1. Export from ServiceM8
Pull a CSV export of your customers, jobs, quotes and invoices out of ServiceM8 — or connect its API directly where it is available, so there is nothing to download by hand.
⚡ Moving from ServiceM8?
Switch from ServiceM8 to Gaffer in an afternoon
Bring your customers, job history, quotes and invoices straight across — with a CSV export or an API connection. Run both systems side by side until you are confident, then flip the switch. Gaffer is built for UK trades, with compliance trade packs, offline-first mobile, AI quoting and Xero and QuickBooks sync that pushes invoices, payments and contacts across.
No credit card required · Import included on every plan · Web & Android (iOS coming soon)
How the switch works
2. Import your customers
Drop your contact list into Gaffer and map the columns once. Names, addresses, phone numbers and emails land against clean customer records ready to work from.
3. Bring jobs, quotes & invoices
Job history, quotes with their line items and invoices with outstanding balances all come across, so nothing from your back catalogue is left behind.
4. Check it looks right
Review the imported records against ServiceM8. Spot a column that needs remapping? Fix it and re-run — re-importing updates the matching records instead of creating duplicates.
5. Run both in parallel
Keep ServiceM8 live while your team gets comfortable in Gaffer. There is no cut-over deadline and no data deleted at the source while you settle in.
6. Go live
Once everything checks out, switch new work over to Gaffer and wind ServiceM8 down. See everything you gain on the features page.
What comes across
The records that matter most move with you, so you start in Gaffer with your business intact — not a blank page.
- Customers & contacts — names, addresses, phone and email
- Job history so you keep the full record of past work
- Quotes with their individual line items
- Invoices with outstanding balances
- Compliance records start fresh in Gaffer's UK trade packs (CIS, Gas Safe, EICR, FENSA, RAMS)
- Re-run any import to update records rather than duplicate them
Like for like
What you actually get with Gaffer
Rather than tell you what ServiceM8 does or does not do — their product, their roadmap — here is exactly what is in the box on our side, with the numbers. Every figure is what the platform ships today.
| Capability | In Gaffer | What that means on the job |
|---|---|---|
| Trade certificates & forms | 913 built in | Gas Safe records, EICRs, minor works, FENSA, RAMS — completed on site, signed, PDF issued before you leave. |
| UK trades with a ready-made pack | 58 trades | Your trade’s own forms, quote templates and workflows switched on from day one — not a form builder to configure. |
| Priced quote templates | 218 templates | Start from a real list of line items for the job in front of you rather than an empty quote. |
| Health & safety records | 39 features | Risk assessments, permits, statutory inspections, HAVS exposure, health surveillance — with review dates that surface before they lapse. |
| Accreditation guidance | 30 UK schemes | CHAS, Constructionline, NICEIC, ISO 9001 and more, each with its real requirements, evidence, cost and renewal period. |
| Public sector tendering | Live feed | Contract notices from the government’s Find a Tender service, filtered to your trades, with AI-assisted bid drafting. |
| Field app | 220+ screens | Offline-first throughout — lofts, plant rooms, rural sites. Captures on the device and syncs when signal returns. |
| UK finance | CIS & MTD VAT | Construction Industry Scheme deductions, MTD-ready VAT summaries, retention and variation orders handled the way UK trades need. |
Figures are counts from the live platform, not marketing rounding. Browse every feature or see pricing.
Switching from ServiceM8 — common questions
How long does it take to switch?
For most trade businesses the move takes an afternoon. Exporting from ServiceM8 and importing into Gaffer is the quick part — most of your time goes on checking everything looks right and getting your team comfortable before you go live.
Will I lose any data?
No. Your ServiceM8 account keeps running while you import into Gaffer, so nothing is deleted at the source. Run both in parallel and only switch ServiceM8 off once you are happy everything has come across.
Can I import a CSV export?
Yes. Gaffer accepts CSV exports of your customers, jobs, quotes and invoices, and can connect to the ServiceM8 API where it is available. Re-running an import updates existing records rather than creating duplicates.
Is there a cost to switch?
No. Importing your data is included on every plan, and you can do the whole migration during your 14-day free trial with no card required. See the pricing page for details.
See how Gaffer compares to ServiceM8
Ready to migrate from ServiceM8?
Start your free trial, import your data, and run both side by side. 14 days free, no card needed.