Order Management for Tradespeople
Get control of projects, time, and invoicing in one place
If you run a trade or service business, you probably know these challenges: losing track of orders and projects, unrecorded hours, forgotten or delayed invoices, materials without documentation, and confusion between the office and people in the field.
Why order management is the key to an efficient trade business
Order management for tradespeople is about gathering everything in one system, so you can get rid of Excel sheets, paperwork, and forgotten hours. A good order management system must be simple, digital, and built for your industry. It must work on the construction site, in the service van, and in the office – without requiring IT education.
What is order management for tradespeople?
Order management is a digital tool that helps you plan, record, and invoice the work in your business.
An order management system typically consists of these modules:
| Module | Description | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Case Management | Create and manage orders and projects | You get control of who does what – and when |
| Time Tracking | Employees record working time directly from the app | You won't lose any billable hours |
| Material Management | Add used materials to the project | Fewer errors in invoicing, everything is documented |
| Invoicing | Send invoices directly from the system | Save time and get paid faster |
| Quality Assurance | Upload pictures, checklists, and notes from the work | Meets requirements from customers and authorities |
| Accounting Integration | Everything is posted automatically, no double work |
In short: Order management digitalizes your entire flow – from quote to invoice.
Who benefits from digital order management?
Order management is created for all trades in the craft and service industry. The most common users are:
- Carpentry and joinery businesses
- Plumbers and electricians
- Painting companies
- Masonry and construction companies
- Service and installation businesses
- Maintenance and cleaning companies
Whether you have 2 apprentices or 50 employees, you benefit from gathering everything in one place.
Benefits of using order management in everyday life
1You save time – every single day
Everything that previously took hours in the office can now be handled with a few clicks. Hours and materials are recorded automatically, and invoices are generated in seconds.
📊 An average trade business saves 5-10 hours per week per employee with digital order management.
2You avoid errors and forgotten hours
The system ensures that all hours and materials are recorded correctly – even when it's hectic on the site.
3You get control of finances
Each project continuously shows how many hours and materials have been used. You can see profit per customer and per task – and act before a project goes wrong.
4You get more satisfied customers
With digital documentation, pictures, and checklists, you can prove the quality of your work. You send invoices faster and more accurately – this creates trust.
5You get rid of paper clutter
Goodbye to manual timesheets, emails, and notes. Everything is digital, searchable, and in one place.
Mobile order management – everything in your pocket
A good order management system must be usable on the go. Employees can via the app:
- See today's tasks
- Record working time and breaks
- Add materials and photos
- Sign completed projects
- Fill out checklists and quality assurance
Everything synchronizes in real-time with the office. This means you always know where your people are and what has been done – without having to call around.
From project to invoice – automatic and error-free
When a project is finished, you can with one click:
Review hours and materials
Generate an invoice
Send it directly to the customer
Synchronize with your accounting program
This eliminates errors, saves time, and ensures that no hours are lost.
💰 Many tradespeople experience a 5-10% increase in revenue when everything is recorded digitally – simply because nothing is forgotten.
How to choose the right order management system
When choosing a solution, ask these questions:
- Is the system made specifically for tradespeople?
- Is it easy to use – even for people who aren't used to IT?
- Can it be integrated with my accounting program?
- Can I use it on mobile?
- Can I easily see the finances of each project?
- Is there local support, and how quickly do they respond?
- Can I try the system for free before buying?
A system like Bidmio meets all of the above – but the most important thing is to get started. Digitalization doesn't have to be difficult – it's about taking the first step.
Why choose Bidmio?
Bidmio was developed together with tradespeople. This means we understand your challenges – and have built the system so it works for you, not the other way around.
- Overview of all customers, orders, and invoices
- Automatic time tracking (GPS and mobile)
- Real-time budget and overspending alerts
- Quality assurance module with pictures and checklists
- Local support and free onboarding
Get clear overview – from quote to invoice.
How to get started
Create a free trial period
No commitment, no credit card
Import your customers and projects
We'll help you
Add employees
Let them record via the app
See time and finances live
Send first invoice directly from the system
In less than 1 hour you're up and running – and you'll feel the difference already in the first week.
Overview of popular solutions in Slovakia
The Slovak market offers a number of tools and software packages that help companies manage jobs, projects, invoicing and their business in general. Some are local solutions tailored to Slovak conditions, others are international platforms used across several countries. Below is an overview of the best-known and most widely used ones you are likely to come across:
iDoklad
A very popular online app for invoicing and basic record-keeping of business transactions from Seyfor (formerly Solitea). iDoklad is used by tens of thousands of sole traders and small businesses, because it offers simple invoice creation even in the free version. Although it is not a comprehensive system for managing every aspect of a job, it does let you manage contacts and gives you an overview of the status of orders and business partners[3]. iDoklad can be connected to other systems (e.g. an e-shop, a bank, a CRM and other apps) and has a mobile app. For tradespeople who don't yet have any system, iDoklad can be a first step - it gives them control over invoicing and partly over their list of jobs.
POHODA
The accounting and business software POHODA from Stormware is one of the most widespread packages, especially for accounting in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Less well known is that Pohoda also includes a 'Jobs' module in which you can track and evaluate all your company's jobs comprehensively[4]. It lets you sort jobs by delivery date and status, or assign responsible people to them. In practice Pohoda is used by many small and medium-sized companies - from construction and trade to services - often mainly for accounting and stock, though the jobs module at least gives them a basic overview of projects. A downside can be that Pohoda is a classic desktop program (a Windows application) rather than a cloud service - there is the mPOHODA add-on for mobile invoices and orders, but it doesn't fully replace working with jobs away from the office.
ABRA ERP
ABRA ERP is a comprehensive business system developed in the Czech Republic, known mainly in larger companies. It is more of a robust ERP solution with modules for accounting, stock, manufacturing, sales and CRM. For job management ABRA has a dedicated module or links project management to a jobs agenda. The advantage of ABRA is a high degree of customisation and broad integration options (open architecture, connections to e-shops, warehouses, etc.)[5][6]. On the other hand, implementing ABRA tends to be costly and lengthy, so it is usually chosen by medium-sized and larger companies with their own IT resources. For a small trade business such a comprehensive system could be needlessly complex and expensive.
FLOWii
The Slovak cloud solution FLOWii combines CRM, simple ERP and project management. It lets you manage contacts, issue invoices, track tasks and even jobs/projects (it has a 'Project Management' module). Its advantage is a clear web interface in Slovak and availability starting from small packages for 1-2 users, which makes it attractive for smaller businesses. On the other hand, FLOWii is not specifically designed for trade and service companies - it is more of a general-purpose tool, so it may lack some specific features (e.g. stock management is fairly basic).
Timoty
Also worth mentioning is the newer Timoty app, which was developed specifically for tradespeople, service and construction companies. It is a Czech-Slovak app built on the principles of Field Service Management (FSM), meaning the management of work in the field. In Timoty you can easily schedule jobs, assign tasks to team members, and record completed work, materials and photo documentation from the field[7][8]. The app is very intuitive - according to its creators you can learn to use it in under 5 minutes, and it is available in Czech, Slovak, Ukrainian and Russian[9]. Timoty can be seen as a specialised tool for the hands-on management of jobs directly in the field (it has, for example, GPS tracking of workers on a job, etc.). Compared to general-purpose CRM or ERP tools, its advantage is that it is 'tailor-made' for the needs of service technicians and site foremen in construction.
Bidmio - a modern solution for job management in construction
Among the newest and most comprehensive job management systems designed specifically for tradespeople and construction companies is the Bidmio platform. It is 'all-in-one' software that covers the entire lifecycle of a job - from planning and the quote, through delivery (including recording work and materials and communicating with the customer), all the way to invoicing and project evaluation. Bidmio works as an online ERP solution focused on the construction sector and the trades, so it contains exactly the modules and features that companies in this field need.
Comparison of features of selected systems
The following table summarises the key features and characteristics of four popular order management systems and compares how far each solution supports them. Bidmio is also included so you can see how it fares against established tools:
| Feature / Characteristic | Bidmio | iDoklad | POHODA | ABRA ERP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Language localisation | Slovak/Czech | Slovak | Slovak | Czech/Slovak |
| Cloud application | Yes (web + mobile) | Yes | No* | Partly** |
| Mobile app | Yes (iOS/Android) | Yes | Yes (mPOHODA for invoicing) | Limited |
| Invoicing and documents | Yes (orders, invoices) | Yes (invoices) | Yes (full accounting) | Yes (full accounting) |
| Job planning | Yes | No | Partly | Yes |
| Work (time) tracking | Yes | No | No | Partly |
| Material/stock tracking | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| CRM (contacts, quotes) | Yes | Partly | Partly | Yes |
| Integrations (API) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Suitable for a company | small-medium | micro, small | small-medium | medium-large |
| Pricing model | monthly subscription (free trial) | freemium (free + paid) | licence (one-off + support) | licence (one-off, implementation) |
* Pohoda is primarily a desktop program for Windows, though it offers partial remote working via add-ons (e.g. mPOHODA for mobile invoices and online data sync).
** ABRA ERP can be deployed on your own server with access via remote desktop or a web interface; newer versions also support cloud solutions, though deployment requires expert implementation.
The table shows that every solution has its strengths. iDoklad stands out for its simplicity and price (because the basic version is free), but it only covers invoicing and customer records - it isn't enough for comprehensive project and job management. Pohoda is great for accounting and can also handle stock and payroll, so you can use it for multiple purposes, but it lacks mobile field operations and modern cloud collaboration. ABRA offers almost everything a large company could need, but a small company probably won't use all its features and will be put off by its high price and complexity. Bidmio positions itself as a balanced solution - it brings broad functionality (from attendance to invoicing) in a modern package, is accessible via the internet and mobile, and is designed specifically for the tradespeople and construction segment.
How to choose the right job management system?
When choosing a suitable system, you should weigh up several factors so that the final solution fits your company's needs as closely as possible:
The size and type of your business
A different system suits a one-person electrician sole trader than a company with 40 employees. A small business will appreciate simplicity and low costs - an online invoicing tool with job records may be all it needs. A larger company already needs more advanced features (task assignment, reports, links to accounting) and should invest in a more robust solution.
Local vs. international solution
Local (Slovak/Czech) systems have the advantage of usually being in Slovak and reflecting domestic legislation (e.g. handling VAT and accounting documents correctly). International tools can be innovative, but check whether they are available in your language and whether they are suitable for the Slovak environment. Some foreign apps, for example, don't let you issue an invoice with the required Slovak details.
The key features you require
Write down what you expect from the system - do you only need invoicing and contact records? Or work planning for the team and material tracking? Do you want the system to warn you about deadlines, let customers approve quotes online, or even work offline? Have your priorities clear so you can rule out solutions that don't meet them.
Budget
Decide how much you are willing to invest. Some tools are available for just a few dozen euros a month (or have free versions), while implementing a large ERP can cost thousands of euros. Don't forget to factor in long-term costs too - monthly fees, per-user fees, and the cost of training staff or migrating data.
Trial period and support
Ideally you should try the chosen system out in practice. Most modern solutions offer a 14- or 30-day trial, during which you can find out whether the controls suit you and whether it meets your expectations. Also look into the quality of customer support - if you hit a problem, you need fast help (by phone or online). With Bidmio, for example, you can try a live demo right away and test the full version for free before you decide.
Integration options
If you already use other software (e.g. an accounting program, a CRM or an attendance system), find out whether it can be connected to the chosen system. An open API or existing bridges (e.g. iDoklad can be linked to Money S3 accounting)[16] will make the flow of information between different tools easier down the line.
References from other users
Look at what kind of companies use the system and whether they are in a similar line of business to you. Case studies, reviews or recommendations from colleagues 'in the trade' can tell you a lot. If a system helped another construction company get a better overview of its jobs and save time, there is a good chance it will benefit you too.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Our Customers Say
"I used to spend half of Sunday on paperwork. Now everything is handled in Bidmio, and I have 100% overview."
John Smith
Master Carpenter, New York
"I didn't think I needed order management – but it changed everything. I earn more because nothing is lost."
Mike Johnson
Plumbing Service, Los Angeles
Digital order management is the future for tradespeople
The time of paperwork and messy timesheets is over. With order management, you get control of all your tasks, employees, and money – in one place. Systems like Bidmio make digitalization simple and manageable. You save time, avoid errors, and get better overview – so you can spend your time on what you're best at: your craft.
Try Bidmio for free today – and experience the difference already next week.
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