You’ve booked a job or even completed the work—and now you need a deposit or the complete payment. Sometimes getting paid can be the most stressful aspect of the work. But having a robust payments app can streamline the process. This is what Kelly Slater, Vice President of Pleasant Landscapes, Inc., based in the Greater Charleston South Carolina area, has discovered.
Since implementing the Include GO Payments app, Slater says the company’s receivables have improved.
The Include GO Payments app is the company’s new app supporting Automated Clearing House (ACH) and credit card payments. It allows clients to pay invoices from any device, anywhere, quickly. It also allows companies to send automatic invoices and emails, reminding clients to pay their overdue invoices. The result is a streamlined payment process.
Faster Cash Flow
Slater reports that one of the biggest changes has been faster cash flow. New job deposits are hitting the company’s bank account 10 days faster than before using the Payments app. Slater says that final job payments are collected within 24 hours of job completion.
“Using the app, which is linked to the client portal, has made for a much simpler process both for us and for our customers,” she says. “The deposit payments are where we’ve seen the most improvement. Now that they can just easily pay through their portal, there’s much less delay.”
Slater says that deposit payments had been the company’s biggest pain point.
“Customers would sign a landscaping contract with us but then they wouldn’t want to give a check—nobody really likes checks anymore,” she says. “So, then they’d call in with their credit card information but that was not as secure as it could have been. The payment app eliminates all of that. We send them a link and they can pay right there on their phone.”
Happier Customers and Timely Payments
Since implementing the Payments app, Slater says the customer feedback has been positive. She says that these days, people expect payments to be simple and easy. Slater adds that it also reduces the labor hours that went into processing checks and running credit cards.
Slater explains that the company's "open invoices" in the 30 to 60-day range have decreased by 30%, making it easier for customers to make payments and ensuring timely payments.
“Overall, my sales pitch to anyone considering adopting software to assist with payments is to really look into the company offering it,” Slater says. “Every landscaping software company is going to say they’re the best—and for the most part, they do similar things. This is not the only payment solution out there. However, where Include Software really stands out is with their customer service. It’s the reason why we’ve been with them for so many years. It’s important that when you do need help, the company is there for you—and Include always has been.”