How to Choose the Right Field Service Management Technology

Table of Contents

1. Why is field service management technology a must-have today
2. Must-have product features in field service software
3. How to utilize the field service software to maximize business profits
4. How to evaluate if field service software makes a business fit
5. Conclusion

Why Is Field Service management Technology a Must-Have Today?

Field service management technology has become a must-have for service businesses. And the reasons are not hard to find.

The field service software allows businesses to do more with less.

FSM software improves field service functions and delivers operational efficiency. It streamlines scheduling, optimizes dispatching, enables electronic data gathering, and automates invoicing.

Managers use field service management technology to prepare and deliver quotes to customers. They can also track work progress and exercise end-to-end control over operations. They use insights from the software to make informed decisions.

Technicians leverage the accompanying mobile apps to access work-related information from the field. Their productivity, as well as the quality and pace of work, improves.

When businesses use FSM software, customers get fast and high-quality services at low costs. The efficiency improvements and improved control reduce waste and inefficiencies, lowering overheads. Lower overheads allow the business to price their services competitively.

Must-Have Product Features in Field Service Software

An ideal field service software has the following core features. More is needed to maintain the software’s efficacy.

1. Work Order Management

Work order management capabilities allow service managers to exercise control over business operations.

Support agents and service managers can create quotes based on customer requests.

The software converts approved quotes to work orders, which clarify all the essential work-related information. Users can access details such as customer information, job location, tasks, and estimated completion time.

Service managers track the progression of work orders to their logical end. They can also create forms and checklists to structure workflows and ensure field technicians cover all bases.

2. Scheduling Capabilities

Scheduling capabilities are basic to all field service technologies. Service managers use the function to assign work based on technician skills, location, and availability. They can also prioritize jobs based on urgency and customer type.

The software offers integrated views of the jobs assigned to technicians and available technicians at any given time. Calendar views allow schedulers to identify and assign jobs to technicians.

Read more: Top 10 Factors to Consider While Choosing A Field Service Scheduling Software 

3. Dispatching Capabilities

Field service efficiency and profitability depend on optimized dispatching. If dispatching is inefficient, the technician may have to crisscross the town from one job to another, wasting fuel. Customer wait time increases, and asset use ratios go down.

Integration with maps enables route optimization. The maps direct technicians through the fastest and most fuel-efficient routes.

4. Inventory Management

Integrated inventory allows technicians to proceed to the work site with spares. Dispatchers can assign specific inventory to work orders.

Service managers can monitor parts usage to ensure everything is on track. They can, for instance, ensure the technician uses the right spares and identify any pilferage.

The business can track inventory levels and set optimal reorder levels.

5. Automated Notifications

Automated updates on new job assignments and schedule changes keep all stakeholders in the loop. Field technicians also get updates. As a result, the all-too-common instances of skipping appointments due to oversights or confusion are reduced.

6. Mobility

Field service Mobile apps integrated with the field service software empower technicians to:

• They can access information essential to performing their jobs from the field. They can access work orders, customer contact information, service history, and other information. They can get to work immediately without wasting time seeking information or making assumptions.
• Collect electronic data, including images, and update the same for reporting.
• Download forms and checklists to work as instructed.
• Capture electronic signatures as proof of work completion, and generate invoices.

7. Invoicing

The best field service technology allows technicians to generate invoices.

Integration with accounting software such as QuickBooks enhances the capabilities of an FSM system. The technician can, for instance, access up-to-date payment information, collect payments, and generate integrated reports.

Read more: The Ultimate Guide to Invoicing for Field Service

How to Evaluate if Field Service Software Makes a Business Fit

The ideal feature set varies among businesses. What is best for one business or industry may be insignificant for another. Whether a field service management technology fits a business depends on the following factors:

1. Size and Nature of the Business

A large enterprise with many technicians and complex workflows needs a feature-rich solution. On the other hand, a small business can do with a much smaller solution, available at a much more affordable budget. However, if the suite is not scalable, it will create problems as the business expands.

Defining the specific needs or objectives upfront becomes a must to identify a suite that suits the business.

2. User Friendliness

Regardless of the size or nature of the business, a user-friendly interface is non-negotiable. A neat and simple interface improves usability. Easy navigation means users experience minimal learning curves.

Unless field technicians can access what they need without much effort, they will not make productivity gains.

Read more: How Can Service Technicians Benefit From Field Service Management Software?

3. Integration Capabilities

An FSM software becomes more ideal with seamless integrations with the company’s existing tech stack. Most software offers robust APIs for this purpose.

Field service management technology does not work in isolation. The software has to pull data from other enterprise software to work. For instance, it needs customer data from the CRM and business data from the ERP. Likewise, it has to supply data to other enterprise software. The accounting software requires integration with the field service software to update transactions.

Seamless integration with other enterprise software:

• Enable a complete view of financial performance, inventory levels, and other information. Eliminates manual data entry, which comes with errors and efficiencies.
• Ensures data consistency across the board.

How to Utilize Field Service Technology to Maximize Business Profits

An FSM software with comprehensive feature sets is sometimes not enough. The business derives value only if managers, technicians, and other stakeholders use it to maximize profits.

Poor service is the main reason customers abandon service businesses. The root cause of poor service is the inability to manage technician schedules and work orders. Using field service business software to streamline these tasks improves efficiency and service quality. This, in turn, boosts customer satisfaction and leads to more business.

Streamlined scheduling and dispatching also reduce operational expenses. By grouping jobs to location, technicians can reduce travel and cover more jobs per shift. Their fuel consumption and idling time are reduced.  Workforce productivity and asset use ratios improve.

Service managers exercising control through forms and checklists further improve operational efficiency. They can make timely interventions to nip issues before they escalate to big problems.

Automated invoicing eliminates errors and plugs revenue leaks caused by omission or under-invoicing. Delivering invoices immediately upon work completion ensures timely payment and improves cash flow.

Read more: Top 10 Factors to Consider While Choosing A Field Service Scheduling Software 

Conclusion

The benefits of field service technology come when using robust, scalable software. The best software combines strength, flexibility, and resilience. Take ReachOut as an example. The versatile suite, with comprehensive features, suits businesses of any size or industry. Integrated dashboards and intuitive features deliver the best user experience. The robust backend makes the suite robust, secure, and reliable. The cloud-based delivery makes it scalable and cost-effective. Multiple plans offer flexibility. Businesses can subscribe to the plan that best suits their needs. Explore ReachOut today and discover elevated opportunities for your field service management business.