Shopflow Fall 2024 Updates

New Features to Streamline Your Shop Operations

Published: October 15th, 2024

We've been busy this fall implementing features requested by our growing community of marine fabricators. Here's what's new in Shopflow to help you manage your shop more efficiently.

🎯 Enhanced Job Templates

Based on your feedback, we've significantly improved our job template system:

  • Template Categories - Organize templates by type (bimini tops, enclosures, upholstery, etc.)
  • Quick Duplicate - Copy existing templates to create variations faster
  • Default Time Estimates - Set standard hours for common tasks
  • Material Lists - Attach default material requirements to templates

These improvements help you create accurate quotes faster and ensure consistency across similar projects.

📊 New Reporting Dashboard

Understanding your shop's performance is crucial for growth. Our new reporting dashboard provides:

  • Revenue by Service Type - See which services are most profitable
  • Employee Productivity Metrics - Track individual and team performance
  • Job Completion Times - Compare estimated vs. actual hours
  • Customer Lifetime Value - Identify your most valuable clients

📱 Mobile App Improvements

Your team can now do even more from their phones:

  • Offline Mode - Continue working without internet connection
  • Photo Annotations - Mark up photos directly in the app
  • Voice Notes - Add quick audio notes to jobs
  • Barcode Scanning - Track inventory items quickly

🔄 Workflow Automation

Save time with new automation features:

  • Auto-status Updates - Jobs progress automatically based on triggers
  • Reminder Sequences - Set up automated customer communications
  • Recurring Jobs - Schedule regular maintenance work
  • Smart Assignments - Auto-assign jobs based on employee skills

🔗 Integration Updates

QuickBooks Online

We've enhanced our QuickBooks integration with:

  • Two-way sync for customers and invoices
  • Automatic payment recording
  • Sales tax handling improvements
  • Better error reporting and recovery

Email & Calendar

New email and calendar features include:

  • Direct email sending from job records
  • Calendar feed for personal calendar apps
  • Email parsing for customer inquiries
  • Appointment booking links

🛡️ Security & Performance

Behind the scenes improvements:

  • Faster Load Times - 40% improvement in page load speeds
  • Enhanced Security - Additional encryption for sensitive data
  • Better Backups - Hourly automated backups with quick restore
  • API Improvements - For custom integrations

📚 New Learning Resources

We've expanded our support materials:

  • Video tutorial library with 20+ new videos
  • Interactive setup wizard for new users
  • Best practices guide for marine fabricators
  • Monthly webinar series

What's Coming Next

Here's a preview of what we're working on for early 2025:

  • Advanced inventory management with reorder points
  • Customer portal for job tracking
  • Enhanced scheduling with resource management
  • AI-powered quote suggestions

Your Feedback Matters

Many of these features came directly from user suggestions. We're committed to building the shop management system that works best for marine fabricators.

Have a feature request or feedback? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected] or use the feedback button in your Shopflow dashboard.

Get Started with New Features

All these updates are available now to Shopflow users at no additional cost. Check out our learning center for detailed guides on using these new features.

Not yet using Shopflow? Schedule a demo to see how these features can transform your shop operations.