Important Update Coming to Buyer and Provider Work Order Activity Reports
October 4th, 2007 by danaUpdated Oct 12: Fixed links to Buyer and Provider Activity Report Samples at the bottom
In our upcoming v4.3 release (scheduled for mid-October), we’re making some significant changes in buyer and provider Activity Reports. These reports are used by many buyers and providers for offline tracking of both open and closed work orders, and some of these users have even built Excel macros that use the data in these reports.
*The nature of these changes will break most macros, and will require all buyers and providers to review their reports to ensure that they contain all of the data they depend upon.*
h1. Information Groups
One of the big changes to Activity Reports is that we are consolidating the selection of columns that can be displayed in a report into “Information Groups”. The purpose of Information Groups is to collect all related information together, while simplifying the Activity Reports interface.
!http://blog.onforce.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/activity-report-screenshot.jpg!
When you select an Information Group, all columns contained in that Information Group will appear in the Activity Report. For example, if you select the Feedback Information Group, the columns Buyer Rating, Provider Rating, Buyer Comments, and Provider Comments will all appear in the Activity Report.
The Information Groups displayed in the screenshot above contain the following columns, in the listed order:
*Work Order ID*
Work Order ID
*Buyer Information*
Created By (_buyer only_)
Closed By (_buyer only_)
Buyer Company Name (_provider only_)
*Provider Information*
Provider ID
Provider Name
Provider Company Name (_buyer only_)
*Work Order Status*
Status
Sub-Status
*Work Order Dates*
Service Date
Appointment Date
Date Created (_buyer only_)
Date First Routed (_buyer only_)
Date Accepted
Date Completed
Date Closed
Date Cancelled
*Work Order Description (pre-v4)*
Title
Service Category
Service Subcategory
Model #
Operating System
Serial #
Manufacturer
*Work Order Description (v4)*
Title
Tasks
*Work Order Pricing*
Pricing Method
Spend Limit (US$)
Initial Spend Limit (US$)
Hourly Rate (US$)
Parts Included
*Work Order Location*
End User Name
End User Phone (_buyer only_)
Location Name
Location City
Location State/Province
Location Zip/Postal Code
Location Country
*Work Order Custom Fields*
Custom Fields (_buyer only_)
Custom Fields for Provider (_buyer only_)
Custom Fields (_provider only_)
Buyer Custom Fields (_provider only_)
*Work Order Completion Information*
Resolution Notes
On-Site Dates
Total Hours On Site (calc.)
Hours Worked
*Work Order Service Fee*
Access Fee (US$) (_buyer only_)
OnForce Commission (US$) (_provider only_)
Parts Total (US$)
Labor Total (US$)
Other Total (US$)
*Taxes (US)*
Access Fee GST (US$) (_buyer only_)
Sales Tax (US$)
Service Tax (US$)
*Taxes (Canada)*
Access Fee GST (US$) (_buyer only_)
Service Fee GST (US$) (_provider only_)
Nova Scotia HST (US$)
New Brunswick HST (US$)
Newfoundland/Labrador HST (US$)
British Columbia PST (US$)
Alberta PST (US$)
Saskatchewan PST (US$)
Manitoba PST (US$)
Ontario PST (US$)
Quebec PST (US$)
Prince Edward Island PST (US$)
OnForce GST Number
Provider GST Number (_buyer only_)
*Feedback*
Buyer Rating
Provider Rating
Buyer Comments
Provider Comments
We’ve also removed the following columns, since they are easily calculated in Excel using the expanded information columns available in the new reports.
*Buyer Activity Reports*
Total Charges
Total Credits
Time Frame
*Provider Activity Reports*
Closing Charges
Amount Paid
Time Frame
h1. Re-ordered Columns
To ensure that the columns in each Information Group appear properly, we’ve re-ordered the columns in the Activity Report so that all of the columns in a given Information Group appear together.
h1. Sample Excel Export Spreadsheets
You can download sample Excel spreadsheets that show all of the columns in the buyer and provider Activity Reports:
“Buyer Activity Report Sample Excel Spreadsheet”:1
“Provider Activity Report Sample Excel Spreadsheet”:2
h1. Saved Activity Reports
We will upgrade all saved Activity Reports to be compatible with our new Activity Report format. Once upgraded, a saved Activity Report will contain any Information Group that contains the columns that were in the old saved Activity Report. If you have any saved Activity Reports, please check them when v4.3 is released to ensure that they contain all of the information you need.
_*If you use Excel macros on any saved Activity Reports, or you depend upon the particular columns and column order in a saved Activity Report, you will have to update your macros or other systems to handle the new formats.*_ The sample Excel Export spreadsheets provided above should assist you in updating any systems.
[1]http://blog.onforce.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/buyer-activity-report-sample.xls
[2]http://blog.onforce.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/provider-activity-report-sample.xls
October 5th, 2007 at 10:27 am
Now all we need is enough work through OF.com to need these reports…
October 6th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
As a provider, I agree with jtb-in-texas. More work coming into Onforce is needed. Many people that would be potential buyers don’t even know that Onforce exists. I personally tell as many people possible about Onforce but word of mouth is a very limited and unreliable form of advertising. I feel that Onforce needs to provide a local, regional, or national advertising campaign (at least advertise on G4 or something….) After all, Onforce does charge both the Buyers and Providers for using the system so there should be money to advertise the site.
Just recently I made an update to my provider home office profile and the next day, an onforce representative called to see if I had any questions about being a buyer on Onforce. I had to explain to him that I have been using the service for 7 or 8 months now and that I wasn’t a buyer. I offered him the same suggestions on advertising Onforce’s services as I am putting into this response.
October 11th, 2007 at 11:18 am
There is plenty of work out there, at least here in western Washington. I just want to thanks OnForce for continually improving, it is appreciated!
October 15th, 2007 at 11:40 pm
I think OnForce is doing a great job and seems to keep growing all of the time. I joined in April and almost have 50 work orders completed. Since there are over 50 providers in the Madison, WI area, I really have to be quick to get a lot of work orders. While it would be nice to have an abundance of work orders to pick and choose from, so there would be plenty for everyone, I do see the outsourcing trend growing with OnForce getting more and more work available to us.
I have my own consulting business with several clients, and really appreciate what OnForce provides for extra work and experience on many different computer and network systems. The better service that every provider with OnForce can provide, the better OnForce can get.
October 17th, 2007 at 1:59 am
In my area (Southern California), there’s plenty of work most weeks to keep me very busy when combined with my normal customers. Without this platform, I would be forced to work for a corporation instead of for myself. Thanks OnForce!
October 19th, 2007 at 3:38 am
i agree with all of the comments here. in my area(ft wayne, in) there are close to 40 providers. there are a few of the providers in my area that seem to get into the w/o before anyone else. have talked with them and found that they are using their own little programs for getting into the w/o quicker. i have only been working with onforce since july and already have almost 20 completed w/o. although that may not seem like much…it has been a godsend. without onforce, i would be required to work for corporation at much lower income. i would like to see more come through…as here lately it has really slowed down. some advertising in the area would probably help this. i didnt know they charge the buyer as well as us…so now knowing this…i would say ADVERTISE. i understand that there is cost for the maintance of the site and servers and what not…but we are almost 11,000 strong now and that should be making them enough to do some advertising. i also tell everyone i meet professionally about it and recommend the site as much as possible. now, if they would just do the same…maybe we could get more work. not complaining…just adding my 2 cents worth. all in all…extremely happy that this is here!! keep up the good work…
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:12 am
Seems like there is a 5 to 1 ratio of work orders to techs in my area, have to be quick or you dont eat around here. We need a lot more buyers in this area.
October 22nd, 2007 at 9:14 am
thats 5 techs to one work order , and i have recently looked at one that was viewed by 11 techs. so 11 to 1 sometimes.
October 22nd, 2007 at 1:45 pm
I too am a consultant who doesnt rely on OnForce for my main income, but I used to, 2 Years ago at this time I had more work than I could do, but it seems to have died down drastically over the last few years. I Have been a member of OnForce since it was computerrepair.com, and was extremely happy with it for a long time, but it seems now that OnForce is on the side of the buyer (even though they only get $11.00 per work order from the buyer) instead of the provider, which is in my opinion the more valuable of the 2. I agree that there needs to be more advertising, and get more large IT companies to be a part of the platform. Overall I would rate onforce as a good to fair venue, although seemingly one sided to the buyer, which like i said seems counter productive, the providers are where OnForce makes its money, and I feel that the system should be revamped to make things more fair on that end. Things like cancelling work orders are very detrimental to providers, even with over 24 hours notice, but buyers are allowed to void or cancel with no negative concequences. I am one of 2 power pros in my area, and have been on the wrong side of onforces policies more than once, but Buyer companies seem to get away with murder.
October 28th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
How y’all are? (i.e. Justin Wilson), I would suggest that OnForce send all the ACTIVE Tech’s a set of magnetic ‘Badges’ that we can apply to our vehicles with possibly OUR business phone # to call & inquire. Who’s ‘mug’ would OnForce use for advertising? Geez, that’s a toughy! I have noticed that out of around 85 Tech’s in KC, there are only about 8, maybe 9 that actually do ANY W.O.’s. I think that OnForce should use a different color to distinguish between Tech’s who actually are accepting/closing W.O.’s & those who have their names out there just for viewing, clogging-up the routing process, because I have been told by several buyers that they would not have ‘broadcast’ a W.O. if they had known ahead of time that they could have narrowed it down considerably. I think we should do like Pepsi & have an OnForce design logo challange, like they have for their cans.
November 12th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Las Vegas, NV
I think that Onforce needs to let us know what WO’s are directed to specific providers in our areas. I have been a provider that has experienced directed WO’s.
Sitting in front of our computers, or other devices, and being prepared to “pounce” on a WO as soon as it is broadcast is not what I want to do, but until I have sufficient WO’s directed to me I will do it.
The “rateing” system from buyers and providers needs to be looked at. When a buyer or provider blockes someone, a notice should be given.
November 21st, 2007 at 10:03 pm
Thanks for the reporting stuff. Now can you work on adding Conditional Offers to the WAP site? It really limits me when I am out on the road making a 10% commission for OnForce. That 10% commission increases when my spend limit is increased. Seems like enough incentive too me. Otherwise, it goes to the lowest bidder and OnForce makes less money, as do I. Hope someone sees this.
Thanks.
November 28th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Myself Like Keith J. Am struggleing for w/o’s In Northern Indiana It seems that some techs do have that extra edge over some us. Then some buyers Dont Really understand that Indiana Is a Rural State and what is a flat rate doesnt pay but for us to travel to the site. There are a few buyers that use onforce in this area that do understand the Cost of living and that alot of the small towns are outside the 60 mile range. The Major buyers in this area have ceased to use onforce as much as they have gone to their own technical staffing. I too would like to see some advertising To promote our services. All the updates to the site Dont bring in work for us, If we have no work than we have no use for the updates.
November 29th, 2007 at 11:43 am
I think that onforce should advertise. Not only would it help provide more work orders for us it would make onforce much more money. Why would a buyer not want to use a central place to reach more providers at once rather than spend the time looking through the phone book, calling the first one they come acrossed and possibly end up over paying for less work. I know that a lot of PC repair companies in my area charge an arm and a leg for their services and do work worthy of 1/3 of what they have been paid to do it. The work i have gotten so far though has been great.
December 7th, 2007 at 6:46 pm
I AGREE WO SHOULD BE MORE DETAILED LIKE THIS KEEPS TECHS IN ORDER BETTER RESPONSE TIMES AND ECH CONTROLABILTY
February 8th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Advertising would be great, but goes both ways. Advertising would mean more buyers as well as more providers. Good for Onforce, may not be so good for us providers. That would depend on the ratio of new buyers to new providers.