From Complexity to Efficiency: How Hearth & Home Specialties Streamlined Operations and Boosted Productivity with FieldPulse

Customer Spotlight: Hearth & Home Specialties

Key Stats:

• Industry: Specialty Trade Contractors

• Company Size: 51+ Employees

• Location: Nevada, US

• Field Service Needs: Inventory Management, Serialized Inventory, Customer Management, Scheduling and Dispatching, Job or Work Order Management, Asset Management, and Maintenance Agreements

Introduction

Hearth & Home Specialties, based in Nevada, operates as a specialty trade contractor, providing installation and maintenance services for residential and commercial construction projects. As their business expanded, managing operations across multiple divisions became increasingly complex. Their existing workflow relied on three disconnected systems:

• QuickBooks Desktop for financial management.
• An outdated database for job tracking.
• A separate scheduling program for dispatching and workforce management.

These tools were not integrated, leading to duplicated tasks, inefficiencies, and delays in customer setup and job completion. Without a centralized system, technicians and office staff often spent excessive time manually entering data, creating inconsistencies and making it difficult to scale operations effectively.

Hearth & Home recognized that to keep up with demand and maintain service quality, they needed a comprehensive field service management (FSM) solution.

After evaluating several FSM platforms, including Winward, they found that many options were either too rigid, lacked customization, or did not align with their operational needs. After careful consideration, FieldPulse emerged as the best fit due to its centralized platform, seamless QuickBooks Desktop integration, customizable workflows, and scalable features.

This case study explores the challenges Hearth & Home faced, why they selected FieldPulse, and how the platform has helped them achieve significant improvements in efficiency and profitability.

“With our old software, we were duplicating the same step in multiple programs to complete the same task. With FieldPulse, we no longer have to do that, which has significantly decreased the time it takes to set up a customer and manage a job.”

— Scott Weber, General Manager, Hearth & Home Specialties

The Challenge

Disorganized Workflows and Time-Consuming Processes

Hearth & Home Specialties faced significant inefficiencies due to their fragmented system of multiple software tools. Each system operated independently, which led to:

• Manual Data Entry & Duplication: The same customer information had to be entered across multiple platforms, wasting time and increasing the risk of errors.

• Limited Operational Visibility: Scheduling, inventory, and job tracking data were spread across different platforms, making it difficult to access critical information quickly.

• Slow Scheduling & Job Management: With 38 trucks servicing multiple divisions, coordinating field operations was inefficient and time-consuming.

• Lack of Inventory Tracking: The company struggled to track parts, serial numbers, and job-related materials, often resulting in delays and additional costs.

Reporting Limitations & Missed Business Insights

Another major challenge was the lack of robust reporting tools. Hearth & Home Specialties needed real-time insights to:

• Track job progress and technician performance

• Monitor inventory levels and prevent shortages

• Analyze financial trends and profitability metrics

However, their existing system required manual compilation of spreadsheets and cross-referencing invoices, which was time-consuming and prone to errors.

To keep up with demand and maintain service quality, they needed a fully integrated FSM solution that could streamline operations, reduce administrative workload, and enhance job tracking capabilities.

The Search for a New FSM Solution

When Hearth & Home Specialties began their search for a new field service management platform , they aimed to streamline operations by consolidating multiple tools into one cohesive system. Their primary goal was to improve efficiency, reduce administrative workload, and enhance job tracking capabilities.

During this process, the company identified several key criteria that their ideal FSM solution needed to meet:

1. Customer Communication and CRM

Hearth & Home needed a centralized system to manage customer interactions, track installation history, and maintain detailed records for builder contracts. Their existing method involved multiple disconnected programs, causing delays and miscommunication between office staff and field technicians.

2. Scheduling and Dispatching

With 38 trucks servicing multiple divisions, a robust scheduling system was necessary to coordinate field operations efficiently. Their old scheduling tool did not integrate with job management, forcing staff to manually update multiple systems to track technician assignments.

3. Job Management

Managing multiple projects, from bidding and invoicing to product orders and crew scheduling, required a system capable of handling complex workflows. The new FSM solution had to automate job assignments, update statuses in real-time, and streamline approvals.

4. Inventory and Asset Tracking

Hearth & Home needed a way to log part numbers, serial numbers, and track inventory usage on installations. Additionally, attaching handwritten job measure tickets to specific locations was crucial for documentation and compliance.

5. Ease of Use and QuickBooks Integration

Because QuickBooks Desktop was already a key part of their financial processes, the new FSM platform needed seamless integration to ensure efficient invoicing, payment tracking, and financial reporting.

6. Customizability and Scalability

The platform had to be adaptable to Hearth & Home’s unique workflows and support future growth as they expanded their workforce and service offerings. Flexibility in configuring job workflows and customer record management was a major factor in their decision-making.

After evaluating various options, FieldPulse stood out as the best fit, offering an intuitive, all-in-one platform that eliminated inefficiencies and improved job visibility.

Why FieldPulse Stood Out

FieldPulse impressed Hearth & Home Specialties with its ability to centralize operations, eliminate inefficiencies, and provide scalable solutions. The platform provided several advantages over competitors, making it the obvious choice for their business:

1. All-in-One Functionality

FieldPulse consolidated customer communication, scheduling, job management, and CRM into a single system, eliminating inefficiencies caused by previous disconnected tools.

2. Seamless QuickBooks Desktop Integration

Unlike other FSM platforms, FieldPulse offered a smooth, automated sync with QuickBooks Desktop, ensuring financial workflows remained accurate and efficient.

3. User-Friendly Interface

The intuitive design allowed both office staff and technicians to quickly adopt the platform, making job scheduling, asset tracking, and customer management easier.

4. Customizable Workflows

FieldPulse provided custom job templates, automated scheduling, and workflow configurations, allowing Hearth & Home to tailor processes to their unique business structure.

5. Enhanced Inventory and Asset Management

With serialized inventory tracking, barcode scanning, and custom asset tagging, Hearth & Home gained better control over parts management and installation history tracking.

6. Dedicated Customer Support

The FieldPulse team worked closely with Hearth & Home throughout the implementation process, ensuring a seamless transition with ongoing support and training.

FieldPulse not only met Hearth & Home’s expectations but exceeded them by offering a flexible, scalable solution that streamlined daily operations.

Business Impact

Since implementing FieldPulse, Hearth & Home Specialties has experienced significant improvements in their operations, allowing them to operate more efficiently and profitably.

1. Time Savings

• The company saved over 13 hours per week by eliminating duplicated tasks and manual data entry.

• Automated scheduling and real-time job tracking improved workforce coordination and dispatching.

2. Revenue Growth

• Hearth & Home experienced a 16–30% increase in revenue due to optimized job management and better resource allocation.

• The ability to track inventory and invoice faster allowed for more streamlined billing cycles.

3. Increased Productivity

• Automated workflows and scheduling updates allowed the team to operate more effectively across multiple divisions.

• Improved reporting and analytics tools helped leadership make data-driven decisions.

Ongoing Support & Future Expansion

Hearth & Home continues to benefit from FieldPulse’s 24/7 customer support, with regular feature updates and workflow optimizations. Looking ahead, the company is exploring additional FieldPulse tools, including:

• Advanced Inventory Management – Barcoding, low-stock alerts, and materials tracking.

• Custom Reporting & Analytics – Enhanced data visualization to optimize business decision-making.

• Online Booking Portal – Allowing customers to schedule appointments through an online system, reducing administrative workload.

Conclusion

Hearth & Home Specialties’ success with FieldPulse highlights the long-term value of a fully integrated FSM solution. By transitioning from fragmented systems to an all-in-one platform, the company has streamlined operations, eliminated inefficiencies, and significantly improved productivity.

Beyond the immediate benefits of time savings and revenue growth, FieldPulse provides the scalability needed to support future expansion. As Hearth & Home continues to grow, the platform’s customizable workflows and modular features ensure it will evolve with their business, adapting to new operational needs and industry trends.

Additionally, FieldPulse’s commitment to continuous innovation means Hearth & Home will always have access to the latest features, automation tools, and integrations—helping them stay ahead of competitors and maintain the highest level of service for their customers.

By eliminating outdated processes and providing a scalable, future-proof solution, FieldPulse has become an essential partner in Hearth & Home’s ongoing success. For field service businesses seeking to optimize efficiency, enhance customer service, and drive long-term profitability, FieldPulse is the solution that delivers real, measurable impact.

About FieldPulse

FieldPulse is an all-in-one field service management solution designed to help businesses streamline operations, enhance productivity, and improve customer service.

Key Features:

• Scheduling and Dispatching

• Estimate and Invoice Management

• CRM and Customer Communication

• Dashboards and Reporting

• Custom Workflows and Automation

• Inventory and PriceBook Integration

FieldPulse’s powerful all-in-one platform, user-friendly design, and dedicated support make it an essential partner for businesses like Hearth & Home Specialties. By streamlining operations, enhancing team efficiency, and providing real-time insights, FieldPulse empowers companies to reduce administrative burdens, drive revenue growth, and deliver exceptional service to their customers.