technology

Invoice2go, the App Store’s No. 1 mobile invoicing app, today announced the launch of its mobile payments feature, powered by Stripe Connect. Small businesses and freelancers who previously had to wait for cash or checks can now accept credit and debit card payments immediately through Invoice2go, giving their customers more ways to pay and helping them get paid faster.

The new offering is unique in that it brings the entire billing process seamlessly into one app, a game-changer for every U.S. business owner who has spent countless hours manually invoicing, collecting payment, and reconciling their accounts to keep cash flow in order.

Invoice2go has also hit a new milestone, with customers invoicing more than $1 billion per month, positioning the company to make an immediate impact on the more than 200,000 users who already trust the app to send their invoices.

As part of today’s announcement, Invoice2go has raised $15 million in Series C funding. The additional financing enables the company to aggressively widen its footprint in the Fintech space with the development of new features to fuel small business growth even further. The funding follows two previous rounds totaling $35 million, which closed in 2014.

The Series C financing was led by existing investors Ribbit Capital, who specialize in disruptive financial technology companies, and included Accel Partners, who have a track record of building startups into lasting category defining companies.

Micky Malka, founder of Ribbit Capital, said: “Businesses are interacting more and more through Invoice2go and we’ve been thrilled to be a part of it over the last year. We’ve now significantly increased our ownership through the Series C financing to further support what we believe is one of the most exciting financial software companies today.”

Invoice2go is trusted by business owners across all industries, from plumbers to personal trainers and creative freelancers. The app minimizes administrative work, with customers saving three hours per week on average, and helps users get paid seven days faster.

“No longer do America’s smallest business owners need to wait for a check in the mail. The ability to accept credit and debit card in a seamless way levels the playing field. They can meet the demand of their customers in today’s digital age, and improve their cash flow by getting paid faster,” said Invoice2go CEO Greg Waldorf. “There are more than 100 million small businesses around the world and we see opportunity for every one of them to operate more efficiently with simple technology designed specifically for them.”

“We’re thrilled to see Invoice2go begin offering credit and debit card transactions using Stripe Connect,” said Cristina Cordova, head of business development at Stripe. “Invoice2go is at the forefront of mobile invoicing, and today’s integration will make it easier than ever for their small business customers to get paid.”

According to a 2014 report from the Federal Reserve System’s Cash Product Office (CPO) on consumer payment choices, debit and credit card are by far people’s favorite way to make a payment, with 43 percent preferring debit card and 22 percent preferring credit card. Thirty percent prefer to pay with cash, and only three percent prefer checks.

A California-based video production freelancer, who had early access to the feature as part of a beta group, commented: “Now that I’m offering more payment options through Invoice2go, I’ve seen customers pay their invoices in as little as three or four days. This is a big cash flow improvement for me, and a better overall experience for my clients. It also eliminates the challenges I faced with checks, as most people expect 30 day payment terms, then wait 29 days and 23 hours to send the check.”

Invoice2go’s new in-app payment offering is available now. Download Invoice2go via the Apple iTunes store or via Google Play.

People may not associate plumbers with technology, but the modern plumber knows that technology makes his job much easier. From offering customers better products and services to managing the office and fleet more effectively, modern technology is helping the plumbing industry evolve. Here are some trends to watch if you are in the field:

Technology to Improve Customer Comfort and Health

It is not uncommon for a household to experience leaks. While some may go unnoticed, others may result in increased water bills. If you suspect your tap could be leaking, you can best handle the situation by contacting Mr Flow plumbing services to discover the best repair for such leaks. 

Getting a leaking tap fixed could save you money spent on water bills and save thousands of liters of water yearly. Besides having a plumbing company resolve the issue, ensure that you always close all the taps tightly. 

Today, there is high-end technology plumbing contractors use to deliver quality plumbing services. By hiring the right company with such tools, you will avoid regretting your decision in the future. This is because the problem will have gotten a permanent solution that does not need constant repairing. It would be best to do your research and identify all emerging trends now and then.

Technology Focused on Green Living

Going green” is no longer a fad; it is now deeply ingrained into today’s society. According to Hardware Retailing, 47 percent of retailers who sell plumbing products indicated that they had customers actively seeking green products for their plumbing systems. For modern plumbers, adding these into their service offerings is not just a good idea for customer service, but also a good idea for overall business growth.

Technology is helping in several ways: Consider, for example, the dishwasher. New dishwasher technology that recycles rinse water for the wash cycle can save the average family as much as 700 gallons of water a year. Home automation technology that automatically shuts off sprinkler systems based on weather reports can also help save water. Plumbing contractors that can offer these services will find themselves in high demand.

Using greywater (water that runs down the sink drain or shower drain) for other purposes in the home, such as flushing the toilet, is another water-saving innovation, and this is one area where the services of a plumber are absolutely necessary. Once installed, a greywater system can save a significant amount of money, but only a licensed plumber is able to set up the complicated system. Plumbing professionals that can learn how to offer these services will be in an excellent position to gain new clients.

Technology to Improve Customer Comfort and Health

In addition to saving water and energy, customers are looking for plumbing technology that makes them more comfortable and healthier at home. For instance, technological advancements that make toilets and faucets “touchless” are becoming increasingly popular in the home. Customers enjoy being able to close the lid, flush the toilet and wash their hands without having to touch germ-infested surfaces.

Water filtration systems are increasingly on demand as consumers are learning more about the dangers of tap water. Reverse osmosis filtration systems are a popular option in the modern home, because customers want instant access to clean drinking water.

Shower technology is also making the home experience more comfortable. Luxury faucets and showerheads can turn the home shower into a spa-like experience. Plumbers who can offer these types of upgrades to their customers will meet a growing need in the industry.

Technology to Streamline the Fleet

Most plumbing companies have a fleet of service vehicles they dispatch to deliver their services to clients; technology can make vehicle management more efficient.

GPS fleet tracking technology, for instance, allows the dispatcher to know where vehicles are and what the best route for them to take is. This limits wasted fuel from poorly planned routes and ensures drivers arrive on time. It can also limit wasted time and mileage when drivers take personal trips in company vehicles, because the technology provides a level of accountability.

With GPS fleet tracking, companies can improve customer service by ensuring that drivers are on time to their service calls. This is important, because 67 percent of customers will not do business again with a company that sends a technician an hour late, according to Software Advice, a service that assists plumbers in finding field service software. Sending drivers on time using the most productive route, and estimating arrival times accurately, requires the use of GPS fleet tracking.

Whether technology is improving the work of the plumber or the customer experience, the fact remains that it is changing the face of the industry. To ensure that your plumbing business remains relevant, be sure to keep up with these changes.

Robert J. Hall of Track Your Truck is president of one of the leading GPS vehicle tracking systems for small and midsized companies.

California contractors can now use a new home energy assessment software.  OptiMiser, an advanced energy modeling and reporting tool, has passed CalTEST for use in the California Home Upgrade program beginning in 2015.

The California Home Energy Upgrade program was recently overhauled to enable better energy savings projections, more consistent incentive calculations, and better overall customer service. As part of the program improvements, the CalTEST software qualification system will allow contractors providing energy assessments and energy improvement retrofits to use advanced software tools that meet rigid quality standards. OptiMiser is one of the first such tools to be approved for the soft launch of the improved California Home Upgrade program beginning January 1, 2015. That will be followed by a full launch on or about April 1, 2015.

OptiMiser software is built from the ground up to make it easier for home performance professionals to sell jobs and perform energy efficiency work.  OptiMiser is designed to jump through as many regulatory hoops as possible for contractors while also offering full support for complex home performance measures.

OptiMiser has been at the forefront of the developments in the CalTEST implementation, partnering with the program for model verification and HPXML (data standards) implementation.

“We see the developments in California as an important step forward in our industry. Leif Magnuson, Matt Golden, and the utilities and implementers in California are initiating a visionary switch in our industry to energy efficiency programs that can be driven by real results. At OptiMiser, we believe performance evidenced by empirical results has to drive our industry and we are thrilled to be at the vanguard of this sea change led by California.”

– Andy Bardwell, CEO of OptiMiser

The California launch follows on the heels of similar program changes in Arizona and New York. In Arizona, OptiMiser partnered with Arizona Public Service (APS) and EnergySavvy to deliver an energy auditing software solution for their Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program.  Less than a year after the APS launch, over 95% of audits under the program rely on OptiMiser’s powerful and accurate energy analysis.

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Release of The All In One Total Track™

Redmond, Washington/ Dynamic Systems, Inc., a leader in Barcode Software Solutions and specializing in data collection applications has announced a low cost Turn Key System for the construction, restoration, and cleaning industry based the latest bar code technology.

System DSI has just announced the immediate availability of The Total Track™ System that includes software, labels, scanners, quick start implementation, and training. The systems are targeted for Contractors, Cleaning and Restoration Companies that want to reduce the loss of tools and track inventory. The maintenance manager tracks service performed and due on equipment. Inventory Manager tracks materials used and prints purchase orders. The system increases the efficiency and streamlines the process of managing inventory. The Checkmate Systems can be integrated to Quick Books and other accounting programs. “I’m impressed with the simplicity and adaptability of your Aviation Systems. They are user friendly, customizable, and affordable for most companies, even those with just a few employees,” stated Bill Allen, Process Control Consultant. More information go to http://dynamic-systemsinc.com/ Cost Justification If it requires one minute checking a tool in and out, and if the company’s staff spends even 20 minutes a day searching for tools or servicing equipment, the overhead savings is dramatic. “Loss of tools, malfunctioning equipment, and accurate inventory counts is a major cost today”, states Alison Falco, President.

About Dynamic Systems
(DSI) In business since 1981, DSI provides bar code tracking systems for tools, maintenance, equipment, documents, work orders, inventory, and ID badge systems. Bar code data collection has been proven to be the most accurate and efficient method of tracking or counting items.