Keeping Smart Service up to date is the simplest way to make sure you are getting the latest features, the latest QuickBooks compatibility, and the most recent bug fixes our team has shipped. Our developers push major releases on a regular cadence, with smaller updates in between, so it pays to check in every few weeks. You can find a running list of what is new on our updates page.
Here is the quick step-by-step for updating Smart Service Desktop, plus a note for our Smart Service Cloud customers.
Smart Service Desktop: How to Update
Check Your Current Version
Open Smart Service. From the ribbon, click the Help tab, then click About. A window will open showing your current version number.
Compare Against the Latest Version
Visit the Smart Service support page to see the most recently released version number. If your installed version matches, you are good to go. If it is older, go ahead and run the update.
Run the Update
You have two ways to install the update.
- From inside Smart Service: click the Help tab, then click the Update Smart Service button. The application will download and install the latest version for you.
- From the support page: click the Download button to grab the installer manually, then run it on the machine that hosts Smart Service.
Before You Update
- Make sure no one else is in Smart Service. The update needs exclusive access on multi-user installs. Send a heads-up to dispatch and the office before you click Update.
- Back up your QuickBooks company file. Major version updates touch the QuickBooks integration. A current backup of the QBW file gives you a safety net.
- Back up your Smart Service database. Same logic. Our support team can walk you through the backup process if you have not done one before.
- Update the host first. On a multi-user setup, run the update on the server or host machine first, then restart and update each workstation when it prompts you.
- Plan around the workday if possible. Updates usually finish in a few minutes, but the safest time is end of day or early morning before the dispatch board is busy.
Smart Service Cloud
If you run Smart Service Cloud, you do not need to update anything manually. Cloud updates are pushed automatically by our team, so the version you see when you log in is always the current one. The release notes page tracks what is new with each push.
What if the Update Fails?
The most common update issues we see:
- Permissions error. The update needs Windows admin rights on the host machine. Right-click Smart Service and choose Run as Administrator if you are getting a permissions message.
- Antivirus blocking. Some endpoint security tools flag installer files. Add Smart Service to your antivirus allowlist.
- Active connections. If another user is still in Smart Service, the update will pause until they close out.
- QuickBooks integration mismatch. If your QuickBooks version is older than the new Smart Service release supports, the update will let you know. The fix is usually to update QuickBooks first, then Smart Service.
If you run into anything that does not match the list above, the support team can take it from here.
Need Help?
Our Help Desk is happy to walk you through any update-related question. You can email [email protected] or call us at 888-518-0818. There is also a deeper library of how-to articles in our Smart Service knowledgebase if you want to dig in on your own.
Thanks for keeping your Smart Service up to date. The newer the version, the smoother the experience for your dispatchers, your techs, and the rest of your team!
