OperatorOS
Stop Paying $120k a Year
to Do the Same Admin.
WA construction businesses with 10–50 staff lose $120,000 per year to manual operations (EY and Hipages, 2024). We configure Tradify, Xero, n8n, and Google Workspace to eliminate it. Payback in 3–5 months.
Where the $120,000 Goes
EY and Hipages research breaks down admin waste by category for a 15-person WA construction business at Perth labour rates ($80/hr average admin rate, ABS 2024).
| Admin Task | Hours per Week | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Job scheduling and site communications | 9.6 hrs/week | $38,400/yr |
| Quote and invoice data re-entry | 6.9 hrs/week | $27,600/yr |
| SWMS and compliance documentation | 4.8 hrs/week | $19,200/yr |
| Subcontractor coordination | 4.2 hrs/week | $16,800/yr |
| Purchase order tracking | 2.85 hrs/week | $11,400/yr |
| Payroll timesheet entry | 1.65 hrs/week | $6,600/yr |
| Total | 30 hrs/week | $120,000/yr |
Source: EY and Hipages Trade Pulse Research, 2024. Indexed to a 15-person WA construction business at $80/hr Perth admin rate (ABS Labour Force Survey, 2024).
The OperatorOS Stack
Four tools. Already built. We configure them for your business, connect them together, and train your team. No custom software, no lengthy IT project.
Tradify
Job scheduling, quoting, site communications, and mobile timesheets. Built for Australian trades.
Xero
Accounting backbone. Tradify integration eliminates invoice double-entry from the quoting stage.
n8n
Workflow automation: quote follow-up SMS, job completion notifications, document archiving, compliance alerts.
Google Workspace
Shared inboxes, Drive document management, and Meet for site foreman check-ins. No more project info in personal phones.
How OperatorOS Works
Ops audit
We map your current admin workflow: what tools you use, where work falls through the cracks, and where the biggest time costs are. Takes 2–3 hours with your office manager.
Priority automation plan
You get a written plan: the 5 automations with the highest ROI for your specific operation. We cost each one so you know what you're getting before spending anything.
Configure and build
Tradify setup, Xero integration, n8n workflows, Google Workspace migration. Typically 2–4 weeks depending on data complexity.
Train and hand over
Team training with your office manager, site foreman, and accounts. Documentation for every workflow. You own the systems.
OperatorOS Pricing
Once-off setup for businesses that want to own their systems, or a managed service for ongoing automation growth.
Starter
Tradify and Xero configured and integrated. Job types, client list, quote templates. Team training included.
- Tradify setup and configuration
- Xero connection and quote-to-invoice workflow
- Up to 20 job types configured
- Client and staff data import
- Half-day team training session
- 30-day post-launch support
Full Stack
Everything in Starter plus n8n automations: quote follow-up, job completion notifications, compliance document archiving, and Google Workspace setup.
- Everything in Starter
- n8n workflow automation (5 automations)
- Google Workspace setup and migration
- Quote follow-up SMS sequence
- Job completion client notification
- Compliance document auto-archiving
- 60-day post-launch support
Managed
Full Stack setup plus ongoing management: workflow monitoring, new automation builds as your business grows, and monthly performance reports.
- Full Stack setup included in month 1
- Monthly automation health check
- New workflow builds (up to 2/month)
- Tradify and Xero updates applied
- Priority support with 4-hour response
- Monthly ROI report
Prices exclude ongoing software subscriptions (Tradify, Xero, n8n, Google Workspace — typically $600–$900/month combined for a 15-person business). GST applies to setup and managed service fees.
OperatorOS FAQ
What size construction business does OperatorOS suit?
OperatorOS is designed for WA construction and trade businesses with 5–50 staff. Below 5 staff, the admin overhead is manageable without automation. Above 50 staff, the needs become more complex and we assess case by case. The $120k/year admin waste figure from EY and Hipages applies to businesses in the 10–30 staff range.
We already use Tradify. What does the setup give us?
Most construction businesses use Tradify at 20–30% of its capability. They use it for job cards but not for quoting. For job scheduling but not for SWMS completion. For time tracking but not for the Xero integration. The setup maps your workflow to the full Tradify feature set and connects it to the other systems so data flows automatically instead of being re-entered manually.
Can WA grants fund OperatorOS setup costs?
Yes. The WA Small Business Growth Grant (up to $50,000, 50% co-contribution) covers digital tools and implementation as an eligible expense. The WA Local Capability Fund covers similar ground for businesses supplying to major projects. A Full Stack setup at $7,800 could be 100% grant-funded depending on your eligibility. We provide documentation to support your grant application.
How long does the setup take?
Starter setup: 1–2 weeks. Full Stack setup: 2–4 weeks. The variable is data complexity: how many existing clients, jobs, and documents need to be imported. We give you a timeline estimate after the ops audit.
Do you work with non-construction trade businesses?
Yes. OperatorOS is a good fit for any trade business that runs project-based work: plumbing, electrical, HVAC, landscaping, cleaning, and maintenance businesses in WA. The tools and workflow principles are the same. The configuration reflects your specific job types and compliance requirements.
What if our team won't use the new system?
Adoption is the biggest risk in any automation project. Our approach: we start with the tasks your team finds most annoying, not the ones your accountant finds most expensive. If your site foreman hates texting job schedules to 12 subbies every Monday, we automate that first. When people see the thing they hate disappear, adoption follows.
Book a Free Ops Audit
We map your admin workflow and tell you the 5 automations with the highest ROI for your construction business. No obligation. Takes 2–3 hours with your office manager.