The easiest way to get started using the Building Operations Console is to operate as a call center in which one person submits all requests for work, and manages all the steps up to closing the request. Typically, this person would be a maintenance manager who is knowledgeable about maintenance work and how your organization handles it, and knows the staff who are available and skilled to work on particular problems
A single-user call center that tracks work requires only the steps of reporting problems (entering work requests), issuing work, completing and closing it. Using Quick-Start, if work requires approval, you should enter the work after it has been approved. The approval process happens outside the application. All work requests that you enter using the Report Problem button show up in the Building Operations Console as Approved work.
Using Quick Start, there is no preliminary work you need to do to get started. The application ships with predefined problem types, and predefined locations found in the sample data. You can add your locations or new problem types as you are submitting requests by using the Add New button. When you add your data, the next time you submit a request, that data is available for you to select. You do not need to add data before getting started submitting and processing requests, although tasks to do so are available if you prefer to work this way. See Building Operations Background Data - Overview.
You can use the sample data to get started submitting requests to see how the application works. Then, when you no longer need the sample data to practice, you can delete it, so that you do not have the sample data mixed in with your own data. See Practicing Using Sample Data.
When you enter work requests (report problems), and then issue, complete, and close the work, you know the number of requests in each phase of the process, with the data broken down by key details, such as problem type or location. This enables you to know the amount of work you currently have for each phase; by closing work, you can track work that is archived, so you have historical counts for work as well.
If you are managing work with just the steps of issuing, completing, and closing, the following reports are available to you:
| Report | Description | Notes |
| Open Work Requests by Problem Type and Status | Count of work that is not yet closed broken down by its status and problem type | You must enter Problem Types when creating work requests to see the counts by problem type. You can use the Problem Types that come with the application, or add your own. |
| Archived Work Requests by Problem Type | Count of closed work requests by problem type | |
| Archived Work Requests by Site - Building | Count of closed work requests by site and building by month for the selected year | If you do not enter sites, the report shows closed work by building. You are required to enter a building when entering work requests. This report is especially useful if you have two buildings to compare, but even with one building it provides a count of your closed work requests for each month for the selected year. |
The following topics describe how you would report work and process it as a single user call center using a simple process to track only your work.
Taking further steps is optional, but you might want to also track craftspersons and costs. See Tracking Craftspersons and Costs.