Source Field Usage

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What is your Usage of the Source Field in Manager SE?

a) We use Source frequently to code invoices
6
29%
b) We use Source infrequently
5
24%
c) We're not using Source field
10
48%
 
Total votes: 21
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timbre4
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Source Field Usage

Post by timbre4 »

Please choose one of the following to confirm your usage.
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Re: Source Field Usage

Post by Pauls Automotive »

I use this everyday as a way to track new customers and promotions
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Re: Source Field Usage

Post by nickscarcare »

Don't know what it is supposed to be for
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Re: Source Field Usage

Post by timbre4 »

nickscarcare wrote:Don't know what it is supposed to be for
It's provided to track "how this invoice came to be written" such as SocialCRM, website, coupon, radio, other marketing. It also provides a way to mark invoices with whatever designation you wish to apply, knowing that the Referral - Inv Sources will group and tally results in a date-ranged fashion.
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Re: Source Field Usage

Post by ricmorin »

Use it every day, on every order. :D
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Re: Source Field Usage

Post by brianp87 »

If I did any advertisement or kick backs I would use it. I do not so have not had a real need to.
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Re: Source Field Usage

Post by ricmorin »

The neat thing about the source field is that it needn't only be used as advertising tracking, but for any tracking. While we do use it some for advertising, we also use it to track where the repairs come from. Nice to know how many repairs come from a breakdown, comeback, inspection repairs or simple maintenance. This helps owners understand where their repairs originate and which generate the most profit. Very useful information.
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Re: Source Field Usage

Post by Pauls Automotive »

ricmorin wrote:The neat thing about the source field is that it needn't only be used as advertising tracking, but for any tracking. While we do use it some for advertising, we also use it to track where the repairs come from. Nice to know how many repairs come from a breakdown, comeback, inspection repairs or simple maintenance. This helps owners understand where their repairs originate and which generate the most profit. Very useful information.

I never thought of tracking for things other than advertisement. I like the idea of tracking jobs that came from previously recommended work.
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Re: Source Field Usage

Post by ricmorin »

Great idea! I'm going to steal that and add it to our list! :P

I envision a more granular version as well...… Consider the order as a whole with it's origin, but often 'jobs' are added along the way that may have other origins. This could be part of the 'by-the-job" approach that M1 speaks of as an enhancement for the future.
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Re: Source Field Usage

Post by rschreiber »

I work at technical college that does live customer work. I am going to use this field to track which class the repair order is created for. 8) I've been trying to figure out an easy way to track this since I started 4 years ago. :D
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Re: Source Field Usage

Post by timbre4 »

rschreiber wrote:I work at technical college that does live customer work. I am going to use this field to track which class the repair order is created for. 8) I've been trying to figure out an easy way to track this since I started 4 years ago. :D
EXACTLY! :wink:
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Re: Source Field Usage

Post by Bymas Tire »

Is there a way to pull the Source field report for ROs that generate zero dollars? We are tracking multiple items in the source field including "Comebacks". If the work is done under warranty - there is no bill to the customer but the "Inv - Source" report will not pull those ROs.
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Re: Source Field Usage

Post by timbre4 »

Welcome to the forum and thanks for your post.

FYI - There is a dedicated Comeback report under the Management tab; you would check the Comeback box on the Symptom's screen to trigger this flag. (the logic here is that a previous service issue (Symptom) has come back to the shop again to rectify, due to a part failure or labor problem)

Other shops will chime in on this question, I'm sure.
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Re: Source Field Usage

Post by Bymas Tire »

I understand the functionality of the comeback report but it is cumbersome to utilize. (Every field needs to be entered and our shop doesn't use the Symptom functionality). I was hoping there was a quick option to include any ROs that have a zero cost in Inv - Source report. Thanks for trying to assist.
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Re: Source Field Usage

Post by timbre4 »

Understood, see what fellow shops have to say once they read this.
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Re: Source Field Usage

Post by ricmorin »

Interesting topic. I would've thought zero dollar orders are included in this report. And honestly think it should be, or at least selectable.

Here is an idea: What if instead of making these orders zero dollars, you 'pay' them with a special payment type you create for this purpose. Now these orders will show on the report. This won't help past orders but will for future orders.
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Re: Source Field Usage

Post by rschreiber »

ricmorin wrote:
Thu Sep 17, 2020 12:41 pm
Interesting topic. I would've thought zero dollar orders are included in this report. And honestly think it should be, or at least selectable.






I would agree that it would be nice if this report included zero dollar invoices. :)
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Re: Source Field Usage

Post by Silky7 »

What's strange is that the information is returned to the report for zero dollar invoices, but isn't being displayed. In an albeit brief review, I have yet to see any intentional/conditional suppression in the report for these either. I'll update the thread if I get time for a deeper dive.
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