Chris Boyle, founder of Grantham software development company Nimble IO, has launched Pipeline – a new app designed to help tradespeople and service businesses manage their operations in one place.
Pipeline brings together customer enquiries, quotes, job scheduling, invoicing and communications. It is aimed at builders, plumbers, electricians, cleaners, landscapers, consultants and freelance professionals across the UK.
Solving the spreadsheet problem
Boyle drew on more than 20 years of software development experience to create the platform after observing how many successful service businesses still rely on spreadsheets, notebooks, scraps of paper and information stored in employees' heads to manage their work.
"Running a service business involves much more than simply completing the work," Boyle said. "You have new enquiries to respond to, quotes to prepare, jobs to schedule, customers to update and invoices to chase. For many smaller businesses, that information ends up scattered across five different systems – plus a piece of paper in the van that nobody has seen since Tuesday."
Pipeline keeps all information accessible to the whole team without searching across multiple systems. A mobile app allows users to manage customer leads, quotes and communications while away from a desk.
Real-world testing at Nimble IO
Before wider release, Boyle and the Nimble IO team spent six months using Pipeline to manage their own business operations, customer engagement, quoting, jobs and invoices.
Affordable pricing
Plans start at £10 per month for sole traders, with pricing designed to undercut competing platforms at every level, from individuals to established businesses managing hundreds of jobs. Boyle said small businesses should not have to pay hundreds of pounds monthly just to stay organised.
