Engineering businesses – finding the right software

Within any engineering business, there can be many tasks that require management applications to ensure the smooth running of the business. These can range from simple quoting and invoicing through to manufacturing bill of materials and stock control.

There are business management applications that offer many of these functions, but finding the right one for you depends on various factors such as the size, needs, tasks, and processes that need to be automated in a business.

There are systems that are aimed at sole trade business, like Tradify, who offer functions such as quotations, invoicing, job scheduling and time tracking, whereas for larger organisations there are more complex apps, such as SimPRO, which offers more functions, such as timesheets, stock control, manufacturing bill of materials, project management.

Although apps such as SimPRO will inevitably be more expensive than Tradify, this is reflected in the additional functionality that they will offer.

All of these systems are cloud based, integrating with accounting systems such as Xero or Quickbooks Online, and offer mobile app functionality which gives you access to business data anywhere, any time, on a mobile phone, tablet or desktop computer.

The apps mentioned above are not exhaustive, and our EQ Accounting team work closely with our EQ Engineering & Manufacturing specialists to help you select an appropriate business management application that will meet the specific need of your business.

For further advice on any of the apps that were mentioned, please contact our EQ Accounting Manager, Scott Kennedy, or call 01307 474274.

Alternatively, if you would like support with your engineering business, please contact our EQ Engineering & Manufacturing team on engineering@eqaccountants.co.uk