Hello, Maintenance Managers!
 
Thank you to everyone who attended our first Maintenance Department conference call. This was a great first step, and we're looking forward to continuing these.

The topics covered on these calls will be ever-evolving, but initially they’ll be geared towards opening up the lines of communication. We’ll talk about our current initiatives, share how the pilot programs are progressing, launch new policies/procedures, share best practices and ultimately create an open dialogue.

We’ve chosen a few key takeaways from this meeting to highlight here:

•  Tax on POs . When creating a Purchase Order, there is no need to account for the shipping and tax on every line item. Accounting has worked in a 15% tolerance level for invoices to account for this, so if an invoice comes in for $115 and the PO was for $100, it will be paid.
• Work Order Training Series. Standardization in our processes plays a huge role in our ability to move associates up, and around, within the company. We’re working on a training series that’s designed to re-introduce everyone to our work order system and how those are managed. This consistency is also going to bring many additional benefits, for example: increased visibility into our repair trends could eventually be used to support tool procurement programs, or even staffing adjustments.
• Self-Service Support Guide.  In an effort to reduce the time it takes to have your password reset, we encourage you to use the attached guide to register for the self-service portal. By spending a few minutes following this registration now, you could potentially reduce hours of downtime later. Download the Self-Service Support Guide here:
  
  Essex Self-Service Portal Support Guide
• Office Hours . This is essentially a pre-scheduled time where I’ll be available on an open conference line with the ability to share screens. The purpose of Office Hours is to help answer any outstanding questions, gather feedback, work through issues, or even step through how to use YARDI in a smaller, more private setting. Look for an invite soon!

The above highlights are just a fraction of what was covered during our time.

Want a Meeting Invite? 
If you weren’t able to make the call, or would like an invitation, please send an email to ssteele@essex.com.