LOCATION
South Florida
CONTRACTOR TYPE
Specialty
TRADE
Plumbing
NO. OF EMPLOYEES
100 field | 15 office
INTEGRATIONS
Based in Miami, FL, Southwest Plumbing works on large residential and commercial plumbing projects across South Florida, from Dade and Broward up to West Palm Beach.
With more than 100 employees spread across multiple active jobsites, keeping track of labor in the field was becoming harder as the company continued to grow.
THE CHALLENGE
Limited Visibility Across Jobsites
Project Managers are often responsible for four to five projects, sometimes spread across multiple counties. This made it difficult for PMs to get a reliable snapshot of how work was progressing, who was present, and whether crews were properly staffed.
Tracking absenteeism was another challenge. If a worker didn’t show up for their shift, PMs needed to know right away so they could fill the gap. They often relied on calls to foremen. Sometimes they would answer, other times they were busy working.
Approving time was also a manual process taking hours to complete. At the end of the week, PMs had to collect timesheets from multiple jobsites, review paper timecards, and verify that hours were assigned to the correct cost codes. The manual process worked, but it took time, left room for errors and relied on memory.
THE SOLUTION
Managing All Jobsites From Anywhere
Today, Project Manager Ozzie Ortiz uses SmartBarrel to keep tabs on multiple jobsites from any place. As Ortiz puts it:
“SmartBarrel allows me to be in multiple places at once.”
Each morning, Ortiz logs into SmartBarrel and reviews every active project. Within seconds, he can see who has arrived on-site and which crews have clocked in, getting a complete view of each project from the office.
Ortiz also relies on SmartBarrel’s Absentee Module. Prior to the start of a project he sets up crews and assigns shifts. If a worker hasn’t arrived at a job or is tardy, SmartBarrel flags it immediately. This allows Ortiz to address absenteeism early in the morning instead of discovering it hours later. If someone is missing, he can call the worker or quickly bring in a replacement to avoid project delays. Once staffing is sorted out, Ortiz can decide which jobsite actually needs his attention.
SmartBarrel’s dashboard also provides Ortiz with deeper job-level analysis he uses to measure progress.
“SmartBarrel helps me see project phases and labor hours. Whether we’re under or over, or how we’re trending for certain cost codes.”
Time approvals have become much simpler as well. Instead of chasing timesheets at the end of the week, Ortiz reviews and approves time daily. As workers check in, SmartBarrel automatically builds daily timesheets. In minutes, he can review each worker’s punch in and out, verify their picture, and click approve.
Implementing tech on job sites is always a risk, but SmartBarrel’s adoption was fast and effortless. Workers clock in and out at the SmartBarrel device in seconds and receive an instant text message confirmation. This eliminates any worker disputes and provides accurate data for payroll. Occasionally, if something looks off, they notify Ortiz right away so it can be corrected immediately rather than after payroll is already run.
THE RESULTS
Accurate Time, Faster Decisions, and Real Accountability
SmartBarrel has changed how Southwest Plumbing manages its most expensive asset: labor.
Accurate Data at the Source
Workers clock in using facial verification and receive an instant SMS confirmation, giving both workers and the payroll team access to the same accurate data.
Better Visibility Across Jobsites
Ortiz can manage dozens of workers across multiple counties without needing to physically visit every site.
Bar-None Support
When questions arise, the SmartBarrel team responds quickly.
“SmartBarrel’s technical staff is absolutely bar none. I’ve had questions from the office and the field, and they respond immediately.”
The SmartBarrel Advantage
Why Project Managers Choose “The Barrel” Over the Clipboard
Absenteeism Made Easy
Setting up crews before a job begins helps manage absenteeism down the road. PMs get notified if a job is missing workers as soon as a shift begins.
Total Timesheet Accuracy
Every punch uses facial verification and real-time punches so PMs never have to second-guess the hours they are approving and can confidently push that data to payroll.
Built to Scale
PMs can confidently take on more projects without increasing administrative work or unnecessary travel.
