Live chat for tradespeople and home services
You cannot answer the phone with your hands in a boiler. Let customers leave the details you need, and reply when you get a minute.
The problem with being busy on site
The best time to win a job is when the customer first gets in touch, which is often when you are mid-job.
- Calls go to voicemail, and many people ring the next firm instead of leaving a message.
- Enquiries arrive with no address, postcode or description of the problem.
- Texts, WhatsApp and web forms pile up in different places.
- Quotes you said you would send get forgotten by the end of a long day.
How Orbis Chat fits around the job
Keep it simple: get the enquiry, get the details, follow up.
Offline form that creates tickets
Outside your hours, customers leave a message, and it becomes a ticket with their contact details.
Photos in chat
Customers can send a photo of a leak or a broken part, so you know what to bring.
WhatsApp and SMS
Connect your own accounts, so messages land in one inbox. See the WhatsApp and SMS inbox.
Installable web app
Add the agent app to your phone from the browser, with notifications. It is a web app, not a native app.
Tasks
Add a dated task for each quote or return visit you promise.
Worked example: a leak on a Saturday
A homeowner finds a leak under the sink and looks up a local plumber.
They message from the website
The pre-chat form asks for their name and email, then they describe the problem.
They send a photo
The plumber can see the kind of fitting involved, without a phone call.
The plumber replies between jobs
A notification arrives on the web app, and a shortcut gives the usual call-out information.
The visit goes on the list
They save the customer as a contact and add a task for the visit.
This is an illustration of how the features fit together, not a real customer story.
Frequently asked questions
I am a sole trader. Is this overkill?
It can be as simple as you like. The free plan works for one person, and you can simply ignore the features you do not need.
Does it take phone calls?
No. Orbis Chat does not include phone or video calls. It handles web chat and the messaging channels you connect.
I do not have a website. Can I still use it?
Yes. A chat page gives you a hosted link for chat that you can share on your van, social profiles or invoices.
