Job scheduling software for NZ trades gives you a calendar view of all jobs, lets you assign work to team members, and syncs with Google Calendar. Automate The Trades includes scheduling in its Professional plan ($199/mo flat fee), alongside quoting, Xero invoicing, and job management.
Prices last updated: April 2026
Schedule crews across multiple sites and avoid double-bookings.
Manage callouts and planned work in one calendar view.
Assign jobs to specific team members and track progress.
See their schedule from a phone without needing to call the office.
| Feature | Automate The Trades | Tradify | Fergus | ServiceM8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calendar view | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Google Calendar sync | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| ICS invites for staff | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ |
| Subcontractor scheduling | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Drag-and-drop Gantt | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ (limited) | ❌ |
| Job status updates from field | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Mobile scheduling access | Responsive web | Native app | Native app | Native app |
Job scheduling software gives trade business owners and managers a live view of who is working where, and when. Instead of a whiteboard, a spreadsheet, or a series of phone calls every morning, everything is in one calendar that updates in real time.
At its simplest, scheduling software lets you assign a job to a team member (or subcontractor), set a date and time, and send them the details. At its most useful, it connects scheduling to quoting and invoicing — so when a quote is accepted, you can convert it to a job, slot it into the calendar, and trigger the Xero invoice when the job is marked complete, all from the same system.
For NZ painting contractors specifically, scheduling is often the biggest operational headache. Coordinating multiple crews across multiple sites, managing prep days versus painting days, and communicating with subcontractors all require clear visibility that a whiteboard simply can't provide once you have more than two or three people working.
The key difference between basic scheduling tools (like a shared Google Calendar) and proper job scheduling software is the link between schedule entries and job records. In job management software, each calendar entry is connected to a customer, a quote, a job sheet, and potentially an invoice. That context is what makes the scheduling genuinely useful rather than just a digital whiteboard.
When evaluating scheduling tools, focus on the features that match how your team actually works:
One thing to note: none of the mainstream NZ trade scheduling tools include a proper drag-and-drop Gantt chart for multi-week project planning. Fergus has basic Gantt-style views on higher plans. For complex construction projects, dedicated project management tools (like Microsoft Project or Monday.com) may be needed alongside your job management software.
Automate The Trades includes scheduling in its Professional plan ($199/mo flat fee, NZD excl. GST). The scheduling module connects directly to your jobs and quotes, so there's no duplication of work.
When a quote is accepted by a customer, you can convert it to a job and immediately schedule it — assigning a team member, setting the start date, and sending a calendar invite. The job record holds all the details: customer address, scope of work, quote total, and any notes from the site visit.
Google Calendar integration is a practical differentiator. Your team probably already uses Google Calendar on their phones. ATT syncs job schedules to Google Calendar, so team members see their work jobs in the same calendar they use for everything else — no need to check a separate app every morning.
ICS invites can be sent to subcontractors who aren't ATT users. They receive a standard calendar invite to their email that works with any calendar app (Google, Apple, Outlook). This is particularly useful for painting contractors who use subbies intermittently — they don't need to log into your system to know when and where they're working.
From a business owner's perspective, the scheduling view shows all jobs across the team on a single calendar. You can filter by team member, job status, or date range. Combined with the CRM and job records, it gives you a real-time picture of workload and capacity that's otherwise very hard to see.
14-day free trial, no credit card. Connect Google Calendar, assign jobs, and send your team their schedule in minutes.
The way you use scheduling software changes as your business grows. Understanding those differences helps you choose the right tool and set it up correctly from the start.
Sole traders and 1–2 person teams: Scheduling software is mainly useful as a customer communication tool — sending confirmation of when you'll arrive, and keeping a record of when work was done. Google Calendar plus a basic job management tool covers most needs. The overhead of a full scheduling system may not be worth it until you have 3+ people to coordinate.
3–8 person teams: This is where scheduling software delivers the most value. With multiple people on multiple sites, the morning coordination call becomes a bottleneck. A shared calendar that updates in real time eliminates most of those calls. Per-user tools (Tradify, Fergus) start to get expensive at this size — ATT's flat fee is more cost-effective for teams of 3 or more.
8+ person teams: At this scale, scheduling connects to capacity planning. You need to know not just where people are today, but whether you have capacity to take on a new job next week. Basic job scheduling software shows you what's booked; more advanced tools (or careful use of the calendar view) help you spot gaps and over-commitments.
The most important thing at any size is that your team actually uses the system. A sophisticated scheduling tool that only the owner uses is worse than a simple one that the whole team adopts. Build the habit of entering jobs and updating status before worrying about advanced features.
Scheduling software is most valuable when it connects to the other tools your business already uses. Here's what to look for:
For a deeper look at how job management software connects to the rest of your business tools, see our Xero job management integration guide. And for the full picture of what a job management platform includes beyond scheduling, visit our job management software NZ hub page.
Automate The Trades syncs with Google Calendar and sends ICS invites, so team members see work jobs in their existing calendars. Tradify and Fergus do not currently offer Google Calendar sync — team members need to check the app separately.
Yes. ATT allows subcontractor access so they can see their assigned jobs and update status. ICS calendar invites can also be sent directly to subcontractors who aren't ATT users, so they get job details in their own calendar app.
Most NZ trade tools don't include a full Gantt chart. Fergus has limited Gantt-style views on higher plans. ATT, Tradify, and ServiceM8 use calendar views rather than Gantt charts. For complex multi-week project planning, a dedicated project management tool may be needed.
Scheduling is included in most full job management platforms. ATT Professional (includes scheduling) is $199/mo flat fee. Tradify costs $48–$73/user/mo and Fergus $53–$75/user/mo — both include scheduling. For a team of 4+, ATT's flat fee is typically cheaper.
Yes. ATT is a responsive web app that works on any smartphone browser. Tradify and Fergus have native iOS and Android apps. In all cases, field staff can update job status, add notes, and view their schedule from a phone on site.
14-day free trial, no credit card. Connect Google Calendar, assign jobs, and send your team their schedule in minutes.