According to PC Magazine, by the year 2020, 70 percent of the world’s population will own a smartphone. That’s approximately 6.1 billion people that will actively use tiny computers that also happen to make phone calls.

If you’re part of the population that has yet to take the plunge into the world of Android or iOS devices, you’re missing out. Especially if you’re a roofer looking to save time, money and resources.

How? Apps! Both the App Store and Google Play have dozens of free and paid downloadable applications that can help you streamline your roofing business.

Whether you’re looking to find the pitch of a roof without actually climbing on top of it, track your employees’ progress or stay one step ahead of the weather, the easiest way to do so is by harnessing the power of apps.

Six super apps that you might consider to simplify your roofing life include:

• Pitch Gauge®: Includes two digital slope finders and a square calculator that can determine the total size and slope of any roof without you ever having to leave the ground
• iRoofing: Allows you to digitally render a brand new roof installation using a photo of a customer’s existing roof
• EagleView®: GPS-enabled location services make on-site ordering of supplies a breeze
• CompanyCam: Streams your team's photos and notes instantly to your computer, organized under the physical address at which they were taken
• RainAware: Digitally counts down the minutes until precipitation arrives at your location
• Timesheet Mobile: Employees can capture their time spent on job sites, receive job and task information and even be reminded of when to take a break

In a world where time is money and money is time, apps like these not only unleash the total power of your smartphone, they maximize your opportunity to dominate the roofing industry.

UPDATE: Since this article was originally published on Asphalt Life, Atlas Roofing has released its own super app: RoofSwap! This easy-to-use tool lets you help homeowners visualize how various Atlas shingle colors and styles would look on their roofs. Simply snap a photo with an iPad and swipe through an array of options. The app also shows what algae does to a roof and how Atlas shingles featuring Scotchgard™ Protector from 3M can protect a home’s curb appeal. Download RoofSwap! now.