Overview
The Routes Method and the Events Method help you get snow work to your crews or subs when a storm hits. They let you either tie properties to each snow route ahead of time or schedule visits in bulk for each storm so you can match how much the office controls the storm to how your crews actually work.
The method you choose decides how you set up your snow routes before the season and what your office does on storm day, so decide before you build your routes.
Things to know
Both methods use snow routes, and both need those routes in the Snow division.
You don't have to pick just one. Many companies use both, choosing a method for each type of service.
Either method works with any billing arrangement: seasonal, per occurrence, or time and materials (T&M).
With the Routes Method, the properties on a route control what crews or subs can work. List properties to keep them to that list, or leave the list empty and turn on Show New Ticket Button in Aspire Mobile to let them pull any property.
Subcontractors can pull work only for services that have an auto expense set up for their company. Set up auto expenses before the season, or subs won't see the work on their route.
If you use both, never use them on the same route, or the office and the crew can both create tickets for the same properties.
Requirements
To manage routes, users must have the Edit Route and Full Access to Schedule Board permissions.
To schedule snow work with the Events Method, users must have the Schedule an Event permission. It's in the user role, under Work Tickets.
How it works
Both methods start the same way. We recommend building a separate set of routes for snow season and grouping them under a snow-only manager, such as "Snow Manager North," so your snow routes have their own view on the Schedule Board. The difference is what you attach to those routes, and when.
Routes Method
Before the season → you add properties to each snow route, in the order the crew should visit them, and add the services that crew can perform, such as plowing but not shoveling. To let a crew pull any property instead, leave the property list empty and turn on Show New Ticket Button in Aspire Mobile.
When a storm hits → there's nothing to schedule. The work is already tied to the route.
In the field → the crew leader or sub opens the Unscheduled tab in Aspire Mobile, selects a property on their route, and pulls the work. For As Needed services, they pull a new ticket. For seasonal (Fixed Payment) services, they pull a visit on the season's ticket. Only the services added to the route are available, and only for contracts within their start and end dates. Subs also need an auto expense for their company on each service. Without one, the route's property list and Show New Ticket Button in Aspire Mobile don't give them access.
On the Schedule Board → when a crew leader or sub pulls a ticket, Aspire creates the work ticket and adds it to their route on the Schedule Board.
Note: The properties on a route only control what crews or subs can pull. The office can still schedule work for any property, and the route's properties don't become default routes for the Events Method.
Important: When you add services to a route, crews or subs see only those services, including indirect services. Add indirect services, such as shop time, to the route too, or crews won't be able to clock in to them.
Events Method
Before the season → on the Schedule an Event screen, you set a default route and visit order (sequence number) for each snow service you'll schedule. Select a ticket to set it, or select several and use the Set Route and Sequence # bulk action. Default routes stay in place from event to event until you change them.
When a storm hits → a scheduler filters the Schedule an Event screen to the services needed, such as everything for 0–2.99 inches, and creates the visits in bulk. Aspire uses each service's default route and sequence number. Tickets without a default route go to the route you pick in the If needed field.
In the field → the crew leader or sub sees the scheduled tickets in Aspire Mobile alongside their other work. The visits also show on the Schedule Board.
The following diagram compares when the work happens in each method and shows where the two meet.
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Side by side
Routes Method | Events Method | |
|---|---|---|
What you set up | Properties and services on each snow route | A default route and sequence number on each snow service you'll schedule |
Office work on storm day | None | Schedule visits in bulk from the Schedule an Event screen |
What crews or subs see | Their route's properties, and they create the ticket | Scheduled tickets, ready to start |
Who controls timing | The crew works the route as conditions allow | The office decides which properties get visits, and when |
Shows on the Schedule Board | When a crew or sub pulls a ticket, on their route | Yes, as soon as visits are scheduled |
Which method fits your business
If this sounds like you | Consider |
|---|---|
The same crew clears the same properties every storm, and you want them rolling without waiting on the office. | Routes Method |
You need tight control over when and how often each property gets a visit, such as salting with repeat trips. | Events Method |
You want the office to see every planned visit on the Schedule Board before crews head out. | Events Method |
Some crews know their routes well and others don't. | Both: the Routes Method for crews who know their routes, the Events Method for the rest |
Your services need different levels of control, such as plowing that runs on its own and salting that needs scheduling. | Both: the Routes Method for plowing, the Events Method for salting |
Workflow / lifecycle
Before the season — Build snow routes in the Snow division. For the Routes Method, add properties and services to each route, including any indirect services crews need. For the Events Method, set default routes and sequence numbers on the Schedule an Event screen.
When a storm is forecast — For the Events Method, the scheduler creates visits in bulk. For the Routes Method, there's nothing to do.
During the storm — Crews or subs report time and materials in Aspire Mobile, either on tickets they create from their route or on scheduled tickets.
After the storm — The office reviews snow work tickets in Pending Approval, the same way for both methods.