Setting up the Planner - Part 1

Building Your Planner for Maximum Efficiency

Service Writer 1

Booking Jobs Using the ProPlan Control Planner

Service Writer 1: Booking Jobs Using the ProPlan Control Planner

Step 1: Personalise Your Planner

  • Begin by entering your business details.

  • Don’t forget to add today’s date in the bottom left corner.

  • Enter extra sheets ahead of time—future bookings are your friend.

Step 2: Add Your Team

  • Write your technicians’ names in the spaces provided.

  • (If you’ve watched the previous videos, you’ll already know how to fill out a job control card.)

Step 3: Book the Job

  • Transfer job details from the control card to the planner.

  • Select a technician based on their experience and availability.

  • Fill in the customer’s name, address (if needed), phone number, model, and a short description of the job.

Step 4: Set Timing

  • Record the expected arrival and completion times.

  • If the job doesn’t need to be finished that day, just write “ASAP.”

Step 5: Add the Job Number

  • Enter the computer-generated job number in the column provided.

  • If you don’t have the number yet, put a tick to show the job card is open.

Step 6: Estimate Time Needed

  • Enter your time estimate in half-hour blocks, rounding up.

  • Do this right when you enter the job—this gives you (and everyone else) a quick snapshot of each tech’s workload.

Step 7: Use the Stepped Format

  • Fill out jobs in a stepped layout as shown in the video.

  • This method instantly shows you available technician time at a glance.

  • Note: This isn’t the job’s arrival time—prioritising jobs is up next.

Step 8: Reference and File

  • Before you file those job cards, write the planner’s date and line reference onto each job card.

  • Now, file the cards in the “Work In Progress” section of your quick-find cabinet.

What’s Next?

  • That’s it for booking jobs! In our next video, we’ll walk you through the end-of-day rollover and how to prioritise tomorrow’s work.