Overview
Spider Platform Hire is a specialist access hire company providing operated spider lift hire for a range of industries, including arboriculture, construction, and building maintenance. While the business had a strong reputation and growing demand, managing quotes, jobs, client records, and invoicing was becoming increasingly complex.
7 Degrees Media developed Directional CRM — a fully bespoke, browser-based platform designed specifically for Spider Platform Hire’s operations — to centralise admin, improve efficiency, and create a scalable system to support growth.
Objectives
- Replace manual admin with a digital workflow tailored to SPH’s processes.
- Centralise quotes, job scheduling, client data, and invoicing into one platform.
- Enable fast quote creation to improve conversion rates.
- Give management real-time visibility of active jobs and monthly revenue.
- Build a scalable system that can expand with new features over time.
Our Approach
1. Process Mapping & Requirements Gathering
We worked directly with SPH to understand every stage of their customer journey, from the initial enquiry to the final invoice. This allowed us to map out workflows and design a database that reflected their exact operational needs.
2. Bespoke CRM Development
The CRM was built using PHP, MySQL, and HTML/CSS, ensuring a lightweight, fast-loading system accessible from any device. Key features included:
- Dashboard with live metrics for quotes, jobs, clients, and revenue.
- Quotes Module with status tracking (Pending, Accepted, Rejected).
- Jobs Calendar for scheduling and assigning operators.
- Clients Database with full contact history.
- Invoicing System linked to completed jobs.
- Reports Page for monthly performance analysis.
3. UI/UX Design
A clean, minimal interface was designed for speed and ease of use in the field, ensuring operators and admin staff could update the system quickly on tablets or desktops.
4. Workflow Automation
To reduce manual duplication, the CRM:
- Auto-generates job records from accepted quotes.
- Automatically attaches PDFs to quote and invoice emails.
- Provides filters to view quotes by month, status, or client.
Outcomes
- 100% of admin now handled within the CRM, eliminating paper-based systems.
- Quotes can be created and sent in under 2 minutes, speeding up response time and winning more work.
- Clear visibility of business performance via monthly revenue and job tracking.
- Improved accuracy in record-keeping, reducing invoicing errors.
- Scalable foundation for future features like operator assignment, equipment logs, and customer portals.