Technology adoption was gradual until COVID-19 transformed our lifestyle and work practices. Any sector or corporation that wants to thrive today must embrace digitalization. The field service business is experiencing a severe setback in respect to scheduling works, completing more service requests, employing qualified personnel, and preserving client connections as a result of the growth in remote working. However, data from the field service management software industry shows that by using the correct solution, service providers may overcome the downturn.

With so many businesses wishing to install critical service software off-site, the market is flooded with options. Despite using best-of-breed software, many things might go wrong during implementation. How can you assure field service software effectiveness at this point?

Read on…

Set clear goal

Do not implement technology just because everyone else is. If the software’s sole aim is to convert paper-based tasks to the computer, it will be a waste of money. Begin by mentally committing to the aim. Break down your company’s strategy and goals into clear, quantifiable goals. Ascertain that the field service software can meet these objectives.

• • Avoid scope creep when developing software. Allow supervisors to develop customized inspection checklists, for example. These checklists will provide field agents with a systematic list of the precise activities they must complete at the job site.
  • Define duties for field management software ownership. Include a member from each team in the discussion to indicate the extent of the programme, how agents will utilize it, and other important details.

Provide stakeholders with their own applications. Offer consumers an app to submit the revised service request, settle the bill, and track the technician’s arrival time, for example. Provide field agents with a new software that allows them to keep track of their to-do list.

Concentrate on increasing overall efficiency

Field service management is all about increasing efficiency and unlocking potential. User adoption will fall if technology is making work increasingly difficult or unpleasant. Make sure your field service software can handle the following:

• Invest in a basic, self-explanatory UI that is nice and clean.
• Wherever feasible, automate. Ensure the user only has to manually enter data in a few locations. Good software gathers data and auto-populates it into other areas as needed, as well as doing calculations automatically.
• Provide agents and other users who utilize the programme with a standardized procedure to follow. Include a knowledge base and self-help resources.
• Make that the programme is stable and safe, and that it performs well.
• When making modifications, keep the supporting infrastructure in mind. Don’t overlook the compatibility factor. Employees with obsolete devices and insufficient memory, for example, may be unable to install the most recent software.

Maintain flexibility

Businesses today work in a fluid world with rapidly changing technology. Just on the spur of the moment, things change. Field service software that is flexible enough to accommodate adjustments and modifications on the fly is the best.

• Allow users to make modifications as needed. Consider a client who requests that the field technician do a task not included in the service order (an adjoining work). The field agent can invoice a task outside of the work order using adaptable field service management software. Forcing the consumer to contact customer service and generate a new work order for a side job is akin to hitting oneself in the foot.
• Allow stakeholders to create reports that are unique to specific style and purpose. Have the checklist and templates adaptable enough for site managers or agents to make adjustments.

Workforce training

To acquire acceptability, even the most basic service software needs training and assistance. Making field agents use unfamiliar software reduces their efficiency. They’ll spend more time messing with the software than really serving their consumers.

The field agent’s ability to use the workforce management software as designed is critical to the success of downstream reporting and analytics. The well-oiled system falls down if, for example, a planner makes a manual adjustment that swaps two agents’ shifts.

• Employees should be taught how to utilize the programme. Make workers aware of the software’s possibilities. Make it clear how you’ll utilize the product as a foundation to get a competitive advantage. Encourage others to pose questions and express their thoughts.
• Provide a resource person to assist field staff and other employees with any component of the programme, or request that your supplier give dedicated support through chats, email, or phone to fix difficulties as they arise.

More than 54% of field service organizations rely on specific field service management software that runs their operations. Do you want to learn how our service management software – Fieldy can help you enhance your operating effectiveness and bottom line?

Speak with a professional.