- Dan Reynolds, Founder We Build Databases -
Before we write a single line of code, we make sure we understand your data challenges so we can build a solution that meets your specific needs. From the software look and layout to the coding and the framework that supports it.
IFC estimates that RouteCatcher, the map-based assignment platform We Build Databases built for it, saves about 1,300 staff hours a year by taking trip and offer coordination off spreadsheets.
Independent Field Connections (IFC) connects independent contractors with field service work across multiple states, including HUD and FHA inspections, occupancy verifications, debt servicing, and federal/state medical fraud prevention. IFC provides the coordination and support that keeps that work moving efficiently to a large independent contracting network.
IFC receives large account files from its clients (data files can exceed 15,000 accounts) and has to assign that work to contractors across its territories, price each trip so it works for both the contractor and IFC, and track completion.
Much of that work ran through Excel. The team prepared spreadsheets by hand just to upload accounts, and removing canceled or on-hold accounts from the map one by one could take 20 to 30 minutes at a time when a client dropped hundreds of accounts in a day.
Coordinating trips and offers for contractors took about 30 hours a week, spread across four people.
IFC isn’t a tech company and has no developers on staff. Before building anything, WBD works through with IFC what the end result will look like and how it will help the operation, then delivers the work in phases so RouteCatcher keeps pace with how IFC runs its business.
Why custom: off-the-shelf tools did not fit IFC’s customized workflow, so RouteCatcher was built around it.
| Step | Before RouteCatcher | With RouteCatcher |
|---|---|---|
| Getting the day’s work in | Spreadsheets prepared by hand just to upload accounts | The client manifest file uploads straight onto the routing map, with territory assignment on upload |
| Seeing open work | Tracked manually | Every open job on one map, color-coded by age (new, older than 5 days, declined by a rep) |
| Building offers | Put together manually | Offers are built as full trips listing every stop with due dates, mileage and drive time, with IFC’s profit or loss shown before the offer goes out |
| Removing canceled or on-hold accounts | Removed from the map one by one, 20 to 30 minutes at a time when a client dropped hundreds of accounts | Removed in bulk. Hold Approved Offer Rate keeps an offer a contractor already accepted from being repriced when an account is removed |
| Coordination time | About 30 combined staff hours a week across four people | About an hour a day or less for one person (IFC estimate) |
Original build (2018): RouteCatcher, a map-based web application IFC’s team uses to load client accounts, see open jobs on a map, build offers as trips and send them to contractors.
Later enhancements, delivered in phases:
This video has no narration; all information is on screen. A full transcript is below. Screens show sample data.
Title. Case study: Independent Field Connections. About 1,300 staff hours a year back with RouteCatcher, built by We Build Databases.
Who IFC is. Field service work, coordinated. Independent Field Connections connects independent contractors with field service work across multiple states. Services: HUD and FHA inspections, occupancy verifications, debt servicing, medical fraud prevention.
The problem. Spreadsheets and hand coordination. Large client files can exceed 15,000 accounts. Spreadsheets were prepared by hand just to upload accounts. Trip and offer coordination took about 30 hours a week, across 4 people.
What we built: upload. Load the day’s client file in one step. Upload once: client manifests (.xlsx) load straight onto the routing map. Every day: a new manifest is processed nearly every business day.
What we built: the map. Every open job, on one map. Search and assign: filter by state, client, zip or due date, then choose reps for the work. Color shows age: new, older than 5 days, or declined by a rep, at a glance.
What we built: trips. Offers built as full trips. Every stop, in order: each offer lists its stops with due dates, mileage and drive time. Trip example (sample data): about 311 miles and just over 7 hours, accepted by a contractor. Pricing protected: removing an account no longer reprices an offer a contractor already accepted.
The result. Coordination time, before and after. Before: about 30 hours a week, across 4 people. Now: about an hour a day or less, with one person. About 1,300 hours saved every year (IFC estimate), now put toward business development and new accounts.
RouteCatcher at work. Each month on average, across the US: 15,000+ jobs handled, 50,000+ miles driven on routes, and 200+ contractors across the US. About as many invoices as jobs, and thousands of routes sent to contractors.
In their words. “Independent Field Connections isn’t a tech company, and we don’t have developers on staff. We Build Databases bridges that gap for us.” Natalie Buckel, CEO/President, Independent Field Connections.
Closing. Have a project like this? We Build Databases designs and builds the systems that keep your operation moving. webuilddatabases.com
The full quote appears on this page. Product screens are real RouteCatcher screens. Names, IDs, addresses and amounts are sample data. The video has no narration.
Screens are real RouteCatcher screens. Names, IDs, addresses and amounts are sample data.
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