Once you've signed up, three short screens set Mucka up the way you want it, which takes about a minute. Then you choose how much to set up now, and Mucka tries itself out on your next job.
1. Pick your accent
Tap a part of the map and you'll hear that voice. Switch between Female and Male at the top to hear the other one from the same place. Mucka's words show in the dark bar above the button as they're said, so you can follow along with the sound off.
Found the one? Tap That's me. Not bothered? Skip, use the default and you'll get the standard Mucka voice.
2. Give Mucka some character
Three questions, one at a time: How should I talk to you?, How much humour? and How should I write to your customers? Pick an end, or Balanced in the middle. Mucka answers each one out loud so you get a feel for it, and each answer folds into a row you can tap to change.
The customers question is how Mucka writes to your customers, not to you.
Tap Sounds right once all three are answered.
3. Connect your WhatsApp
This is how Mucka gets new leads, jobs to chase and invoices to send in front of you, wherever you are. The picture at the top is an example of what those messages look like. It isn't something to tap.
- Check the number in the card is the mobile you use WhatsApp on. Change it there if not.
- Tap Connect WhatsApp. Mucka sends a six-digit code to that number on WhatsApp.
- Type the code in. You'll see a tick when it's done.
This step can't be skipped, because WhatsApp is where Mucka tells you about the things that can't wait. If the code doesn't arrive, tap Didn't get it? Send it again, or Use a different number. If your phone has no WhatsApp at all, get in touch and we'll sort it.
If there are six or more of you: your setup call
Straight after WhatsApp, Mucka hands you over to Sammy, one of our founders, to book a free setup call: tap Pick a time, pick a day and a time, and tap Book. Mucka then waits on See you and the day until you've had the call, and opens straight after it with You're all set. Then you carry on below. See your setup call.
4. How do you want to start?
Two choices:
- Set me up properly takes about three minutes: your business name and address, VAT, where your customers and jobs are now, and your accounts software, then your next job.
- Just let me in goes straight to your next job.
Every screen in Set me up properly has Skip for now. Anything you skip is waiting on your Quick Start list.
Your business name
Type it, or tap the mic and say it. The mic tucks itself away once there's something in the box, and comes back if you clear it. It appears on the sample invoice underneath as you go, so you can see it's spelt right before it goes on anything real. If you already have a business name saved, Mucka keeps that one and tells you; change it any time in Settings → Business → Details.
Your address
Type your postcode and tap the search button, then pick your address from the list. Not on it? Can't find it? Type it in gives you a box for each part: address line 1, line 2, town and county. It goes under your business name on the sample invoice, the way it will on your real ones.
VAT
Tap Yes or No. Yes asks for your VAT number, but you can leave it blank and add it later.
Where are your customers and jobs now?
Pick the one that fits, and tap the back arrow if you want to change your answer:
- Another job app. Search for it (typing "service mate" finds ServiceM8). Mucka writes the email asking that app for your data. Tap Send from my email and it opens in your own email, ready to go: add the app's support address and send it. Most apps only hand your data over when the account holder asks, which is why it comes from you. We're copied in, and when they send it we bring it all across, free.
- A spreadsheet. Upload sends it to our team (CSV or Excel), and they bring your customers and jobs in for you, free. Or Do it later.
- Paper, or in my head. No problem. You'll build it up as you go.
Accounts software
Pick QuickBooks, Xero, Sage or FreeAgent and tap Connect to sign in there and then; you come back to the same screen. Your invoices go across from then on, and to bring your customers in from it, use Import from that package in Settings → Connections → Integrations once you're in. On something else, or none at all? That's fine too.
Who's on the team?
If you told us when you signed up that there's more than one of you, Mucka asks who's on the team. You'll see this after Accounts software, or straight after the fork if you tapped Just let me in. Your team is included in your 2-week free trial.
- Pick from my contacts (in the app) opens your phone's contacts. Tick the people who work with you and tap Add. The first time, your phone asks whether Mucka can see your contacts.
- Type someone in: their name and mobile, and what they do: Engineer, Manager, Subbie or Apprentice.
Each person shows on the list with their role. Tap the role to change it, or the cross to take them off. Invite makes each of them their own link, then Text Barney (and so on) opens Messages on your phone with the text and the link already written. Press send and it comes from you, from a number they know. Using Mucka in a browser? Copy link next to each one lets you send it however you like.
When they tap the link they see your business and their role, add their email and a password, and pop in the code we email them. Then they're on your team. Each link is theirs alone, works once, and lasts 7 days. Until they've joined, they show under Invited in Settings → Team, where you can cancel one. Do it later skips the lot; you can invite anyone from Settings → Team whenever you're ready.
5. Try me with your next job
Mucka asks four things, one at a time:
- Who's it for? Just their name, typed or said.
- What is it? The four jobs your trade does most, or Something else to type or say it.
- When? Today, tomorrow, the next two days, or Another day.
- What time do you start? Or Another time.
Each answer folds into a row you can tap to change. Mucka reads it back as one sentence, and Add it puts it in your diary. Open the job afterwards to add their address and phone number.
Got another? Add it goes round again. Not got one to hand? Skip, show me round takes you in, and adding a job is on your Quick Start.
If you add a real job here, your workspace starts without the sample customers and jobs new accounts normally get.
Sound
Mucka talks on these screens. The round speaker button at the top right turns the sound off, and it stays off on this phone until you turn it back on. Everything Mucka says is written in the bar either way.
Changing it later
Everything here can be changed at any time: Mucka's voice and personality in Settings → Mucka → Voice & personality, WhatsApp in Settings → Connections → Integrations → WhatsApp, and your business name and VAT in Settings → Business → Details. See Change your Mucka voice.