Founded in 1972, Smith Heating and Air Conditioning, Inc. is a successful full-service mechanical contractor specializing in the design, sales, installation, and service of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning ( HVAC ), and Refrigeration systems. The company also operates a manufacturing facility that fabricates custom sheet metal products including stainless steel kitchen equipment. Commercial, residential, and industrial customers appreciate the high level of service, fair pricing, and quality workmanship provided and have perennially voted Smith Heating and Air Conditioning a winner in The Record’s Best Of San Joaquin annual survey. For years, Smith Heating and Air Conditioning has trusted one solution to help keep its operations humming—Sage 100 Contractor.*

Embracing Technology
When Matthew Smith joined the family business in 1985, one goal he had for the organization was to embrace technology. “Back then, that goal took the form of computerizing some of our accounting tasks,” he recalls. “As a result, we became early adopters of Sage 100 Contractor, which gave us a software toolset specifically designed for contractors.” Smith says the software continually evolves to meet the more advanced requirements of the company. “I have seen a tremendous evolution in the product, and its capabilities go far beyond accounting and financial reporting. We use it in our contracts, project management, engineering, and estimating departments too.”

Streamlined Estimating
Integration between Sage 100 Contractor and Sage Estimating has vastly simplified the company’s procedure for creating new project estimates, takeoffs, and templates. “We can pull equipment as well as items and their costs in from inventory,” explains Smith. “It allows us to create formal proposals, presentations, and bids that are precise, professional, and complete.”

*Sage 100 Contractor was named Sage Master Builder when Smith Heating and Air Conditioning initially implemented this solution. The product names have been updated in this case study to reflect current product naming.

Once a bid is won, the proposal is seamlessly converted into a job, bringing all cost estimates with it. “From there we are able to accurately track actual costs, comparing them to our budgets,” adds Smith. “This helps us head off any over-budget situations.”

Efficient Service Operation
The service department at Smith Heating and Air Conditioning also uses Sage 100 Contractor. The Service Management component of the solution is integrated with the accounting and operations components, eliminating the need to reenter data between systems. “Service Management keeps us well organized,” says Smith. “We can schedule the right technician for each job, track the inventory, materials, and equipment used on every service call, and monitor our technicians’ hours.”

He adds: “Sage 100 Contractor helps us run as efficiently as possible, maximizing the hours in each day. We’re able to complete more service calls and help more customers due to the efficiencies afforded by the software.”