If you run a roofing contractor company or enterprise that involves a home services company, your phones and tablets are the backbone of daily work. They guide techs to jobs, collect signatures, update invoices, and keep dispatch in sync. When that gear is mismanaged, or costs creep up, productivity drops and margins suffer.

Here are nine steps to refresh your approach to wireless devices.

1) Stop Cost Creep

Most companies pay for lines they don’t use, features they don’t need, or plans that no longer fit.

Start with these steps:

• List every active line and match it to a person, truck, or specific use case. If you can’t match it, flag it.
• Scan for add-ons like insurance, international packages, or hotspot boosts you never use.
• Compare plan levels against real usage and adjust where possible. For any premium-rate plans, make sure you’re actually using the premium features.
• Look for credits that expired months ago and request reinstatement. Sometimes this may require upgrading those lines.
• Shop around and check for non-advertised plans or limited promotions. Call each provider and ask for a full list of options your business qualifies for.

Do the math before you switch. A plan with a tempting discount can hide fees or a contract lock-in. Read the fine print, verify the true monthly cost over the entire term of the commitment, and document any promised credits.

Make it a habit: Repeat this mini review every quarter. It takes an hour or two and can save thousands a year.

2) Put MDM to Work

Mobil Device Management (MDM) gives you a “remote control” for every phone and tablet in the field. It keeps devices secure, updated, and set up the same way.

What you can do with MDM:

• Push and update apps without chasing techs
• Enforce passcodes and security policies
• Restrict app installs, block risky websites, or turn off features you don’t want used
• Lock or wipe a lost device in minutes
• Apply the same settings to a group (like all installers) with just a few clicks.

MDM used to be a big-company thing. Not anymore. Today’s tools are affordable and pay off fast in saved time and fewer headaches. Assign a point person to learn the system well; they’ll prevent little issues from becoming big ones.

3) Plan for Breaks

Field work is tough on gear. Drops happen. Screens crack. Rain shows up.

Cover both sides through device protection plans that help with unexpected failures and cut surprise costs. Repair plans or a trusted repair partner get you back in service faster when damage occurs.

Choose support that answers quickly and actually solves problems. Every minute a tech waits on hold is a job delayed and a customer waiting.

4) Control Spends

One plan review isn’t enough. Make expense control a steady procedure through an ongoing expense management process. Small, regular adjustments keep your spend lean without big, messy resets later.

Build a basic rhythm:

• Monthly bill check: scan for new fees, overages, or plan changes.
• Line-by-line reporting: track usage by tech or truck to spot waste or unusual spikes.
• Simple tags or cost codes: assign devices to teams or locations to see where costs live.

5) “Job-Ready” Devices

“Staging and kitting” means devices arrive already set up for the work your team does. Here’s what to make sure to include:

• Preloaded apps and correct settings
• Groups by role (service, install, sales) with the right permissions
• Accessories like rugged cases, screen protectors, belt clips, and chargers are all packed together.

When a new hire starts, you hand them a kit and they’re ready before the first call. Less fiddling. Fewer missed jobs.

6) Choose the Right Apps

Your tools should fit your workflow, not the other way around. Common winners for roofing contractors and home services include:

• Dispatch and scheduling to route jobs and reduce windshield time
• Inventory and parts tracking to cut extra trips
• Field reporting and photos for faster approvals and clean, regular documentation.

Integration is the quiet hero. If your dispatch app feeds your invoicing tool, and both connect to your CRM, your team updates once and everyone sees the same information. Fewer mistakes, faster billing, and a better customer experience.

7) Manage the Full Device Lifecycle

Think beyond day-one setup and plan for the whole life of the device. The key moments to cover:

• Onboarding: Assign the device, enroll it in MDM, and apply the right profile
• Maintenance: Push OS and security updates on a set schedule
• Reassignment: When a tech moves teams, switch the device profile in MDM
• Offboarding: When someone leaves, lock or wipe the device and reclaim it
• Refresh: Before devices get unreliable, replace them on a predictable cycle.

A simple lifecycle checklist protects data, reduces downtime, and keeps your fleet healthy.

8) Rugged Devices Often Pay for Themselves

If your crews work in heat, dust, rain, or tight spaces, consumer phones may not last. Rugged gear helps by:

• Surviving drops and daily abuse
• Resisting dust and water better
• Reducing replacements each year.

Rugged phones and tablets can cost more up front, but fewer breakages and longer lifespans mean a lower total cost over time. If full-rugged is out of budget, use high-quality cases and high-end screen protectors as a baseline.

9) In-House vs. Partner: Pick the Model That Fits

Both models work. Choose what matches your size, pace, and goals.

In-house works best when:

• You have someone with expertise who can own MDM, billing, rate shopping, ordering, and vendor management
• Your device count is steady and changes are rare
• You want complete control over every setting.

Partnering works best when:

• You’re growing fast, hiring often, or opening new markets
• You want staging, kitting, repairs, and support handled end-to-end
• You prefer one expert point of contact instead of juggling carriers and vendors.

You can also blend the two; keep strategy and approvals in-house, outsource staging, repairs, and vendor wrangling.