[Rob @ Cleaner Planner]

WCP has just packed up on me! I wanna test drive your Beta!
I'm ready Rob, lets do this.

Lol - sorry, shouldn't larf

Just sent you an email. I'm working on the data import side at the mo and will be getting in touch with 1-2 users of each existing system (WCP, George, aworka) to work with them to get this right.

Often an "import" feature is just lip service - I want to ensure it works seamlessly and sets you up on CleanerPlanner with your data the way it should be so you can crack on with the new system.

Once the import is rock solid and I've got those 2-3 killer new features in place, I'll start opening things up...

[Rob @ Cleaner Planner]

Oh dear i think you might be copying other software.
I think that is illegal and for self gain.tut tut.

I think we might be at cross purposes.

All good software has an import / export feature.

e.g. Word lets you export to PDF, Google Mail lets you import from Outlook etc.

This is simply giving you rightful control and ownership of *your* data.

Am I missing your point?

[dave0123]

whats happend to this then 

[Rob @ Cleaner Planner]

Hi Dave - thanks for the nudge.

Rest assured CleanerPlanner is alive and well (as am I ) and we're inching ever closer to the beta.

I've literally just this minute sent out the first "pre beta" login to Smudger, the window cleaner that got me / us started on this idea.

The goal right now, with her help, is to get the core round, job and customer management features ship shape (it's not far off, but I'll let her be the judge).

Once we've ironed out the kinks I can start inviting more beta people on board, confident that it will handle their day-to-day business smoothly.

Then, once I've got a good handful of people on there using it for their day-to-day, I'll start layering on the exciting new user requested features

So, from where I'm at right now, my original estimate of end of October is looking very, very realistic for the "big launch"

[Fin Clearview]

Hi Rob, I had an iOS app built about 2-3 years ago now and have been using ever since. I just wanted to let you know about it as it might help both you and I as using my developer for only my single use is a little expensive and by the sounds of it with more investment of time and money yours sounds promising. Btw I have never used or seen George, WCP or Aworka as I use my app.
The features..
Firstly it is app based, the recorded payment data is sent via email when selected in a CSV file.
It also performs a back up when synced to iTunes like any other app.
When I open my app I have 4 icons, Customer list, All payments, Misc & Routes.
Customer List screen shows in a drop down style...1 John St, 2 John St and so on. The list is as long as it has to be. If I click on any address it opens a new page with the clicked adress at the top then below a box where the price is stored (which can be edited at any time) then below this a oblong box divided into 6 sections. These are the payment method boxes. Paid, Not Paid, PNT (pay next time) then the bottom 3 boxes Cash, Chq, Card. If I first select paid then I obviously select the method. Once I select Not Paid or PNT on my customer list page it shows next to the said address as NP or PNT. This enables me to visually look down the list at pace as I scroll to indicate the money owed, also when I receive a sent cheque I can edit this to paid, all via the app. At the bottom of this payments page I have three icons, the one I'm on currently 'payment' then 'Address' where like an address book I can type in all the clients details phone number email etc.then I have a 'Payments' tab where I can see all the payments history for the client I am looking at. Then back to the main page where the customer list is..the next tab is 'All payments' this shows all payments recieved to date and is the exported CSV file. This file can be trimmed in the next tab 'Misc' this is from where I export the CSV email and can trim the payment list if required as it does not automatically trim from my last export so I have to do this here (an oversight at the time of build). And lastly the 'routes' tab here I have a scroll with the various areas we work in and when I select one the customer list automatically shows my these clients. It's a quick way of navigating the app should chq's arrive from random based clients which happens every day. I hope this helps for now, it works for me to a point. Paul my developer now says in hindsight due to a few small probs a web based app would of been better and easier for him to manage. Anyway I wish you luck and look forward to your version. I think any advance in making our lives a bit easier is great news..

[Fin Clearview]

Oh I forgot to say I have at anytime the edit function to remove or add a new client to the list. An 'edit' tab at the top of the customer list to delete anyone from the list or a + tab to add a new client to list.

[Swcs]

Hi Dave - thanks for the nudge.

Rest assured CleanerPlanner is alive and well (as am I ) and we're inching ever closer to the beta.

I've literally just this minute sent out the first "pre beta" login to Smudger, the window cleaner that got me / us started on this idea.

The goal right now, with her help, is to get the core round, job and customer management features ship shape (it's not far off, but I'll let her be the judge).

Once we've ironed out the kinks I can start inviting more beta people on board, confident that it will handle their day-to-day business smoothly.

Then, once I've got a good handful of people on there using it for their day-to-day, I'll start layering on the exciting new user requested features

So, from where I'm at right now, my original estimate of end of October is looking very, very realistic for the "big launch"

This is fantastic news! 

[Richard iSparkle]

have you considered selling different versions of the software at different prices.

so people who want a cheaper basic version can get that, and people who want more features pay for it.

[PAUL ERITH]

Is it nearly ready getting desperate now 

Thanks Paul

[Rob @ Cleaner Planner]

Hi Paul,

Great to know you're keen to get your hands on it - makes all this toiling worthwhile

So, it's really, *really* getting there now.

I've invited three "pre beta" testers onboard, and together we're giving those tyres a jolly good kicking and whipping the system into shape for the launch.

We've already thrashed out tons of small (and some big) but all very important improvements, which I wouldn't have thought of without their input - e.g. monthly scheduling (I wrongly assumed *everyone* worked to a 4 week cycle for "monthly" jobs), time / people totals on the planner view, option to override the next clean date from the worksheet (but return to the original schedule after that), facility to pick your working days (e.g. Mon, Tue, Wed etc) both for your whole account and individual jobs, etc etc.

So, all good stuff and keeping me very busy As I said, plan is to thrash away at these small (but important) things for the next week or so to get the core system really solid, and then look to add in a good handful of new user requested features in time for the launch - bulk email is looking like #1 candidate right now, blocking out staff holidays probably #2.

Now, what I am going to do over the next couple of days, is pop a link on here to a proper beta signup page. This will be a short form where you can register interest in the beta, and give me some initial info (e.g. business name, current software etc) that will help me setup your beta account and email you your login details when the time comes. Will also help me get a clearer handle on how many people are genuinely interested in logging into this thing and taking it for a spin

So, please continue to watch this space and thank you for your patience - I really hope to make this worth the wait for everyone.

P.S.

richard - Thanks for the suggestion. Yep, haven't given much detailed thought to pricing yet! But you're certainly not the first to suggest a tiered pricing structure depending on whether you need the bells and whistles or not. So, off the top my head there will probably be 2 or 3 versions - e.g. Essential, Pro and Ultimate, or something like that. Will seek feedback on this when the time comes.

Fin Clearview - Thanks for the insight and sorry for not responding sooner. The way your app works sounds broadly similar to the way CleanerPlanner works, albeit yours is a mobile only app I guess? Do you run multiple vans? If so do you have a problem syncing everything up? CleanerPlanner might make life easier in this regard There won't be a native mobile app from day one, but if the web / cloud system gets enough take up, development of accompanying iOS / Android app is almost a certainty.

[Rob @ Cleaner Planner]

Hi all,

OK - very (very) nearly there now. Thanks for your patience.

I've put up a beta signup page where you can also see a "teaser view" of the planner:

www.cleanerplanner.com/Beta.aspx

If you're eager to take CleanerPlanner for a test drive, please submit your details and I'll be in touch very shortly with your login details.

Plan is to bring people onboard personally, one at a time on a first come basis for now, while I continue to make further small fixes and improvements based on user feedback.

Once (if - who knows?!) we hit the 10 - 20 user mark and the system is running smoothly for everyone, I'll start to open the taps and bring people onboard more rapidly.

Really looking forward to welcoming more people onboard and hearing all your thoughts and suggestions

Rob

[Rob @ Cleaner Planner]

Thanks to everyone who's signed up for beta so far. I'll be in touch with you very shortly to discuss next steps, whether you want to import your data etc.

Mostly new names so far which is good of course But just to say if you signed up to the ideas forum a while back, please can you re-sign-up via the form below.

http://www.cleanerplanner.com/Beta.aspx

Sorry, I know it's a faff, but the ideas forum is on another system, and it's not easy to copy details across (also keen to find out if you're still interested rather than bothering you if you're not )

Talking of the ideas forum, over the next few days I'm going to go back over all your ideas, forum posts and emails and pull together a definitive list of features requested to date.

I think I'll then put this up as a page within CleanerPlanner, with a status next to each feature - e.g. done or to-do and a planned release date - and keep this page regularly updated.

I have a feeling I've already implemented a good handful of the ideas we discussed - will be interesting to take stock.

[jonathan lorentsen]

any screen shots of the mobile version, looking good you have done well to put it all together in a couple of months

[Rob @ Cleaner Planner]

Cheers Jonathan.

I've designed the web app to be responsive and it scales down well to iPad resolution. Obviously it works on iPhone but I'll admit there's still some work to do here before I move out of beta.

It's probably not going to be practical to shoehorn some of the larger grids and views into an iPhone screen so I'll probably build a separate mobile optimised view.

Further down the line I may look at building native iOS and Android apps with offline support, but that's a way off.

By the by - can RoundPartner import from WCP?

[jonathan lorentsen]

No wcp uses some encription similar to how microsoft and won't format the dates and jobs properly , we haven't spent much time pursuing wcp. Lee Burbrigde used wcp before he started using roundpartner and manually input all the data, which we have done for other customers that have wpc(takes an hour or two). We had no problem with George and if people want to export from roundpartner to cleanerplanner they can do a back up file and upload.
I had a look at your landing page on my tablet and looks nice, but a bit small on a mobile phone screen.

[Rob @ Cleaner Planner]

Yep, getting data out of WCP isn't easy! Most of my users are coming from WCP so I had to figure out a way. Manual input would be too time consuming and error prone.

Dates are fine but schedules are a bit tricky. Currently assuming them based on last clean and next due dates, which works fine for the most part.

George and Aworka are relatively straightforward as you say.

Great that RoundPartner makes it easy for you to get *your* data out. I'll be doing the same. It's only fair that people should be able to move around if they wish.

Thanks again for the mobile feedback. As I said, mobile optimisation is next on the list, but I decided to prioritise getting the printable worksheets spot on, as this is how most WCP users work.

Also spent a lot of time fine-tuning the scheduling system and planner based on feedback. Figured it made sense to get the fundamentals right before focussing on mobile.

Just checked out the mobile view in RP. Very nice - quick and easy to use. Great that you can add customers and prospects while out of the move. Can't see a way to add jobs though?

Also I see it's got a calendar sync which is brilliant but does the app work offline? Lots of cleaners have asked for offline support so I'll probably go the native route when I build the mobile app.

[jonathan lorentsen]

We have a add new customer button. We have redesigned the mobile app to work offline, it is in beta at the moment. We have gone for the mobile first route. Guys like to use the built in calendar on phones as this gives familiar feel. ( think apple and Google do this really well) wish you all the best.

[jonathan lorentsen]

Yes due to the limited space on a mobile screen the add customer is the plus sign next to customer.

[deeege]

Hi Rob,

I'm registered now but cannot seem to find the app in the (Apple) App Store.

Has anybody else had any joy downloading the App?

Cheers

[Rob @ Cleaner Planner]

Hi Deeege,

I've been inviting people onboard this week (personally / one by one for now). There's been a fantastic level of interest and lots of feedback and questions to respond to (and tweaks to make to the system along the way) so it is taking some time. Thanks for your patience. If you drop me an email at rob@cleanerplanner.com I can ask you a for a couple more details that will help me set up your account that bit quicker when the time comes.

Just to be clear though, CleanerPlanner is a web / cloud app first and foremost (for now). It works great on iPad and I'm literally (this moment) optimising it for iPhone and Android as some issues have been highlighted there during beta testing. However, while "native" iOS and Android apps are absolutely on the cards (once we've got a solid user base together ) for now you won't find the app in the App Stores - it's only accessible via your web browser on your PC or Mac, or your web browser on your iPhone / Android via 3G.

I don't want to mislead anyone. If you're on the market for a 100% mobile app, with offline support (works where no signal) CleanerPlanner is not the one for you, yet! (but still one to watch )

However, if you're looking for a feature-rich web/cloud based replacement for WCP or George (or you're looking to try an alternative to aworka or RoundPartner), with advanced round management, scheduling and customer database features (and much, much more on the way), wall planner, printable worksheets, debt list, expenses, advanced reporting (soon) and (in a bit...) SMS reminders, bulk email, pretty invoices, staff and vehicle management features, all backed by consistent ongoing development and friendly, responsive support, then come on in, the water's warm!

Hope that makes sense! Any questions give me a shout at rob@cleanerplanner.com.