Multi-Phase Jobs
Break complex jobs into sequential phases with automatic daisy-chain notifications.
Multi-phase jobs let you split a single job into ordered phases. Each phase can be assigned to a different crew member, and when one phase is marked complete, the next crew member is automatically notified. This is ideal for jobs that require multiple trades -- for example, plumbing first, then drywall, then painting.
Multi-phase job chaining requires a Starter plan or higher.
Enabling Phases
When creating or editing a job, toggle Enable phase chaining in the Assignment section. This activates the phase editor with a minimum of two phases.
Phase Fields
Each phase includes:
- Phase name (required) -- a short label like "Rough plumbing" or "Final paint"
- Assigned contractor -- pick from your crew list, sorted by skill match
- Estimated minutes -- how long this phase should take
- Description -- optional notes for the assigned crew member
Reordering Phases
Use the up/down arrows next to each phase to change the execution order. Phase numbers update automatically.
Adding and Removing Phases
Click Add Phase to add more. You can remove phases with the trash icon, but every phased job must have at least two phases.
Duration Sync
When phases are enabled, the job's total estimated duration auto-calculates from the sum of all phase estimates. The duration field becomes read-only and displays the calculated total. Edit individual phase estimates to adjust the overall duration.
Auto-Suggest Contractors (Pro)
Per-phase auto-suggest requires a Pro plan.
Click the Auto-suggest button (lightning bolt icon) in the phase editor header to have Person Trail's 7-factor algorithm rank your available crew members and distribute the top-ranked contractors across all phases.
The algorithm considers:
- Skills match
- Availability
- Current workload
- Travel distance
- Urgency
- Performance ratings
- Reliability history
The top-ranked crew member is assigned to Phase 1, the second-ranked to Phase 2, and so on. If you have more phases than contractors, assignments wrap around. You can change any assignment manually after auto-suggest runs.
How the Daisy Chain Works
When you create a phased job:
- Phase 1 crew member receives an activation email immediately -- they know the job is ready to start
- Phase 2+ crew members receive a heads-up email letting them know they are queued for a future phase
- When Phase 1 is marked complete, Phase 2 is automatically activated and that crew member gets a "your turn" email
- This continues through all phases until the last one is complete
- When the final phase is done, the overall job can be marked complete
Phase Statuses
Each phase tracks its own status independently:
| Status | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Pending | Waiting for a previous phase to finish |
| Notified | The crew member has been notified that this phase is coming up |
| In Progress | The crew member has started work on this phase |
| Completed | This phase is done; the next phase (if any) will be activated |
Tips
- Name your phases clearly so each crew member knows exactly what their scope of work is
- If a phase doesn't need a specific crew member yet, leave the contractor unassigned -- you can assign later
- Use auto-suggest to quickly distribute your best-fit crew members, then fine-tune assignments manually
- The job's overall status follows the standard flow (Pending, Scheduled, In Progress, Completed) while individual phases track their own progress