What does your current workflow look like when a new sign job comes in?

[Louis Buica]

Hi, just got approved, and this seems like the right place to ask. I'm building a simpler alternative tool to ShopVOX for small sign shops. I'm in an early phase, and before writing any code, I genuinely want to understand how shops run day to day from hands-on people.

Specifically, I'm curious about a few things:

- When a new job comes in, how do you track it from quote to pickup? Spreadsheet, whiteboard, something else?
- How do you handle artwork approvals with customers? Email chains, a shared link, verbal confirmation, text message, WhatsApp photo, voicemail, what else?
- What's the thing that falls through the cracks most often?

I'm not pitching anything, and I'm not at the stage where I have something to show. I just find that talking to people before building is the only way to build something worth using.
Thanks for your time. I really appreciate it.

 

[netsol]

so you are doing the opposite of quickbooks (intuit expects a business to stand on their heads and change every procedure if you become a quickbooks shop)

i am applauding you already.

 

[pro-UP]

Workflow generally means ai. Is that the foundation of your planned project? Which program will be the basis?

 

[Kev-O-Rama]

Check out Sign-tracker.com to see what some shops are using from start to finish.

 

[citysignshop]

I'm forced to use an in-house system that is terrible, but of all the workflow systems I've previewed, my observation is that they need to be modular, ( if that's a thing).
Meaning; if I just want to take job A and give it to worker B, I shouldn't have to fill out the sq. ft. cost of every type of material in inventory in the shop! If it has this ability, hopefullly it's layered beneath the daily or weekly scheduling part. Lots of Kanban boards etc. are great, but should I really need to find a computer screen and click and click and review order number lists to find what shade of blue that thing is?

One of the best small shop systems I have seen was a long cord strung from one end of a shop to the other. New jobs were filled out on paper, colour chips or photos dropped into an envelope ( job traveller/docket/pouch) and clipped to the cord with a clothespin! This was slid along the cord, in the order they came in!
You could see, at a glance, how many jobs were in process. They could be advanced to the showcard, or screenprint, or other workstation, so the worker only had to glance up to see the details. Of course, this took intimate knowledge of the whole shop, and recognizing that the jobs near completion may need hardware for installation, etc.
Still, it was very functional, compared to all the gadgets, apps and crap that's out there! ( can you tell how old I am?) good luck with your project!

 

[Boudica]

Hi Louis, welcome to the forum. Your location is confusing. Are you at 110 Pine Ave, Houston, PA 15342, or are you in Romania?

 

[Stacey K]

.

Check out Sign-tracker.com to see what some shops are using from start to finish.

This is what I use. I love it. The only thing I wish they would change is how to update the items. There are two ways, either you click on each item and edit or you delete every item one by one and re-upload your csv file. I wish they had the items listed in more of a spreadsheet format to reduce clicks. I have like 400 items since I do apparel also and I have all the Oracal and 3M colors individually listed to keep track of what colors I'm using for cut vinyl. Otherwise, I think the program is excellent for a smaller shop.