The price of inspection software is only one part of its cost. A useful comparison also covers the time your team spends maintaining equipment records, planning work, completing inspections, issuing certificates and responding to customer requests.
Start with your current workflow
List the steps between accepting a job and sending the final report. Include office administration, field work and any correction or follow-up. Note which systems hold the customer, site, equipment and certificate information, and how often staff must copy it between them.
An administration time calculator can help you estimate the time involved. Use your own volumes and rates. It is an estimate, not a promised saving.
Compare the whole written quote
Ask each supplier what the quote includes:
- Mobile and offline inspection work
- Equipment, site and customer records
- Report templates and certificate generation
- Scheduling, reminders and recurring work
- Customer access to records
- Data migration, training and support
- Any limits on users, assets, sites or certificates
- The subscription term and how to export your data
CertFlow uses a firm-specific written quote. Its current inclusions and quote factors are set out on the pricing page.
Test the workflow before deciding
Compare products using a real equipment type and a typical report. Check how an engineer finds the job, records an outcome, adds photographs and completes the certificate. Then check how office staff find the report and how the customer receives it.
You can try a sample thorough examination in CertFlow, or book a 30-minute demonstration using your workflow. For the lifting-specific product details, see LOLER inspection software.
Keep statutory duties separate from software features
Software can organise records and support a consistent process. It does not perform a competent person’s examination or decide whether equipment is safe. The HSE’s LOLER guidance explains thorough examination, report and record-keeping duties.
The best value calculation is therefore specific to your firm: your current administration time, the work you expect the software to handle, the support you need and the written price you are offered.