FittleBug vs House Call Pro
FittleBug compared to Housecall Pro Online Booking
Housecall Pro is a powerful and well liked CRM tool with a add-on feature of Online Scheduling. In this comparison with FittleBug we only look at the on-line booking comparison of the two programs. The FittleBug calendar and the HCP Calendars can sync together allowing for no overbooking. This is done thru the Use of Google Calendar. Many of our clients use this approach very successfully.
| AREAS OF DIFFERENCE | FITTLEBUG | HOUSECALL PRO |
|---|---|---|
| How does each tool handle the geographic areas that determines who can book online? | By Zipcode This allows for marketing areas to be denied or added across a vast geographic location. This also often creates the need for just one license of FittleBug | Radius Only.. It draws a circle of choice. Expanding the radius causes increased areas that might not want to be serviced; which often causes admin/time costs. |
| How are taxes handled by online orders? | Because FittleBug is zip code driven, state and other taxes can be uniquelly different. | Radius approach only offers a one tax code approach for online booking. This will cause issues with consumer confidence and confusion if incorrect taxes or no taxes are applied. |
| Can the programs tell consumers when service providers might be in the area and incentivise them if there are times before or after existing appointments? | YES, It's called "Distance Incentive" this is set by assigning a distance from any existing appointments zip code and applying an incentive of $ or % For example: within 5 miles offer a 5% discount. This saves money and time by not having to return the next day to the same location. Employee time and gas are saved. | NO, a radius approach technically can not offer such an option |
| Can the programs DENY a consumer from booking a time that requires the service provider to travel a certain distance between each appointment? | YES, it's called "Distance Deny" this is set by assigning a distance in miles from any other existing appointments zip code and blocking the times before and after if it's available. (For example not further than 15 miles between any two appointments.) | NO, a radius approach technically can not offer such an option |
| When a consumer books can the program increase the minimum for their zip code? | YES, each zip code can have a unique increase to your standard service provider minimums. Each provider could have different minimums as well. | NO, a radius approach technically can not offer such an option |
| Can the programs increase the cost of line items chosen by the location of where the consumers resides? Can the determine which service providers | YES, each zip code can apply what is called a "Hidden Cost" to each unique zip code. Such as a $20 increase for 60606. If one item, normally priced at $100 is chosen; For this zip code is displays $120. The $20 is divided by the number of line items chosen. YES, this is set at the zip code level One or any of service | NO, a radius approach technically can not offer such an option NO, a radius approach technically can not offer such an option. |
| Can the programs determine which service providers service a particular geographic location? | The $20 is divided by the number of line items chosen. YES, this is set at the zip code level One or any group of service providers can service any zip code areas. | NO, a radius approach technically can not offer such an option. This approach can require numerous changes of service providers internally once the online order is created. |
| How does each program handle online time availibilities? | Each item has its own time stamp on how long it takes. For example carpet cleaning of a unique area or room might be 22 minutes and have a cost of $29; where as applying protection might have a time stamp of 1.5 minutes and a cost of $8. Total time for showing availibility is 23.5 minutes and not 120 minutes (2 hour window.) This approach waits 96.5 minutes on potential online booking during that 2 hour time slots. The FittleBug approach also allows for Travel Time between appointments. FittleBug does offer blocks of time if desired. | Blocks of time Arrival Windows ONLY! The consumer has no idea how long the provider will be in the home. This approach causes issues for providers and consumers. If the order takes longer than the window, the next appointment will be waiting. If it takes a shorter time than the window the provider is waiting. This approach causes increased administrative time and money. |
| Does each program offer a option to promote Specials? | YES, These are displayed on the homepage of FittleBug for consumers to click and apply. Discounts can be dollars or percentage. Anyone that sees it can get it, but only one may be chosen. | NO, not integrated within the platform |
| Does each program offer a option to promote Unique Promotions with Promo Codes and Packages? | YES... This is very extensive. Unique Promotion Codes can be tied to Packages, Categories, Sub-Categories, and Services with auto expiration dates and additional incentives built within Promotions. Unlimited unique Promotions. | NO |
| Does each program offer a option for Tiered Quantity Discounting? | YES, Three levels of tiered discounts can be created with either Percentages or Dollars off the total. | NO |
| Does each program offer a Social Media Marketing Promotion Tool? | YES, it's called SAFE (Save a Friend Effort). Consumers with one click can tell their friends on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Google + and email about your service company and receive a discount. If their friends become a client the referror get a credit on their next online order. tracked Codes | NO |
| Does each program offer a Educational Media tool to assist prospects on their services? | YES, it's called "Info Boxes". When a consumer hovers over the options, a pop-up-box is displayed which can containt Videos, Images, links and HTML. This is very powerful to assist prospects in understanding your offerings without ever speaking with them. | One Picture ONLY. No other options. |
| Do the programs offer an easy view of the offerings? | understanding your offerings ever speaking FittleBug allows for most clients to display all their offering on the main home page with minimal scrolling. | HouseCall Pro homepage images and offering are very large requiring much scrolling for the consumer up and down to review all the options. |
| Does the Program offer flexibility in design layout and content? | YES, FittleBug allows the ability to customize the Header in the home page, content on the right side of the page, as well as color and image of the background. Most written directional content can be changed by the administator with simple typing skills. | House Call Pro offers and image of your logo and one large picture with no other visual content changes available. |