Fewer miles. More jobs. Home by five.
When a customer asks for a visit, it looks at where you'll already be that week and offers the slot that adds the fewest miles. You just reply 1, 2 or 3. Your own calendar stays in charge.
For trades, cleaners, gardeners, mobile services and drivers.
New request: Gutter clear, Lexden, CO3 (Mrs Patel)
1) Mon 15:30 - best. On your way home from West Bergholt. Adds 0.1 mi.
2) Tue 10:45, adds 0.5 mi
3) Thu 11:45, adds 1.3 mi
Reply 1, 2 or 3 to book, 0 to decline, C to call them.
You're Dave's assistant for the week.
Dave clears gutters around Colchester. Pick a customer who's asked for a visit, see the text Dave gets, and book it. Then try texting as Dave.
Pick a customer request to start.
A made-up week. Distances are cautious estimates from postcodes (and it knows there's no bridge over the Colne below the Hythe), as the real system uses before live drive times are switched on.
Your calendar stays in charge.
No new app. After setup you only ever do three things: look at your calendar, answer texts with a number, and send the odd instruction.
Time off by text
“I'm off Friday.” “Dentist Tue 2 to 3:30.” “Holiday 14th to 21st.” It replies with the exact date, so mistakes are caught straight away. Or just put it in your calendar.
Working hours, set once
Set at the start, changed by text: “Finish at 4 on Fridays.” “Work Saturdays 8 to 12.” Finish time means home by then.
Requests that explain themselves
Every option says where it fits and how many miles it adds. Reply 1, 2 or 3 to book, 0 to decline, C to call them.
Ask me first, or book it for me
Approve every booking with one tap, or let it book the best slot within your rules and tell you afterwards.
Quiet hours
Requests after 6pm wait until the morning, so the evening stays yours. Real emergencies can still come through, if you want them to.
Running late?
“Running 20 mins late” and your next customer gets a polite text with a new arrival time.
Where, how long, and who.
For the miles to add up, every job in your calendar needs three things. When the system books a job, it fills them in for you, every time.
- Where The full address with the postcode, so the route can be worked out.
- How long The real length, from your list of job types.
- Who Name, phone number and a booking reference, in the notes.
Added a job yourself without an address? It asks once: “Where's 'Smith job' on Thursday? Reply with a postcode, or P if it's personal.” Days off are an all-day entry called Off.
- Monday 15:30 to 16:30How long
- 8 Example Road, Lexden, Colchester CO3Where
- Customer: Mrs Patel
Phone: 07700 900214
Job: Gutter clear
Ref: BBT-1002 · Status: confirmedWho
What could fewer miles be worth?
Move the sliders. Miles are valued at HMRC's 45p a mile.
Rough figures to show the scale. Your own numbers come from your real calendar.
Good questions.
Does it work with my calendar?
Yes, with Google Calendar or Outlook, on any phone. If you use the iPhone's own calendar, I'll set up a Google calendar that shows in it, so nothing changes for you.
What if I already use job software?
If you use something like Jobber, ServiceM8 or Tradify, I'll set that up properly first. No point paying twice.
How accurate are the miles?
They're cautious estimates from postcodes, with time added for parking and traffic. Where it matters, such as rivers or the A12 at rush hour, real drive times can be switched on.
Can I still move things myself?
Always. Your calendar is in charge. Move, add or delete anything by hand and the system works around it.
What about my customers' details?
Names, numbers and addresses stay in your own calendar, used only for the booking. Nothing is sold or shared, and it's all covered in your privacy notice, which I'll help you with.
Less driving. Earlier teas.
Book a free 20-minute chat. Tell me how your week goes, and I'll tell you honestly whether AI can help. No jargon, no hard sell.
Book a free chatcharlie@backbyteatime.co.ukLocal 01206 number coming soon