Business Operations

The Power of SOPs and Photos: Top Tips for Field Team Productivity From CompanyCam

Recap of the Ask a Pro webinar featuring Nick Brouillette, partnerships leader at CompanyCam.

May 13, 2025

Ask a Pro is our live webinar series where we sit down with experienced trades professionals to talk real growth, hard-earned lessons, and what it takes to run a modern service business.

In this session, we spoke with Nick Brouillette of CompanyCam , a photo documentation and communication tool built for contractors and field service teams. Nick works closely with trades businesses to improve job site organization, streamline communication, and integrate tools that actually make day-to-day operations easier.

From documentation strategies to integration wins with FieldPulse, this conversation was packed with tips you can implement right away.

Watch the full webinar here

Quick Takeaways

Here are 5 standout insights from the conversation:

Poor communication and lack of documentation are the top productivity killers in field service operations.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) build accountability and clarity across teams, especially when tailored to both internal workflows and customer communications.

Appointing a “software champion” internally boosts tool adoption and ensures features are used to their full potential.

Visual documentation adds transparency, builds trust with customers, and reduces callbacks, especially when personalized in quotes and proposals.

The FieldPulse + CompanyCam integration eliminates double data entry and enables real-time photo visibility in one platform.

About CompanyCam

CompanyCam is the photo-based communication tool that over 220,000 field service professionals depend on to keep their projects running smoothly. Designed specifically for contractors, CompanyCam makes it easy to capture unlimited photos and videos, add job details to checklists and reports, and communicate effortlessly with crews and customers, all in one place.

Full Recap

Communication Breakdowns Are the #1 Operational Pain Point

When asked what hurts productivity the most, Nick didn’t hesitate: communication, both within teams and with homeowners.

"Communication, especially on the job site, is key. It’s not just about talking to your crew—it’s about keeping everyone aligned, from the first customer visit to project completion."

Paired with poor documentation, miscommunication can create chaos. SOPs around what gets documented, who communicates updates, and how information flows between office and field teams are essential.

“Without documentation, it’s really difficult to communicate internally and externally. SOPs help everyone stay on the same page.”

High-Performing Teams Invest in Processes—And Buy-In

Nick emphasized that top-performing businesses don’t just have good systems; they have team buy-in. Whether it’s a new app or a new checklist, the most successful companies:

Explain the “why” behind the change.

Show how it reduces friction or benefits field staff.

Appoint a team member to own the process or software.

“Give them a reason. Show how this change makes their job easier. When people understand the benefit, they’re more likely to follow through.”

Job Site Organization Starts with a Simple Checklist

Even something as straightforward as a checklist can make a major impact on job site organization and documentation. Nick recommends creating a consistent photo checklist that technicians complete at every stage of a job, from arrival to final walkthrough.

Using CompanyCam, these photo checklists can be templated, marked up, and synced directly to FieldPulse files through the integration.

“If your team knows what they’re supposed to document, there’s less room for error. Checklists drive consistency and reduce callbacks.”

Visual Documentation Isn’t Just for the Crew—It Wins Jobs

Nick shared that homeowners respond better to estimates that include visuals from their actual home. It makes quotes more understandable, builds trust, and demonstrates professionalism.

“People love pictures. A photo with an arrow pointing to the problem tells the story better than a paragraph of text. It’s clearer, faster, and more credible.”

He noted that attaching personalized photos in estimates, especially before-and-after shots or pre-existing damage, can make the difference between winning or losing the job.

Why the FieldPulse + CompanyCam Integration Matters

Before the integration, users had to create the same customer in two platforms and manually transfer images. Now, it’s seamless:

A new customer in FieldPulse automatically creates a project in CompanyCam.

Photos, videos, and notes taken in CompanyCam are synced directly back to the customer’s file in FieldPulse.

Teams can access everything in one place, without the need for double entry.

“With the integration, teams don’t have to switch apps or enter data twice. It’s all there, where and when they need it.”

Mobile Access and Real-Time Visibility Drive Efficiency

Nick highlighted the value of real-time documentation, especially when decisions need to happen fast.

Photos taken on-site are uploaded immediately and geotagged, making it easy for office staff to see exactly what’s going on. If there’s no signal? CompanyCam queues uploads to sync automatically once the service resumes.

“If someone leaves your company with photos on their personal phone, you lose that documentation. Having it all saved and synced in the cloud protects the business.”

Get Creative to Boost Team Buy-In

From raffles to recognition, Nick shared creative ways contractors motivate field crews to document jobs properly.

One of his favorite examples? Weekly contests with rewards for the most complete job checklists.

“People want to win. Small contests get people excited and engaged. It’s a fun way to reinforce good habits.”

He also acknowledged that some companies take a firmer approach, like withholding pay until documentation is submitted. But, friendly competition can be more sustainable (and morale-boosting).

Who Should Be Your Software Champion?

Nick’s biggest piece of advice? Assign ownership of your tools.

Whether it’s CompanyCam, FieldPulse, or another platform, someone on the team should “own” that software: staying up-to-date on features, answering questions, and leading internal training.

“It works best when it’s not the owner. Let someone in the office or a tech-savvy team member run point. It gives them leadership opportunities and ensures nothing falls through the cracks.”

Final Thoughts

From Nick Brouillette’s insights, one thing is clear: the difference between chaos and clarity is process. When teams document consistently, communicate clearly, and have tools that work together, efficiency becomes second nature.

Whether you’re deep into busy season or just getting your systems in place, remember—repeatable workflows create repeatable success. And with tools like FieldPulse and CompanyCam working together, you don’t have to start from scratch.