Set Up for Events Method of Snow Management

When using the Events Method for snow management, the Crew Mobile App displays work tickets scheduled en masse alongside other scheduled work tickets.  Crew leaders allocate time to these tickets as described in the article Mobile Time in the Field.  These tickets also appear on the Scheduling Board screen.

The following steps summarize the preparation required for snow season when using the Events Method. Detailed instructions are provided in the sections below.

1. Set up generic snow managers and scheduling boards (see Setting up Generic Snow Managers / Schedule Boards).
2. Establish routes specifically for snow.
3. Place routes in the Snow division to enable properties to appear in  snow mode.
4. Configure properties and services if using the Routes Method or add  internal services required for Snow mode.
5. Establish snow contracts.
6. Preconfigure As Needed services to define routes and their sequence of visits.
7. At the start of the snow season, enable  snow mode to allow crew members to log into the  Crew Mobile App in Snow mode.
8. When a snow event is anticipated, mass schedule work tickets as explained in the  Scheduling Snow Events section.

To manage snow events effectively using the  Events Method, set up routes on the  Route screen. If your company also uses the  Routes Method, configure properties and services on the respective tabs of the Route screen. Add internal services needed for  snow mode. Important: Routes must belong to the Snow division to appear in the Crew Mobile App in Snow mode

Establish Snow Contracts

Contracts must be established as described in the section, Snow Contract Approaches.

Central to the Events Method is the rapid mass-scheduling of predicted snow events throughout the snow season as described in the section, Scheduling Snow Events (Events Method Example). Preconfigure routes and visit sequences for snow services at the start of the snow season. This simplifies the mass-scheduling process during snow events. This pre-configuration is performed from the Schedule an Event screen.

Based on the diagram below, we will demonstrate pre-configuration for 1-3” snow services that have been contracted.  The same steps can be used to configure 4-8” snow services or other snow services the company might define.  

For this example, we will say there is one route for snow plowing and another route (with associated crew) for snow shoveling of properties. The company has established several seasonal snow contracts. By using filters and grouping on the Schedule an Event screen list opportunity services defined in the existing open contracts, as shown below.   

1. On the Scheduling Board screen, select manager, then Snow Manager North. 2. Select Schedule an Event from the More drop-down menu to display the Schedule an Event screen.
3. On the Schedule an Event screen click the Filtericon and add a new Service and set the Value to 1-3, click Apply. This will configure the list to only display services for 1-3 inches of snow.
4. On the Schedule an Event screen click the Displayicon and add a new display field of type Service, click Apply.  This will set results on the search list to be grouped by service.

Set the Route for the Services

To set the default route for snow plowing, place a checkmark for each of the snow plowing services that you want to place on the snowplow route, and from the Bulk Actions drop-down select Set Route and Sequence # to display the Assign Default Routes screen.

On the Assign Default Routes screen select the appropriate route from the drop-down list.  Leave the Sequence # blank because the sequence number needs to be different for each of the services to specify their order and click Save.  

The Schedule an Event screen will update to reflect the route assigned to the selected services. The route for the Snow Clearing Walkways services could be set in the same manner, though a different route would be selected to reflect the shoveling crew.

Set the Sequence # for the Services

To ensure accurate routing, assign sequence numbers to services in the desired order. However, avoid using single-digit numbers (1–9), as these can cause sorting issues when routing. For example, a sequence starting with 1 will be grouped as 1, 10, 11, 12, 2, 20, 21, and so on. Instead, start numbering at 10 or higher to ensure proper order.

Setting the Sequence Number for services is done one property at a time. Click directly on one of the service lines to display the Assign Default Routes screen.

Enter a value for the Sequence # field indicating the order in which the property should be visited relative to the other services on the same route and click Save. The default sequence number will be updated on the Schedule an Event screen.  Repeat this to set the sequence number for the remainder of the service lines for that route.

The above example demonstrated establishing the routes and sequence numbers for the 1-3” services.  The same steps would be used to set the appropriate routes and sequence numbers for other snow range services as well.

Enable Snow Mode

Enable snow mode as described above.