Service Fusion provides three primary tools for managing estimates: the Estimate Dashboard, the Calendar, and the Dispatch Grid. Each tool supports a different stage of the estimate lifecycle and serves a distinct purpose.
- The Estimate Dashboard focuses on sales pipeline visibility, automated lifecycle tracking, and conversion reporting
- The Calendar supports scheduling and reviewing estimate appointments and site visits
- The Dispatch Grid coordinates real‑time technician or estimator assignments for on‑site visits that often occur before an estimate is provided
Selecting the right tool depends on whether the user is managing the sales pipeline, planning estimate appointments, or coordinating technicians in real time.
At‑a‑Glance Comparison:
| Capability | Estimate Dashboard | Calendar | Dispatch Grid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Sales pipeline and lifecycle tracking | Site visit scheduling and visibility | Real‑time technician dispatch |
| Required fields to display | Status | On-Site Visit date | Technician and specific on-site visit date and time |
| Lifecycle automation | Yes | No | No |
| Conversion rate reporting | Yes | No | No |
| Arrival windows displayed | No | No | Yes |
| Right‑click estimate creation | No | Yes | Yes |
| Automatic refresh | No | No | Yes - every 90 seconds |
Estimate Dashboard:
What It Does Best
The Estimate Dashboard centralizes all estimates by lifecycle status, providing sales‑focused visibility into pipeline health and conversion performance.
Best Suited for
- Sales‑oriented users monitoring the estimate progression
- Opportunity Owners reviewing assigned estimates
- Administrators reporting on conversion performance
Advantages
- Organizes estimates by lifecycle stages such as:
- Estimate Requested
- Estimate Provided
- Estimate Accepted
- Estimate Won
- Includes My Estimates for Opportunity Owner‑specific visibility
- Tracks automated status transitions throughout the estimate lifecycle
Limitations
- Does not visually represent time‑of‑day scheduling
- Does not display technician availability
- Organized by Requested On date, not On-Site Visit date
Calendar:
What It Does Best
The Calendar provides On-Site Visit date‑based visibility into estimate appointments and site visits, supporting planning and schedule awareness.
Best Suited for
- Scheduling estimate on-site visits before an estimate is sent
- Reviewing upcoming estimate appointments
- Geographic planning using dispatch zones
Advantages
- Displays estimate appointments alongside other scheduled items
- Useful for scheduling on‑site visits during the Estimate Requested stage
- Supports visibility by:
- Technician assignment
- Dispatch zones (city or zip code)
- Requires only an On-Site Visit date for an estimate to appear
- Supports right‑click creation of new estimates with date auto‑populated
Limitations
- Does not reflect estimate lifecycle status with the same granularity as the Estimate Dashboard
- Does not display Opportunity Owner information
Dispatch Grid:
What It Does Best
The Dispatch Grid coordinates technician or estimator assignments for estimate on-site visits in real time.
Best Suited for
- Dispatchers scheduling estimators or technicians for on‑site quote visits
- Coordinating same‑day estimate appointments
- Adjusting estimate visit timing based on technician availability
Advantages
- Displays arrival time windows for pre‑estimate visits
- Supports right‑click creation of estimates with date, time, and technician auto‑populated
- Includes the Bullpen for drag and drop scheduling:
- Unassigned estimate visits
- Unscheduled estimate visits
- Supports crew filters to isolate dedicated estimators from field technicians
Limitations
- Requires both a technician assignment and a specific date and time to display
- Does not track estimate lifecycle status or sales pipeline progression
- Less useful for reviewing completed estimates or customer follow‑up
Choosing the Right Tool:
Many users interact with all three tools during the estimate lifecycle. A common workflow includes:
- Using the Dispatch Grid or Calendar to schedule on‑site estimate visits
- Returning to the Estimate Dashboard to manage the estimate document and customer communications
- Sending the estimate to the customer, which triggers the Estimate Provided automation
- Reviewing pipeline performance and conversion rates from the company dashboard
Each tool complements the others rather than replacing them.
Related Features and Dependencies:
-
Estimate Statuses
- Configure lifecycle behavior and custom statuses
-
Communication Templates
- Must include the Estimate Accept Online link tag to trigger Estimate Accepted automation
-
Opportunity Owner
- Defaults to the estimate creator and becomes the Agent Rep upon job conversion
-
Workforce Management
- Manages technician records used by the Calendar and Dispatch Grid
-
Dispatch Zones
- Enable geographic filtering on the Calendar