting the job, she also became increasingly nervous about revealing her pregnancy. 

It was in her last meeting with Senior Director of Marketing, Dan Van Meer, that Gabi knew an offer was coming, and let him know that she was pregnant. 

She said that she understood if this changed things, but wanted to be transparent. Dan took the news in stride, saying that he had to talk to the team and get back to her. 

At the time, he knew she was the right person for the role and wanted her on his team — pregnant or not. 

The stigma around pregnancy in the workforce, however, had Gabi feeling that she didn’t get the job. Thankfully, this was far from the truth when it came to Dan’s team at Method. 

To her surprise, Dan followed up the same day, saying that they were ready to give her an offer. 

Along with the offer was a potential plan on how they would accommodate her throughout her pregnancy. This reaction validated that Method was a company Gabi wanted to work for.

“Method is a company with similar values to mine. It isn’t about indifference, it’s about support.”

— Gabriela Betancourt, 2021.

Now settled into her role, Gabi says that she continues to feel that support from her team and the entire company. She feels like everyone isn’t just invested in her work, but in how she’s doing overall.  

“I don’t have to stress about making time for my ultrasound appointments, and I feel no pressure to work if I feel sick,” she says. “Everyone has my back.”

As a final word of advice for parents-to-be in a similar situation, Gabi says to always pay attention to how the company treats its employees.

“All companies put anti-discrimination blurbs in their job postings, but a lot of them don’t put their words into action,” she says. 

“My goal was to find a company that feels human and cares about their employees, and Method is that company.”

We’ll miss Gabi while she’s on maternity leave, but we’re so excited to meet her baby girl in the new year!

Image credit: Gabriela Betancourt

The post From interview to hired: The journey of one expecting mother in the tech space appeared first on Method.

• Maintenance and cleaning
• Service requests
• Repairs and installations

Growing businesses in this space often find themselves managing work in one of two ways:

1. Juggling whiteboards, spreadsheets, and print-outs 
2. Working with field service management software that does not communicate effectively with QuickBooks — creating headaches like double-keyed orders and inaccurate data

During the creation of this new field service solution, we took both of these challenges head-on by creating a suite of tools for your office and field service teams. All of which are built on top of Method’s best-in-class QuickBooks sync engine.

The result: A streamlined process for managing estimates, work orders, scheduling, routing, and invoicing — all perfectly in sync with your QuickBooks data 24/7. 

Now, here’s your rundown of the top 5 benefits you get with Method’s new field service solution!

Feature spotlight #1: Streamlined job creation, scheduling, and dispatching

An essential part of your field operations is maximizing the efficiency of your field service workers. As after all, the more work orders you complete — the better your bottom line gets. 

Luckily, this is a challenge Method was built to solve. This field service solution has strong route optimization capabilities that ensure your field technicians don’t have to spend time driving from one end of town to the other and back again.

Method:Field Services lets you automatically plan the best route for your field employees to take and schedules your work orders in the most efficient way possible.

It’s smart to use this field service management software if you want to:

• Easily assign and reassign work orders to your field technicians 
• Cut out the manual aspect of your field operations and logistics
• Instantly create the best routes and schedules for your field employees

Feature spotlight #2: A cloud field service app for your mobile device

You know that the line between in-office and on-site work is becoming increasingly blurred. This is why Method:Field Services was designed to be accessed easily on both your desktop and mobile device via the cloud. 

By moving your workflow out of QuickBooks and into the cloud, it becomes simpler to manage information and ensure that it’s up to date.

Plus, this approach lets you stay connected with your field team and keeps everybody in sync when it comes to schedule updates and changes.

With Method, your team hits the ground running from the start of the day until to the end. 

Feature spotlight #3: Seamless estimate, work order, and invoice creation

Ever wonder the power a single click can have? With Method, it’s all that’s required to:

• Convert an estimate into a work order
• Turn a work order into an invoice
• Send the invoice to your customer

This means your invoices and estimates are ready to go out to your customer for e-signature quicker than ever before.

If you’re a Gmail or Outlook user, you can even create work orders directly from your inbox to save yourself more time! Once created, you can then use the powerful report engine to control the look and feel of any document you send to your customers.

With these workflows streamlined, you:

• Achieve significant time savings for your team
• Reduce the risk of human errors like paperwork going missing or typos in documents

Better yet, Method’s field service management solution puts an end to rekeying details into templates or QuickBooks as data automatically updates across your tech stack thanks to our powerful sync engine.

Feature spotlight #4: Two-way real-time QuickBooks sync

Where Method’s field service solution really shines is in the power of its two-way QuickBooks sync.

As mentioned earlier, the estimate-work order-invoice workflow generates a significant amount of friction for customers and internal teams. Thankfully, this doesn’t have to be your reality anymore as with Method:Field Services:

• Data is entered once
• Carried through the workflow
• Synced appropriately to your QuickBooks account

All while you’re in control of the entire process from the backend.

Field service management software like this is how you can empower your team to focus on growing your business and delivering great experiences instead of managing paperwork and processes! 

Feature spotlight #5: Customer service made simple

There’s no doubt that your customers are the lifeblood of your field service business. But the way you manage them may be hurting your business. After all, using printouts and whiteboards leave you prone to details slipping through the cracks.

Method tackles this problem head-on by centralizing all of your customer data in one system — making it simple to create estimates, work orders, and invoices in a single tool.

With this field service solution, you get a 360-degree view of every customer at your fingertips — giving you the context and history needed to provide excellent customer service at every job.

Equipped with this information, you can improve the accuracy of your estimating process on recurring jobs and stop undercharging for jobs you’re called back to.

This means the time you used to spend searching for customer information can now be used to improve your service delivery so that you obtain the highest level of customer satisfaction!

Wrap up

As you can probably tell, the team here at Method is really excited about our new field service solution! We know this offering has the power to fundamentally change how your business operates and makes it easier to always put your customers first.

But seeing is truly believing — start your free trial of Method:Field Services today! 

The post 5 features that make Method:Field Services a must-have solution appeared first on Method.

• Build custom reports
• Create reusable templates
• Uncover data-driven insights 

Let’s dive in!

4 new improvements to Method CRM’s reporting

1. Simple report duplication

Using the report system page, you can now duplicate any template in just a few clicks. This is handy because you no longer have to manually adjust the layout and design of each template you create. 

Instead, your preferred format can be easily carried over from one template to another. You can click the ellipses and select “duplicate” on the report system page to make this happen.

The benefit of this update is that you:

• Can create more reports and templates in less time
• Keep your layout and branding consistent across templates
• Have more time to focus on what matters — growing your business

2. Plug and play CRM reporting

Building off the consistency that template duplication allows for, you can now change the base table a template uses without having to restyle it. This means that you can incorporate data from different sources in your CRM without having to start from scratch each time. 

For example, you can now reuse your estimate print template for invoices without having to manually reconfigure the layout of your template.

This new Method CRM reporting feature makes it easier to build new reports and ensures you don’t waste time on reformatting. 

3. Deeper CRM reporting

In 2021, the more data you have — the better. In fact, research by McKinsey has found that businesses who leverage customer data are:

• 23 times more likely to acquire new customers
• 6 times more likely to retain these customers
• 19 times more likely to be profitable 

To ensure Method customers like you are set up for success, you can now pull data from up to 5 different tables in a single report.

This means that each report you create, from sales pipeline to forecast reports, includes more data for your team to pull insights from. 

4. CRM reporting across your Method accounts 

This powerful feature is most useful for Method customizers and those with multiple Method accounts, as it allows you to copy templates from one Method account to another.  As a result, this Method CRM reporting update:

• Saves you time
• Eliminates manual admin work 
• Reduces the risk of error during report recreation 

With this update, you can rest easy knowing that you don’t need to recreate templates over and over again in each of your Method accounts. 

How you can make the most of Method CRM’s reporting

Method CRM holds a goldmine of customer information that you can use to run your business better. To get the most out of this data, however, you need to leverage CRM reporting. 

Here’s a recap of how recent product updates improve Method CRM’s reporting capabilities. Method CRM now provides you with: 

1. The ability to duplicate reports and templates
2. Flexible templates that let you easily change the underlying data source 
3. Data-rich reports that include information from up to 5 different tables
4. Templates you can easily share across your Method accounts

Not a Method CRM user? 

Start your free trial to realize the benefits of strong CRM reporting.

Image credit: Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash

The post 4 ways reporting just got easier in Method CRM appeared first on Method.

5 feel-good Method moments

1. Empowering our customers to operate remotely

During 2020, the resiliency and innovation we saw our small business customers demonstrate was impressive to say the least. As they pivoted and navigated uncharted waters, we felt lucky to be the ones enabling them to work remotely. 

2. The outpour of support for small businesses

Another top moment for us in 2020 was the spotlight small businesses gained. Placed front and center on the world stage, communities everywhere rallied behind their local entrepreneurs and businesses. 

As part of this movement, we were happy to support one of our small business customers, Bison Coolers, with an order of 100+ custom tumblers for the Method:Partner community. 

3. Expanding the Method team

Although the pandemic has been challenging for most small businesses, the digital-first approach that many of our customers took allowed them to not only survive but also grow.

As a result, we added 16 new Methoders to our team, so that every one of our customers got the support they needed during this difficult year. 

Whether that was by providing guidance on topics like PPP loan forgiveness or improving the accessibility standards of the Method platform, this work kept us busy. Better yet, it got us recognized.

4. Being honoured with two best-in-class awards

In 2020, Method was named one of the best CRM software solutions by Javelynn and a top lead management tool by Digital.com.

These achievements, however, are not all ours to claim. We have to thank our awesome customers and Method:Partners for helping us get this far.

A special shout out goes to this year’s Method:Partner award winners for their contributions to the Method community, including:

• Matt Raiser of SaaSphalt 
• Paulette Dreher of SBS Associates 
• Gary Hawton of Home Watch IT 
• Annie Kendrick of Kendrick Business Services
• Sharon McNeal of Biz 4 the Rest of Us 

Committed to helping small businesses succeed with technology that works the way they do, there are no limits to what this awesome group can accomplish together in 2021!

5. The relaunch of Method:Gives

With so much to be thankful for, this year prompted Methoders to reflect on how we could share our good fortune with others.

The result was the relaunch of Method:Gives — a company-wide initiative dedicated to donating 1% of our revenue growth to charity. Below are a few highlights from the program:

• $3,371 contribution made to Movember 
• A commitment to increase equality within and outside the office
• 50+ books donated to The Children’s Book Bank

Looking forward to 2021, Method:Gives is something the team is eager to keep going! 

In the meantime, we plan to take all that we learned in 2020 and use it to make next year our best one yet. 

Image credit: Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash

The post 2020 year in review: The top 5 Method moments appeared first on Method.

As part of this effort, we’ve gathered your feedback and used it to improve your experience with Method. 

Here’s what you need to know about this product update. 

More information at a glance

Designed to increase your productivity, this update will give you more information related to a contact such as their activities, invoices, and opportunities in a single screen. 

You will also notice new buttons and grids as part of our larger effort to improve product accessibility and your experience as a Method user. These changes will take place in the coming weeks and are just the start of a series of on-going improvements. 

Below is an example of these updates in-product. 

Your new View Contact screen

Since the View Contact screen is usually a starting point for most of our customers, we’ve focused on giving you as much information as possible in this screen. 

Non-customized accounts

Below is what the View Contact screen will look like in your updated experience if you haven’t customized it. By clicking on a contact-related record, such as one of the activities shown below, you will be able to see details about the activity directly from your View Contact screen.

Customized accounts

For customized accounts, your experience will be slightly different than the above as clicking the contact-related records displayed will take you to a new screen. To see if the above experience works well with your account’s customization, you can add it to your account by following these instructions.

Updates to your Method apps

On other screens in Method, you will now see a series of icons along the right side of the screen. Clicking one of these icons will open a side panel that shows information related to the record you are currently viewing. Below is an example of how you can view the activities linked to an opportunity in the updated Method experience.

Wrap Up 

The main goal of a CRM is to provide you with a full view of your contacts. Thanks to Method users like you, who shared their feedback through surveys, online chat sessions, and user research interviews, Method now does this better.

In your updated experience, you can expect an improved at a glance view of a contact and their:

• Activities
• Opportunities
• Invoices 
• And more!

Questions, comments, or concerns about our updated experience? 

Drop us a line at success@method.me – we’d love to hear from you!

The post More information at a glance with Method’s updated experience appeared first on Method.