As small businesses continue to struggle with cashflow, Australian technology company simPRO Software has introduced a major enhancement to its cloud-based job management software that will make it easier than ever for trade services business to get paid for their work in a timely manner.

The new capability, which is offered in partnership with payment solutions firm IntegraPay, provides clients with three easy payment options that will make collecting payments quicker and more efficient.

In a major technological breakthrough, clients payments can now be processed in the field (using the simPRO Connect mobile app) as soon as a job is completed.

Alternatively customers can now also pay online directly from their invoice with just a click or the supplier can take payment details over the phone and enter them directly in the simPRO system.

The feature is available across simPRO’s suite of products and is designed to make it easier for users to get payment by streamlining and integrating the invoicing and collections processes.

simPRO chief executive Brad Couper said the payment processing enhancements came at a time when many businesses were under severe financial pressure because of unpaid invoices.

“Managing cashflow is one of our clients’ biggest challenges. Small businesses don’t have the option to defer their key payments like bank debt and wages but there is often a long delay before customers get around to paying their bills,” Brad said.

“simPRO Payments can help to solve that problem by making it easier for clients to pay invoices on the spot so the business gets the money fast.”

simPRO Payments will be available to all simPRO users in Australia, New Zealand, United States and the United Kingdom.

According to a recent survey by accounting software provider Intuit, Australian small businesses are owed $26 billion at any one time because of unpaid invoices while the average SME was owed $13,200 and had to spend 12 days per year chasing unpaid invoices.

Even worse, 27 per cent of small businesses that didn’t insist on upfront payments had been forced to take loans or use credit to pay suppliers and wages.

Users of simPRO’s enterprise and service job management software will get immediate access to quick payments and in future the system will be further enhanced to support direct debits, Bpay and recurring payments such as repeat bills, memberships, Software-as-a-Service, and subscriptions.

Using the system, clients can also implement schemes like loyalty rewards for early payment.

The system’s online dashboard makes managing direct debit payment easy. Businesses can access their personal details, their payment information, add new customers or amend payments 24/7.