How to Be Prepared for Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Inspections and Avoid Fines

Posted on by April Jones

How to Be Prepared for Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) Inspections and Avoid Fines

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Ensure your Commercial Trucks are Safe and Compliant

Operating and managing commercial vehicles requires consistent maintenance check-ups for the safety of the driver and others on the road. Since businesses are becoming more focused on delivering goods directly to consumers, commercial drivers are logging more miles and are therefore more likely to experience an inspection check. The failure of an inspection can put a vehicle or a driver out of commission, hurting your business’s ability to operate. Being prepared for CMV inspections is essential for any business with commercial vehicles to operate efficiently.

What is a CMV Inspection?

Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) inspections are safety inspections for commercial vehicles administered by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), an entity within the U.S. Department of Transportation. There are four main types of CMV inspections: daily driver inspections, periodic/annual inspections, roadside inspections, and on-site compliance reviews. Each of these inspections target different areas that could create hazards for your employees or for third parties, but the target among each test is the same: ensuring safety. The inspections range from the precision with which a driver has filled out a pre- or post-trip assessment or the safety standards for loading and unloading, to the operating standards of every system on the vehicle – from coupling devices to windshield wipers.

What Happens in the Event of a Violation?

In the event that your vehicle is in violation of any of the CMV standards, a three-step process is applied:

First, if there are actionable violations, such as operating the vehicle without a valid license or a headlight out, the carrier will receive a citation. The fine will depend on the jurisdiction of the law enforcement making the stop.

Second, if the vehicle is deemed to be unsafe to continue, it will be placed Out-of-Service, meaning it cannot continue to be operated until the items have been corrected.

Third, the data collected from the inspection will be input into the Safety Measurement System (SMS). All violations are recorded in the SMS and a company will be given a score based on the number and type of its violations.

If a company’s SMS score exceeds any of the predetermined thresholds in any category, the company will be subject to a variety of penalties, including targeted inspections, company investigations, civil penalties, and even an order to cease operations.

How to Prevent CMV Violations

One of the best ways to prevent CMV violations and the resulting penalties is to review drivers’ logs and inspections and immediately address any concerns that are uncovered. For most companies that operate commercial motor vehicles, this can be difficult, however. Due to the nature of the business, it can be tough to quickly aggregate and analyze driver’s logs and inspection reports, and subsequently remedy problems, before a violation is committed. This problem only becomes more exaggerated the bigger a company is and the farther its services reach.

Companies that use commercial motor vehicles need the tools in place to ensure that their drivers are able to quickly and efficiently log concerns and problems so they can be quickly addressed. If a company expects to keep up with the demands of its business, the only way it is going to achieve this goal is through the use of an effectively customized mobile form software. Mobile form software allows drivers to log problems with their vehicles and make the reports immediately available to every branch of your company that needs that information to solve the problem.

Faster and more effective digital analysis makes it easier to detect patterns and problems in your machinery, and coordination among teams who can simultaneously access the same reports makes for a much safer, and more efficient operation. The benefits that come from being able to immediately communicate, aggregate, and analyze inspection reports is essential, not only for preventing CMV violations but also for providing a safe working environment for your drivers.

Now you can easily modernize the way you are conducting inspections. Whether you are looking to improve your data handling processes or improve the safety of your field operations, we hope you consider using GoCanvas as your data collection tool. Sign up for GoCanvas free and give our platform a try today!

Interested in learning more? Check out our ebook on 4 Ways Mobile Inspection Forms Can Keep Your Trucks on the Road! 

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About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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How Security Guard Managers Should Handle Complaints

Posted on by April Jones

How Security Guard Managers Should Handle Complaints

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notebook of complaintsYou’re working hard to keep your clients safe and their property secure. You’ve been careful about the staff you’ve hired to work as security officers, conducted the necessary background checks and drug screens, and provided diligent training while clarifying your code of conduct and expectations for how your agents should conduct themselves while on the job.

Yet despite these efforts, it’s inevitable that people will occasionally file a complaint about how your security officers perform their jobs. Sometimes these customer complaints are quite serious; other times they seem trifling.

Regardless, every customer complaint form lodged against one of your security guards and personnel needs to be taken seriously. Failing to do so puts you at risk for reputation damage or costly litigation. Even your business license is at risk. That’s why it’s crucial to have a thorough policy for handling customer complaints – and to follow it.

How Security Guards Should Deal With Complaints

Have the Right Kind of Post-incident Follow-up

Virtually every state regulates private security officers and companies, and those regulations often set guidelines for handling complaints.

With that in mind, here are the steps your organization should take in following up on a complaint:

Listen. The first step in handling complaints is to hear what the complainant has to say about the incident or problem. Was the security guard rude? Not paying enough attention? Or are we talking about something more serious, like a security guard who is accused of being intimidating, under the influence of drugs or alcohol, harassment, or worse? Your goal here should be to gather the facts at issue as the complaining party understands them, not to defend or condemn your employee. This first step is critical because an individual wants to feel they are being heard and respected — and research has shown that listening may reduce your litigation risk. This first step may be the most intrusive, but it is extremely important in handling complaints and making sure you are receiving all the pertinent information on what occurred.

Review the record. A critical source of information will be your guard’s own incident report. You should review this document before speaking with your security guard. If the report tells a story that’s different from the one you heard from the complainant, then you’ll want to pursue that discrepancy in your discussions with your employee. Also, take note of when the report, which should have been filed as soon as possible after the incident in question, was actually filed when handling complaints.

Gather more information. Beyond the complainant’s version, the security guard’s version, and the incident report, gather any additional sources of information that might be available, such as statements from other witnesses or camera footage, to attempt to understand what actually happened. When handling complaints, it is extremely important to gather as many pieces of information and evidence for validates sources as possible. This gives you a well-rounded view of the situation and doesn’t make you biased in any way when handling complaints.

Seek a resolution. The action you take will depend, of course, on the results of your investigation. While in severe cases your hands may be tied and disciplinary action will be required, most of the time you’ll have some discretion. The most important thing is to fully document the investigatory steps you took, what you discovered, and why you chose to take the action you did based on the evidence found. When you are handling complaints, you will feel pressure to rush to a resolution. Don’t! You want to make sure you make the best decision for all parties and ensure that the complaint is fully resolved.

Plan for follow-up. No matter how you handle a customer complaint, you should always be prepared to defend your response. Sometimes a patron won’t like the way you handled complaints and will seek further action. Other times, a state regulatory agency or other bureau or authority will hear about the incident and decide to conduct its own investigation. If this happens to you, it’s important to cooperate and have all your notes in order.

The Details are in the Documents

Proper documentation — the timely and accurate logging and filing of incident reports and daily activities — makes the process of handling complaints much more manageable.

Start by making sure your security guards are well-versed in how to describe an incident and include basic information (time, date, location, and witnesses) as well as unbiased, descriptive details. This makes handling complaints much more time-efficient.

The process of investigating a customer complaint and documenting the results is much easier when your reports are digital. Storing all your activity logs in the cloud makes it easy to find the data you need when you need it and to properly handle complaints when they occur. Automatic time-stamping means you’ll always know when a report was filed; that’s especially important when investigating a customer complaint because reports filed long after an incident occurred mean the information is often less reliable. Late documentation should also be a violation of your internal policies regarding incident reporting.

While paper-based logs are still dominant in the security industry, a crop of mobile apps is starting to emerge to make documentation faster, easier, and more accurate. One example of such an app is GoCanvas’ “Security Officer Daily Activity Log Mobile App,” which allows security guards and officers to log an incident and then add detailed information such as GPS and images. You can get started with mobile reporting for free, then decide later whether it’s right for handling complaints and more within your business. Or explore 100’s of other security industry apps that may be perfect for your business!

While training security guards to correctly report incidents, enforce rules, and document activities in a detailed manner doesn’t guarantee that they won’t be the target of customer complaints, but it can help your business retain its professional reputation, minimize the repercussions of a complaint, and better handle complaints in the future.

Optimize Security Workflows with GoCanvas 

GoCanvas® empowers field teams to work smarter and faster by replacing paperwork with mobile forms and connected workflows that link the jobsite and office in real time. Instead of dealing with the frustration of slow paper logs, GoCanvas helps your modern security guard operation quickly collect robust data, manage compliance, and improve operational efficiency. You can get started with mobile reporting for free, then decide later whether it’s right for handling complaints and more within your business, or explore hundreds of other security industry apps that may be perfect for your business. 

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Frequently asked questions

How should a manager deal with a complaint from a customer? +

Managers should address customer complaints by first listening to the customer’s concerns with empathy and without interruption. Document the details and reassure the customer that their concerns are being taken seriously. Investigate the complaint by consulting any relevant reports or surveillance, and gather input from all parties involved. After a thorough investigation, provide a resolution to the customer and explain the steps taken to address their concerns. Follow up with the customer to ensure they are satisfied with the outcome, which can help in building trust and loyalty.

What are the key responsibilities of a security manager when handling complaints? +

A security manager is responsible for maintaining a professional standard of service and ensuring all complaints are handled promptly and effectively. This includes listening to the complainant, documenting the complaint, investigating the incident thoroughly, and resolving the issue satisfactorily. They must ensure that any necessary corrective actions are taken and that all parties understand the outcomes. Regular training and clear communication of company policies to all staff are also vital responsibilities.

What are the top 3 reasons for complaints against security guards? +

The top reasons for complaints against security guards typically include perceived rudeness or unprofessional behavior, inadequate attention to duties, and alleged misconduct such as harassment. Addressing these complaints effectively requires clear communication of job expectations, continuous training, and fostering a culture of accountability and respect.

What are the four steps to effectively handle a complaint? +

The four steps to effectively handle a complaint include: 1) Listening to the complainant to fully understand their concerns; 2) Documenting all relevant details for accurate record-keeping; 3) Investigating the complaint by reviewing any related reports, evidence, and speaking with involved parties; and 4) Providing a resolution and communicating it clearly to the complainant. Following up to ensure satisfaction is also crucial for maintaining positive relationships.

How can security guard managers prevent complaints? +

Prevention of complaints can be achieved through proactive measures such as regular training sessions for security staff on customer service and conflict resolution, ensuring clear communication of company policies, and setting high standards for professional behavior. Managers should also encourage an open-door policy where staff feel comfortable raising concerns or reporting potential issues before they escalate into complaints. Regular feedback from clients can also help in identifying areas for improvement, leading to better service delivery.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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2018 Spring Subscriber Survey: 5 Most Interesting Trends

Posted on by April Jones

2018 Spring Subscriber Survey: 5 Most Interesting Trends

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We’re very excited to begin sharing with you the results from our 2018 Spring Subscriber Survey.

At GoCanvas, we believe that our subscribers should have a voice in everything we do. That’s why we love all the feedback we received this year in our subscriber survey!

We take all the responses captured, create a report, and distribute them throughout the company so that every department is able to benefit from the feedback. We also use the responses to analyze how and why subscribers choose the GoCanvas platform for their business.

This type of insight into our subscriber’s usage and deployment of GoCanvas allows us to better roadmap what types of functionality should be added to the development roadmap. It also allows our team to measure what areas of the platform we should focus more time, and what features deserve higher priority.

As you read through the survey infographic below, you’ll find a number of interesting stats and trends. Here are my top 5 most interesting statistics:

  • Flexible Platform – Aside from Construction, usage is deployed somewhat evenly across 5+ different industries. This illustrates the flexibility of the App Builder, PDF Designer, and the platform’s core features like Dispatch and Workflow.
  • Fast Payback – 7 months is the average time in which a subscriber receives a full return on their investment and deployment of mobile forms.
  • Multiple Forms & Use Cases – Inspections were the only type of form that was selected by more than 50% of subscribers. This illustrates the different amounts of use cases that GoCanvas subscribers deploy!
  • Photo Capture – Still the most popular feature across every industry and demographic, capturing photos gives every type of business the evidence they need to keep the most accurate digital records possible.
  • Multiple Submission Per Day – Over half of all subscribers said that they fill out and submit 2 or more mobile forms per day. This shows the common trend of implementing GoCanvas in operations that are frequent, data-intensive processes.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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GoCanvas Earns Spot on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 for Second Straight Year

Posted on by April Jones

GoCanvas Earns Spot on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 for Second Straight Year

GoCanvas, the leading mobile platform to automate workflow and modernize business, today announced it ranked 261st on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500™, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies in North America. GoCanvas grew 331.2 percent from 2014 to 2017.

GoCanvas’ CEO and Co-Founder James Quigley credits the company’s continued impressive revenue growth to his team’s passion to modernize every business, helping SMBs from any industry with their path to digital transformation. “We are honored to be recognized on such a distinguished list for the second year in a row. Mobile is increasingly the first choice of many users, yet many SMBs struggle to embrace digital transformation. By offering a simple way to help them modernize their business GoCanvas customers are now able to do so much more for their customers, their company and their top and bottom lines,” said Quigley.

“Software, which accounts for nearly two of every three companies on the list, continues to produce some of the most exciting technologies of the 21st century, including innovations in artificial intelligence, predictive analytics and robotics,” said Mohana Dissanayake, partner, Deloitte & Touche LLP, and Industry Leader for technology, media and telecommunications, within Deloitte’s audit and assurance practice. “This year’s ranking demonstrates what is likely a national phenomenon, where many companies from all parts of America are transforming the way we do business by combining breakthrough research and development, entrepreneurship and rapid growth.”

About Deloitte’s 2018 Technology Fast 500™

Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 provides a ranking of the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences and energy tech companies — both public and private — in North America. Technology Fast 500 award winners are selected based on percentage fiscal year revenue growth from 2014 to 2017.

In order to be eligible for Technology Fast 500 recognition, companies must own proprietary intellectual property or technology that is sold to customers in products that contribute to a majority of the company’s operating revenues. Companies must have base-year operating revenues of at least $50,000 USD, and current-year operating revenues of at least $5 million USD. Additionally, companies must be in business for a minimum of four years and be headquartered within North America.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas is a mobile platform that makes it simple for business to automate how work is done, replacing outdated processes and expensive paperwork. The GoCanvas App works on smartphones and tablets, helping companies to easily collect information, share it instantly with others and gain real-time insight of their business operations. GoCanvas can be easily customized by any type of business to empower their workforce, unleashing the value in data across the organization to help them connect better with colleagues and engage more effectively with customers.

GoCanvas is trusted by thousands of businesses throughout 70 countries, automating millions of workplace activities, making it one of the fastest growing mobile platforms in the world. To learn more, visit www.gocanvas.com.

About Deloitte

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee (“DTTL”), its network of member firms, and their related entities. DTTL and each of its member firms are legally separate and independent entities. DTTL (also referred to as “Deloitte Global”) does not provide services to clients. In the United States, Deloitte refers to one or more of the US member firms of DTTL, their related entities that operate using the “Deloitte” name in the United States and their respective affiliates. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting. Please see www.deloitte.com/about to learn more about our global network of member firms.

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About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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5 Tips to Prepare for a Restaurant Health Inspection

Posted on by April Jones

5 Tips to Prepare for a Restaurant Health Inspection

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Health inspector at a restaurant

Preparing for a Restaurant Health Inspection

Whether you own a small restaurant or work at a major restaurant chain, health code violations can pose a significant threat to the life of the business and its consumers. Every year the USDA sends auditors to perform semi-annual restaurant inspections. Each inspection is unannounced, so restaurants must always be ready.

Without consistent internal audits and inspection checks, it can be challenging for restaurants to ensure they will be prepared when the inspector arrives. Many of the cleaning tasks done on a regular basis don’t even scratch the surface of what restaurant auditors will be paying close attention to. This is why weekly or even monthly inspections should be carried out internally. You can never overdo restaurant cleanliness.

Here are some common violations restaurants often overlook.

1. Check Temperatures

Keeping your food at safe temperatures is a must. The USDA requires that a refrigerator should be at 40 *F or below and freezers should be kept at 0*F or below. Refrigerator temperatures can fluctuate throughout the day which is why, if it is not required where you reside, it is recommended to keep a log of refrigerator temperatures and record the temperature two to three times each day.

When the food is ready to be served, the USDA requires hot food to be held at 140*F or above and cold food to match refrigeration standards at 40*F.

*Note – Refrigerator and freezer thermometer reading should be visible when the doors are open.

2. Don’t Cross-Contaminate & Label Expiration Dates

Just like what you learned when you got your Food Handlers Permit, cross-contamination is a serious issue. Cross-contamination happens when raw meat or other harmful foods come in contact with other foods. As an example, cross-contamination can occur when a cutting board is used for raw meat and then used again to cut vegetables. Cross-contamination can be avoided by clearly labeling and distinguishing between different cooking utensils used.

Clearly labeled food items are also important. Expiration dates should be visible on all products. For example, items that have thawed have a 48-hour lifecycle or less and therefore should be labeled with a visible expiration date within 48 hours. If an item isn’t marked or some inventory has expired this would be marked as critical on your restaurant audit.

3. Properly Store & Mark Cleaning Items

How you clean up (or not) can result in a health violation! Many cleaning chemicals and solutions can be extremely harmful if incorrectly used or ingested. Unmarked or illegible cleaning chemicals can be easily confused and mixing these up is no small mistake. Every unmarked bottle could result in multiple critical marks on your audit. Avoiding this is simple, make sure every cleaning item or other container is clearly labeled and stored in an isolated location away from food handling processes. For example, you must keep red cleaning buckets with a micro-quat next to each station with a clean towel inside.

Companies using chemical solutions for dishwashing must be sensitive to PH levels and solution temperatures. Chemical solutions outside of these standards can be ineffective or potentially dangerous. To maintain proper chemical standards have staff perform a daily PH test and frequently replace solution water.

4. Supervise Employee Hygiene

Employee cleanliness is another crucial component of this. Every employee should be sure to wash their hands thoroughly before handling food. When returning from the restroom even if they are not handling food hands need to be washed. Depending on the state you live in each restroom is required to display a sign mandating that “All Employees Must Wash Their Hands.” Inspectors have found creative ways to make sure this is being followed through with, and failure to do so can fail your inspection.

Employee accessories are also necessary to highlight. Things such as jewelry, nail length, and hair care are all stuff an auditor will take note of. Hair should be pulled back, nails should be kept short and preferably in gloves, and jewelry should be avoided. Each of these things is something managers should be diligent to enforce and wary of with their employees.

5. Schedule Consistent Bathroom Sweeps

Bathrooms should be stocked with paper towels (or hand dryers), toilet paper, and hand soap at all times. To ensure that bathrooms are replenished it is recommended to have staff check once every 3 – 4 hours depending on the traffic. Other things to keep in mind is toilet cleanliness, issues such as a loose toilet seat are considered violations as well.

*Note – No trashcan in the restaurant can be full. There should be about 3 inches from the top of the trash to the top of the container.

GoCanvas Apps for Restaurant Health Inspections

Restaurant inspections don’t have to be intimidating. GoCanvas offers tons of free resources for small and large restaurants to improve their internal inspection process. To get started, check out a few of our popular restaurant inspection templates.

Find these and other restaurant apps in the GoCanvas Application Store. Use these templates or create your own to ensure your team is always prepared for your next audit. Sign up for GoCanvas for free today, or schedule a demo with our experts to learn more! Be prepared for your next restaurant health inspection with the help of GoCanvas!

Whether you are making the switch from paper or looking to improve your internal processes, we hope you consider GoCanvas as your data collection tool. Sign up for GoCanvas free and give our platform a try today!

Interested in learning more? Check out our how Cerveza Patagonia uses GoCanvas for restaurant and bar audits.

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About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

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Release Notes: Reference Data with Dispatch and More!

Posted on by April Jones

Release Notes: Reference Data with Dispatch and More!

You can now use Reference Data when creating a dispatch from Workflow & Dispatch page!  We know users of our Dispatch service will be dancing at their desks with this update.

Reference Data & Dispatch

This new feature will work the way you might expect it to.  Your Drop Down fields that are mapped to Reference Data will now show those choices when creating a dispatch through the web interface.  Any dependent fields will auto-populate after making your choice, too. This will work on Loop screens, too.

When I choose “Jane Doe” then subsequent fields auto-populate as expected!

App Settings Pages

We recently redesigned our App Settings pages.  We added the ability to see if a feature is turned on or off and we added toggle switches to turn a feature on or off if there are no additional settings for that feature. We hope this helps you quickly determine what features you are using for each of your GoCanvas Apps.

Account>Customize Changed to “Account Settings”

We have changed the name of our “Customize” area to “Account Settings”. This makes a lot more sense and will be easier for new customers to understand what they will find on this page.  We have also redesigned this page to match what we did on the “App Settings” pages.

The Account Settings page now has the same design as our App Settings pages.  You can easily see what settings are in use (On or Off). And we have added toggle switches for any settings that just need to be turned on and off and have no other settings associated with them.

Feedback

Visit our Community for any feedback!

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About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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GoCanvas Expands Leadership Team with Addition of Sales Veteran Tom Tighe as Chief Revenue Officer

Posted on by April Jones

GoCanvas Expands Leadership Team with Addition of Sales Veteran Tom Tighe as Chief Revenue Officer

Welcome Tom Tighe as GoCanvas Chief Revenue Officer

RESTON, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–GoCanvas, the leading mobile platform to automate workflow and modernize business, has appointed Tom Tighe as its Chief Revenue Officer – where he will focus on expanding the global sales organization and growing the revenue engine for GoCanvas.

Tighe brings more than 25 years in revenue-generating sales and leadership positions, starting in the logistics and medical sectors with positions at Federal Express and Stryker Medical. In 2000, he moved into the technology industry as sales director for mindSHIFT, an outsourced IT services company later acquired by Best Buy in 2011. Since then, Tighe has led sales teams for other high-growth global SaaS companies including Cvent, Apptix and most recently, Snagajob.

“Tom brings tremendous credentials and a proven record of scaling international sales teams to deliver against aggressive sales targets,” said James Quigley, CEO and co-founder of GoCanvas. “We are building a first-class leadership team to accelerate our progress and the addition of Tom will provide additional expertise to fuel our growth.”

Tighe commented, “I am really impressed with the inclusive culture of GoCanvas and the progress the team has achieved to date. I am looking forward to working alongside the GoCanvas executive team and leading the sales organization to even greater success.”

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas is a mobile platform that makes it simple for businesses to automate how work is done, replacing outdated processes and expensive paperwork. The GoCanvas App works on smartphones and tablets, helping companies to easily collect information, share it instantly with others, and gain real-time insight into their business operations. GoCanvas can be easily customized by any type of business to empower their workforce, unleashing the value in data across the organization to help them connect better with colleagues and engage more effectively with customers.

GoCanvas is trusted by thousands of businesses throughout 70 countries, automating millions of workplace activities, making it one of the fastest-growing mobile platforms in the world. Try GoCanvas for free or request a demo from our experts to get started today!

Contacts

SpeakerBox Communications for GoCanvas
Jessica Lindberg, 703-287-7820
jlindberg@speakerboxpr.com

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About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

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10 Best Mobile Devices for Business

Posted on by April Jones

10 Best Mobile Devices for Business

As businesses continue to replace outdated processes and move toward automation, it is important to evaluate which devices would work best for your company. Paperwork is an outdated and labor demanding chore that can be easily solved through apps.  Creating a streamlined workflow of data can be simple once you have determined what mobile strategy your team will use in the field.

In deciding on what device would meet your team’s needs, many factors might play into that decision. Typically, the purchasing process for new business devices is primarily based on cost, durability, security, and usability. These elements can make or break an organization’s decision. While the upfront cost of purchasing devices can seem daunting, the payback is both quick and large once you compare it to the time savings you get back by automating these core corporate data processes.

Some businesses are lucky enough that everyone has their own smartphone or tablet they can use, but that is not typical. One of the first steps in deciding on your mobile devices is determining which characteristics and functionality are most important for your business. We have made the decision-making process even easier by creating a list of the most popular mobile devices for automating your data collection processes.

Smartphone:

iPhone

iPhones are one of the most popular mobile phones on the market! They easily one of the most user-friendly as most people have used one at one time or another. With an iPhone, users are also given access to many business improvement applications and employees can communicate without data service through I-Messaging and Calling. Encrypted tools also give these smartphones an upper-hand on security for your sensitive data.

iPhone 6s:  $440 – $550

(Photo Credit: Apple / iPhone)

4.7” Retina HD Display, 12 MP Camera, Touch ID, A9 Chip

iPhone 7: $500 – $650

(Photo Credit: Apple / iPhone)

Splash, Water, and Dust Resistant, 4.7” Retina HD Display, 12 MP Camera service, Touch ID, A10 Fusion Chip, Battery lasts up to 2 hours longer than iPhone 6s

iPhone 8: $700 – $920

(Photo Credit: Apple / iPhone)

Splash, Water, and Dust Resistant, 4.7” Retina HD Display, 12 MP Camera, Touch ID, A11 Bionic Chip, Battery lasts up to 2 hours longer than iPhone 6s

Galaxy Samsung 

Samsung offers a variety of cost-effective and durable devices. With a Galaxy Samsung smartphone, you can ensure each of your employees has access to a device that is easy to navigate and can communicate easily with your other office staff.

Galaxy Samsung S8 Active:  $670 – $800

Photo Credit: https://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/phones/galaxy-s/galaxy-s8-active-64gb–at-t–meteor-gray-sm-g892azaaatt/

5.8” Gorilla Glass Display, Water, Shock, and Dust Resistant, Military -Grade Body, Ip68 Rating, Premium Camera

Galaxy Samsung S6 Active: $150 – $350

(Photo Credit: Samsung)

5.1” Super AMOLED Display, Water, and Dust Resistant, Military -Grade Body, Ip68 Rating, Premium Camera

CAT S41 

$415 – $550

The Cat S41 phone is made to withstand extreme conditions from water to dirt. This device has so much battery power that it is able to charge other devices through its battery share feature.

(Photo Credit: CAT Phones)

5” HD Gorilla Glass Display, 60 Min Waterproof, Military Standard 810G Shock and Drop Proof, 13 MP Camera

Kyocera Brigadier

$115 – $350

Similar to the Cat S41, enjoy peace of mind with this phone built for extreme environments. This durable device doesn’t slow down productivity with Glove† and Wet Touchscreen Operation technology allowing users to enjoy touchscreen access through cold weather, rough terrain, or wet hands.

(Photo Credit: Kyocera)

4.5” HD Sapphire Shield Display, Scratch-proof, water-proof, shock-proof, temperature extremes protection, 100db speakers for hearing clarity in loud environments, and 8 MP Camera

LG X Venture

$150 – $375

For a practical device with features for day to day outdoor activities, the LG X Venture is the perfect device. Its long-lasting battery and resilient body provide the end user with an easy to use functional device.

(Photo Credit: ATT / LG Venture)

5.2” Full HD Gorilla Glass, Shock, Dust and Water Resistant, 4100 mAH Battery, 16 MP Camera

Tablets:

Samsung Galaxy Tablet

$350 -$500

There are many Android devices to choose from for a Samsung Galaxy Tablet. These tablets were the first Android-powered tablets to go to market. Samsung’s Galaxy Tablets provide a practical solution for companies looking to provide employees with a device that has touchscreen capabilities and is easy to transport.

(Photo credit: Samsung / Galaxy)
 

Apple iPad Pro

$350 – $600

Similar to Samsung, Apple provides a diverse range of options for mobile technology. The iPad Pro offers a simple solution for you and your company with powerful capabilities like Pro Retina Display Features and a 10-hour battery time.

(Photo Credit: Apple / iPad)

Panasonic Toughpad FZ-M1

Pricing Varies

The Panasonic Toughpad FZ-M1 offers an automation solution resistant to dust, water, and falls. This pad includes heavy glove sensitivity and a smart card/magnetic strip reader option. Your field techs can also take advantage of its dedicated GPS or 4G LTE mobile broadband connectivity.

(Photo Credit: Panasonic)

Getac F110

Pricing Varies

The Getac Tablet gives your company endless battery life with its two hot-swappable batteries. With multi-factor authentication, 4G LTE, dedicated GPS, and resilience to drops, shocks, spills, liquid, and dust you can be Getac F110 will make your whole team and the business owners happy.

(Photo Credit: GroupMobile)

Hp ElitePad G2 1000

Pricing Varies

The HP ElitePad 1000 is also referred to as a “total business solution.” This tablet has a customized body for the healthcare, retail, and construction industries. With a gorilla glass display, you can be assured scratches and tumbles won’t make a dent.

(Photo Credit: HewittPackard)

Hope you enjoyed getting the scoop on all these mobile devices. Whether you are planning to buy some of these devices for your business or already have devices, we hope you consider using them to streamline your business processes. Sign up for GoCanvas free and give our platform a try today!

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About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

business people discussing project

Gown Your Business with GoCanvas Partner Program

Join our Partner Program and gain instant access to our global network of thought leaders and industry experts enjoying shared collaboration and collective success.

Learn more
Forte Supply Chain Solutions Partner Video

Partner Snapshot: Forte Supply Chain Solutions

Explore how Forte Supply Chain Solutions partnered with GoCanvas, combining in-house industry expertise with our white-label mobile forms to revolutionize their processes.

Watch VIDEO
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GoCanvas Integrations: Streamline your Workflow

Integrate with over 1,000 software applications. Enhance your GoCanvas experience by syncing real-time data to one or all of your business tools.

View integrations

Connect with an Expert Today.

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GoCanvas CEO James Quigley Named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2018 Award Finalist

Posted on by April Jones

GoCanvas CEO James Quigley Named EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2018 Award Finalist

RESTON, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–GoCanvas today announced that CEO James Quigley has been named a finalist for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2018 Award in the Mid-Atlantic region. The awards program recognizes entrepreneurs who are excelling in areas such as innovation, financial performance and personal commitment to their businesses and communities. James was selected as a finalist by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced at a special gala event on June 14 at the Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner.

Reimagining how work is performed, GoCanvas is a mobile platform for the digital transformation of companies looking to ease their way into automating their workflow and data collection. Thousands of companies across 70 countries now rely on GoCanvas to replace outdated processes and create new, more efficient ways of working.

“This recognition reflects the passion of the GoCanvas team to modernize every business,” Quigley said. “I’m honored to be counted among so many innovative leaders, and truly excited to keep building upon what GoCanvas is doing to help business thrive in this digital revolution.”

Now in its 32nd year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities and more than 60 countries throughout the world.

Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National competition. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced at the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 10, 2018. The awards are the culminating event of the Strategic Growth Forum®, the nation’s most prestigious gathering of high-growth, market-leading companies.

About GoCanvas

GoCanvas is a digital transformation platform that makes it simple for a business to automate how work is done, replacing outdated processes and expensive paperwork. The GoCanvas App works on smartphones and tablets, helping companies to easily collect information, share them instantly with others and gain real-time insight into their business operations. GoCanvas can be easily customized by any type of business to empower their workforce, unleashing the value in data across the organization to help them connect better with colleagues and engage more effectively with customers.

GoCanvas is trusted by thousands of businesses throughout 70 countries, automating millions of workplace activities, making it one of the fastest-growing mobile platforms in the world. To learn more, visit www.gocanvas.com.

About Entrepreneur Of The Year®

Entrepreneur Of The Year®, founded by EY, is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for entrepreneurs, chosen from an independent panel of judges including entrepreneurs and prominent leaders from business, finance, and the local community. The program makes a difference through the way it encourages entrepreneurial activity among those with potential and recognizes the contribution of people who inspire others with their vision, leadership, and achievement. As the first and only truly global awards program of its kind, Entrepreneur Of The Year celebrates those who are building and leading successful, growing and dynamic businesses, recognizing them through regional, national and global awards programs in more than 145 cities and more than 60 countries. ey.com/eoy

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About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

business people discussing project

Gown Your Business with GoCanvas Partner Program

Join our Partner Program and gain instant access to our global network of thought leaders and industry experts enjoying shared collaboration and collective success.

Learn more
Forte Supply Chain Solutions Partner Video

Partner Snapshot: Forte Supply Chain Solutions

Explore how Forte Supply Chain Solutions partnered with GoCanvas, combining in-house industry expertise with our white-label mobile forms to revolutionize their processes.

Watch VIDEO
Closeup of a handshake.

GoCanvas Integrations: Streamline your Workflow

Integrate with over 1,000 software applications. Enhance your GoCanvas experience by syncing real-time data to one or all of your business tools.

View integrations

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Let’s Build A Plan Together

Collect, Sign and Share: Complete Documents Faster with GoCanvas + SignNow

Posted on by April Jones

Collect, Sign and Share: Complete Documents Faster with GoCanvas + SignNow

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Make GoCanvas PDF Reports Collaborative with SignNow

The GoCanvas platform is constantly being updated, as you can see in our most recent release notes, but the most exciting updates are coming from our integrations department.

Our Professional Services team has been hard at work creating time-saving backend connections and custom tools to help your business increase productivity.

The newest of these high impact tools is our new connection to SignNow. SignNow is an industry leader in E-sign technology. They allow companies to take typical static PDFs and add live text/signature fields to the document. These documents are then retrieved, stored and filed for easy access.

The addition of SignNow to your typical GoCanvas process will help any company to improve the speed of documentation and data analysis.

How It Works

You’re probably already familiar with the many ways that GoCanvas interacts and connects with Zapier, and this is just another amazing extension of that integration.

By connecting SignNow via Zapier, you’re able to leverage your existing GoCanvas PDFs and turn them into dynamic documents that your customers/staff can interact with via email or browser.

Below is an illustration of how the process works across GoCanvas and SignNow.

1) In GoCanvas, fill out a mobile form that requires a third-party signature

2) Indicate in GoCanvas who should receive the PDF and press “Submit”

3) An email is sent to the recipient, indicating that a document is available for them to review

4) Click “Open Document” and the GoCanvas PDF (now hosted by SignNow) indicates which “live fields” can be filled in by the recipient without the need for any downloads or login credentials

5) Once all required fields have been filled in, the recipient presses “Done” and both parties receive a final PDF version of the document instantly

The Benefits to Your Business

Collecting signatures is sometimes trickier then it sounds.

Whether you are dealing with a remote field staff or serving a wide territory of clients, getting the final signature on a document can sometimes take hours or days when distance separates you.  But now with GoCanvas and SignNow, you can send GoCanvas PDFs to anyone, regardless if they are a subscriber or not, and have them add their information to the document instantly!

This new type of GoCanvas workflow is perfect for companies completing:

  • Proposals
  • Invoices
  • Estimates
  • Purchases Orders
  • Quote Sheets
  • Daily reports

And this is just the beginning!

So if you’re interested in learning more or how you can get this setup on your GoCanvas account, send an email to our Professional Services team at IntegrationTeam@gocanvas.com.

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About GoCanvas

GoCanvas® is on a mission to simplify inspections and maximize compliance. Our intuitive platform takes care of the administrative tasks, freeing our customers to focus on what truly matters – safeguarding their people, protecting their equipment, and delivering exceptional quality to their customers. 

Since 2008, thousands of companies have chosen GoCanvas as their go-to partner for seamless field operations.

Check out even more resources

business people discussing project

Gown Your Business with GoCanvas Partner Program

Join our Partner Program and gain instant access to our global network of thought leaders and industry experts enjoying shared collaboration and collective success.

Learn more
Forte Supply Chain Solutions Partner Video

Partner Snapshot: Forte Supply Chain Solutions

Explore how Forte Supply Chain Solutions partnered with GoCanvas, combining in-house industry expertise with our white-label mobile forms to revolutionize their processes.

Watch VIDEO
Closeup of a handshake.

GoCanvas Integrations: Streamline your Workflow

Integrate with over 1,000 software applications. Enhance your GoCanvas experience by syncing real-time data to one or all of your business tools.

View integrations

Connect with an Expert Today.

We’ll help you put together the right solution for your needs.

Let’s Build A Plan Together