Invoicing can often become a repetitive administrative task, particularly when multiple services are performed for the same customer within a short period. Shepherd’s Consolidated Billing feature eliminates much of this workload by pooling multiple invoices into one: this reduces paperwork, improves clarity, and saves time for both service providers and their customers.

When is Consolidated Billing most useful? Consolidated Billing is especially valuable when service frequency and scope are predictable, as is often the case with Template Service Contracts. These templates define recurring service work and billing rules in advance, ensuring that every invoice follows a consistent structure.

As with most Shepherd functions, setup begins with configuration. The Consolidated Billing Template must first be enabled, allowing the system to manage billing preferences according to your organization’s needs. Once active, a service contract will be generated  when a defined template on the service item is used. 

Can these contracts be edited if needed? Yes, they can: each contract is linked to the customer concerned and retains its own unique identifier for easy tracking, and following the billing rules established in the original template, but with the option of making changes when needed.

Within the Consolidated Billing Template, the Consolidated Billing Sales Order field connects related sales orders under a single transaction. Any subsequent orders tied to the same contract are automatically grouped, laying the foundation for unified billing.

Even better, updates from the field, such as labour time, travel time, and materials recorded by technicians through the mobile app, will feed directly into the system. These details ensure every consolidated invoice reflects the true work completed without extra manual input.

The result is a smarter billing process: fewer invoices, less admin, and a more accurate, transparent record of service for every customer.