Where, When, and What

Trades need a way to schedule appointments, know where to go, and be prepared for the job that they will find that needs to be done. Technology solutions have been proffered for years, most designed for large companies or general contractors. Some trades require very specialized information when making a schedule, dispatching workers, and preparing the paperwork. As is the case in many aspects of software development, having hands-on experience in the work, not just theory and programming, can make all the difference.
 
Adam Cory, a former general manager of an HVAC company, found himself dissatisfied with the general applications already on the market so he developed his own. ThermoGRID is a SaaS (Software as a Service) solution designed to help contractors, cleaning companies, electricians, HVAC technicians, lawn care/landscaping businesses and plumbers to manage scheduling, dispatching, invoicing, client history, and inventory management, among other functions.
 
To help accelerate ThermoGRID’s growth, the application has been acquired by ECI Software Solutions, Ft. Worth, Texas. ThermoGRID will become part of ECI’s Field Service division and will enable ECI to reach a new segment of the market: residential service companies, including HVAC, electrical, and plumbing.
 
As a cloud-based SaaS provider, ECI has experience in construction applications beyond ThermoGRID. Its RockSolid POS software is available in the cloud so customers in the hardlines industry can reap the benefits of having their software delivered via the cloud—such as automatic data back-ups, additional ransomware protection and disaster recovery plans—while seamlessly transitioning off their on-premise infrastructure.
 
With cybersecurity in the news as more people work from home and companies are online more than ever, ECI knows that securing operational data and systems is a crucial process for small businesses that has been made even more challenging in the age of COVID-19. According to the FBI, the pandemic has caused cybercrime to quadruple. Unfortunately, small businesses often lack the time and IT resources to ensure their software is up to date, that data is backed-up regularly, and that disaster recovery plans are in place.
 
With systems available in the cloud, users will be able to securely host their important business data offsite, adding a layer of protection from ransomware and other viruses. Additionally, cloud-based systems are designed to update software and back-up data automatically and eliminate costly expenses from on-premises servers and unplanned disasters.