Available on: Go Paperless, Customer Journey and Automation (UK); All-in-One, Customer Journey and Field Automation (US). Custom deflection rules need the Sales+ add-on. Variations is currently in closed beta for selected customers.
Variations let technicians quote for extra work they find on site, while they are still with the customer. Instead of noting a problem and leaving the office to chase it later, the technician can build a priced quote from the mobile app, present it, and capture the customer's signature there and then. Every variation is also recorded as an opportunity, so extra work is tracked, reported on, and never lost.
What a variation is
A variation is a quote for extra work that needs to happen to complete the job the technician is already on. It sits alongside Opportunities and Proposals as part of Sales in Commusoft.
Raised on site: technicians add variations from the job in the mobile app, against a job asset or the property.
Guided by templates: the office sets up variation templates, so technicians use the right labor rates, approved suppliers, and pricing every time.
Tracked as opportunities: every variation creates a variation opportunity, tagged in your opportunity pipeline, whether it is accepted, sent, or passed to the office.
More than one per job: technicians can raise as many variations as they need on the same job.
A variation is different from a defect or recommendation. Defects and recommendations cover unrelated faults or possible future work the customer might want later. See Understanding Defects & recommendations.
Why variations matter
Win more work on the spot: the customer sees the description, photos, and total price, and can sign and pay any deposit before the technician leaves.
Consistent, protected pricing: templates control labor options, suppliers, markup, and which prices technicians can see.
Office control where it counts: work that needs parts, a warranty check, or a review can be passed to the office instead of being quoted instantly.
Clear revenue tracking: because each variation is an opportunity, you can report on extra work alongside the rest of your sales.
Outcomes on site
Once the technician presents a variation, it ends in one of these outcomes.
Outcome | What it means |
Accepted on site | The customer signs, and pays any deposit due. The work is added to the current job and the technician can carry it out straight away. |
Deflected to the office | The customer isn't ready to sign, the quote is sent by email or SMS, parts are required, or a custom rule applies. The office is notified and follows up on the variation opportunity. |
Rejected | The customer declines the extra work later, through the proposal portal or office follow-up. |
When a customer accepts later, Commusoft adds the work to the original job if it is still open, or creates a new job if the original is already completed.
Where to go next
We have broken down the variations articles by topic.
Setting up variations
Using variations
Custom fields
Other Sales subjects
Learn step by step
Common questions
What is the difference between a variation and a defect or recommendation?
What is the difference between a variation and a defect or recommendation?
The difference between a variation and a defect or recommendation is whether the work is needed to complete the current job. A variation is for work that must happen to finish the job the technician is on. A defect or recommendation is for an unrelated fault, or possible future work the customer might want later.
Why are variations created as opportunities?
Why are variations created as opportunities?
Variations are created as opportunities so you can track extra revenue, analyze sales performance, and keep an accurate record. An opportunity is created even when the customer accepts on site and the work is completed straight away.
Can a technician raise more than one variation on a job?
Can a technician raise more than one variation on a job?
Yes, a technician can raise more than one variation on a job. Each variation sits alongside the others on the same job.
Why can't my technicians add a variation to a job?
Why can't my technicians add a variation to a job?
Technicians can't add a variation to a job when no variation template is linked to that job's job description. Your office needs to assign a variation template to it. See Configuring variation templates for more.
Do I need Sales+ to use variations?
Do I need Sales+ to use variations?
You don't need Sales+ to use variations, as they are included on the plans listed above. Sales+ adds custom deflection rules, which use custom fields to send complex or high-value work to the office instead of letting technicians quote it on site.