Smart Service is fully customizable field service management software that can streamline the day-to-day activities of field service companies in any industry, including lawn care, pest control, home maintenance services, and more.
We demoed the software, downloaded the mobile app, and researched Smart Service reviews to dive deep into its features, pricing, and user experience.
What we found: Smart Service offers comprehensive, user-friendly solutions at a competitive price. However, the user-based pricing will be expensive for some companies.
Table of contents:
Smart Service Overview
LawnStarter Rating | 4.5 |
Price Range | $60 and up |
Free Trial? | No |
Free Version? | No |
Pricing Model | User-based |
Made For | Field Service Industries |
Platforms | |
iOS App | Yes |
Android App | Yes |
Desktop | Online Software / Windows Desktop |
Features | • Customer Management • Dispatching • Invoicing • Payment Processing • Mobile App • Customer Support |
Smart Service Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 Stars
Smart Service Key Features
Smart Service is customizable user-based software. Your employees get individual permissions, granting them access to only the features they need.
Here are my favorite Smart Service features:
Customer Management
Under the Customers tab, each customer has a folder. The customer’s data is stored in that folder, like a CRM.
Under Customers, you will find:
- Contact details
- Service information
- Work orders
- Contact history
- Service agreements
- Invoices
- Payments
- Automated notifications
In addition, you can add any custom fields you like.
Dispatching
Smart Service’s scheduling software is one of the best solutions to manage service routes. It’s user-friendly, customizable, and packed with time-saving features. For example, the color-coded drag-and-drop scheduler makes it easy to manage a fleet.
How to Schedule an Appointment
Step 1: Click on Dispatch View in the top navigation bar.
Step 2: Click on a blank space in the calendar. A New Event appears in that space.
Step 3: Click on the New Event and select one of the following:
- Quote
- Work Order
Step 4: Fill out the corresponding form
Step 5: Click Save on the bottom of the screen.
How to Schedule a Quick Entry Appointment
Quick entries are service templates that you will create in the office.
Step 1: Choose a service template (to the right of the scheduler).
Step 2: Click on the service you want to schedule and drag it to a time slot.
Step 3: Complete the Quick Entry form. The form is auto-populated with a lot of the information.
When scheduling appointments, you can do specific times or time windows.
Step 4: Click Save at the bottom of the screen.
Route Suggestions
By clicking on Suggestions at the bottom of the schedule form, you can view the most efficient schedule times for each appointment.
After selecting suggestions, the suggestions form pops up. You will enter:
- Estimated length of the appointment
- Within how many days to schedule
- Departments/techs that can be assigned
And the software will tell you the best time slots for your appointment.
Map View
Smart Service’s map view gives you a bird’s eye perspective of all your crews. The GPS location is accurate within 5 minutes.
Invoicing
Smart Service allows you to build and manage invoices, with or without QuickBooks. It can integrate with QuickBooks Online as well as Desktop. By navigating to Customers > Invoices, you can view invoices and their status.
Payment Processing
Smart Service uses CardConnect for payment processing. You can accept payments in the field, in the office, or let your customers pay online using the customer portal.
Processing Rates
Please see processing rates in the table below.
Card Type | Rate / Transaction |
Visa, Mastercard, Discover | 2.9% +$0.25 |
Amex | 3.15% +$0.25 |
There is a $35 setup fee and a $18.95 monthly fee to use CardPointe (CardConnect’s online portal).
Security
CardConnect is an established processor with satisfactory security protocols. For example, they use PCI-validated point-to-point encryption. Thus, data is encrypted and tokenized. You can sleep soundly knowing your customers’ financial information is protected.
Customer Portal
The customer portal is very customizable in both appearance and functionality. Like you can do with your employees, you decide what customers access; possibilities include:
- Work order history
- Pay balance in full
- Upcoming appointments
- Book a job
Mobile Application
Smart Service has two main products:
- Smart Service 365 (cloud-based solution)
- Smart Service Enterprise (Windows Desktop)
Both solutions come with a mobile app, but the sales representative told me most Smart Service 365 clients prefer to use their phone or tablet’s web browser. The 365 solution is entirely responsive.
Smart Service Enterprise clients use the iFleet mobile application. iFleet receives mixed reviews on Google Play and Apple’s App Store.
Customer Support
After I spoke to the sales representative, he sent me a quote. The quote specified that the software subscription includes Help Desk support, which is available Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:30 PM EST.
Smart Service Pricing
Smart Service is competitively priced, with software subscriptions starting at just $60 per month. If you pay one year in advance, the price goes down to $50 a month. However, a $500 onboarding fee must be paid upfront.
Smart Service 365 (Online)
Cost per user (monthly) | Cost per user (annual) |
$60 | $600 |
Smart Service Enterprise (Windows Desktop)
Tier | Office Users | Field Users | Cost per month with annual plan |
Basic | 2 | 5 | $250 |
Pro | 5 | 10 | $450 |
Premier | 10 | 15 | $650 |
Enterprise | 20 | Unlimited | $1,250 |
Enterprise Max | 40 | Unlimited | $2,500 |
One-time purchase price: If you would rather buy the software outright, perhaps to host on your own server, it is available for a one time cost of $5,000. That price comes with one year of support. After the first year, Help Desk support starts at $480 per year.
Additional Fees
The subscription price includes access to all the software’s features. There is one optional add-on: Custom form development, including custom PDF checklists, is available for $180/hour. There is a 2-hour minimum.
Smart Service User Reviews
Eliminates human error: “Being able to use iPads or tablets in the field. By being able to use tablets, we take away the technician’s penmanship errors and can have the customer sign work orders so there is no confusion of who said what later.” – Albert D. from Capterra
Steep learning curve: “It’s been a long and arduous process learning to work with the software and customize it to fit our needs.” – Nate N. from Capterra
Ease of use: “Once you spend a day or 2 playing with the app, you realize it is way easier to use than filling out work tickets for every job you do.” – Rich Moss from Apple’s App Store
Efficient dispatching: I use Smart Service on a daily basis to make sure that everyone is dispatched on time, in route, and spending the adequate amount of hours on each job. The mobile feature called iFleet is great.” – User in Consumer Services from g2
Glitchy Google Maps connectivity: “This app is mostly good but is costing my company time due to when my techs tap the address to take them to Google maps, iFleet will auto input some random address and send my guys way off somewhere else.” – A Google User from Google Play
Pros and Cons of Smart Service
Although Smart Service is well-designed, nothing is perfect. Here are the pros and cons.
Pros | Cons |
✓ Inclusive pricing ✓ Feature-rich ✓ Excellent dispatching software ✓ Fully responsive website ✓ Customizable | ✗ GPS tracking isn’t real-time ✗ iFleet mobile app has mixed reviews ✗ Price can get expensive if you have many users |
Alternatives to Smart Service
Smart Service is feature-packed and versatile, but there is no one size fits all solution. Here are some alternatives worth checking out:
- Kickserv: Kickserv is a highly rated field service software that can work for any field service industry. Check out our article comparing Smart Service to Kickserv.
- RazorSync: RazorSync is beautifully designed, feature-packed, and offered at a competitive price.
- ServiceTitan: ServiceTitan is expensive but offers many valuable features to improve field service efficiency.
- FieldRoutes: FieldRoutes is well-designed and feature-rich but will cost you a pretty penny. If you have the funds in your budget, it is certainly worth a look.
- Service Autopilot: Although SA offers tons of time-saving features, getting access to all of them is expensive.
- Service Fusion: This all-in-one solution can work for most field service industries.
Our Verdict
Smart Service is an excellent solution to manage field service companies digitally. The software’s simple and intuitive design is completely customizable, and its features have great depth.
Although the software starts at a low price, it is expensive if you have a lot of users. Large companies can save money by purchasing the software outright for a one-time fee of $5,000.
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