How to send a Network Request

Sending a Network Request  |  Monitoring a Network Request  |  Sending Network Request-related messages  |  Managing multiple Network Requests  |  Additional resources

1. From the Online Dashboard, open the job card that will require some work to be subcontracted. (In the example used throughout this section, a general contractor finishing a basement needs an electrician to do the wiring.)
2. Click Share.

The 'Send Network Request' window opens. By default, job and contact details carry over to the Network Request from the job card. However, you can modify the description, change contact or address details, and add extra notes on the Network Request without impacting the actual job card.

Note that in this example, ServiceM8 has auto-generated reference number 25-1. This will become the PO Number of the job in your subcontractor's account when they accept the Network Request. You can change this number if needed, but it must be unique for each Network Request that you send.

3. Add the subcontractor's email address.
   • If the email address matches a ServiceM8 account in the ServiceM8 Network, the Request will arrive in their ServiceM8 Inbox ready to be converted to a job.
   • If the email address is not in the ServiceM8 Network, the Request will be sent as a link that can be opened in any modern web browser. The subcontractor will be able to view details and complete job requirements from the link.
4. Using the dropdown, select Work Order or Quote, depending upon the type of Network Request you are sending.
5. Click Add Job Requirement.

Job requirements tell the subcontractor exactly what you need to be done. The subcontractor won't be able to mark the job as complete until they have marked all the job requirements as completed.

There are four types of job requirements you can use:

• To Do: Describe a task or procedure that the subcontractor must do. The contractor taps the requirement to mark it as complete.
• Photo: Request that the subcontractor provide a specific photo (such as 'before' and 'after' photos, or a photo of an appliance serial number).
• Document: Request that the subcontractor supply a document (such as an invoice for the work, or a copy of their professional licence).
  • Note that you can mark document requirements as "Document has expiry date". If selected, ServiceM8 allows the subcontractor to re-use that same document for future Network Requests until its expiry date. This is useful for documents that are not job-specific, such as credentials or insurance certificates.
• Form: Request that the subcontractor complete one of your existing Forms. Use this powerful feature for collecting job or site-specific details, complex checklists, safety compliance documents, and much more. Shared forms will only be available to the contractor within the specific job that was created from your Network Request. To learn more, see the Forms add-on. 

6. Click the desired job requirement type, add the details, and click Add Requirement.
   • A Network Request can have as many job requirements as needed. Repeat steps 5 and 6 until you have all requirements listed.
   • Note that job requirements do not save unless the Network Request is actually sent.

7. By default, the Billing Details tab will populate with your business information i.e. by default, the subcontractor would invoice your business, and you would cover for this cost in some way when you invoice your client separately. 

8. When you are satisfied with your Network Request, click Send.