The digitalization of the field service industry is no longer a trend, a catchy title, or up for discussion – it’s an irrefutable fact. Field service operations have been suffering in manual processes quicksand for years and it was about time for field service management solutions to go digital. While change has come in all sorts of shapes and forms, the biggest expression of digitalization is the emergence of field service management software.
What each service business is looking to get out of a field service management solution is the simplification and automation of operations. Operations managers in the field service management industry have to manage a sizeable amount of information which opens up the window for errors, misunderstandings, miscalculations, and frustration.
Some of the common pain points service software is trying to resolve are:
- Managing remote workers, equipment and vehicles at the same time
- Scheduling tasks with details about time, location, and the project
- Feeding new information to field service technicians in real time
- Planning for vehicle and equipment preventive maintenance
- Invoicing and payment processing for multiple clients in different locations
- Updating customer information and job details
- Keeping a log with the service history of different vehicles
The list could be much longer but that gives an idea of the types of things an operations manager needs to worry about. When opting for a service software solution, that list will instantly get much shorter and managers can focus on making valuable, data-based decisions to improve service delivery instead of trying to make sense of information. All they have to do is log in to a mobile app, and everything they need will be in the palm of their hand.
Some of the most common features you’d find in field service management software are:
- Automated scheduling features
- Route optimization
- Job management
- Inventory management
- Time tracking
- Drag and drop calendar
- Access to job history
Now, let’s get into a bit more detail. Frontu is arguably the best field service software on the market with some of its key features helping field service companies improve their operations and customer satisfaction.
Real-time communication and management
Can you fathom the operational chaos of answering customer calls, replying to field workers asking for directions to get to the job site, whilst trying to focus on project management? With Frontu’s field service management app you can have a centralized view of all the information you need and combine field worker and customer management alike.
Handle incoming service requests and update tasks on the fly while mobile workers get notified instantly about any changes. A simple mobile device can empower your mobile field service workforce to do their job and eliminate the possibility of a human error. Mobile apps like Frontu help you improve efficiency and multiple projects at once.
Keep working without the Internet
Frontu is a cloud-based solution that suggests that users need the Internet for it to work. What happens if technicians have to work out in the wild, in remote locations that the signal dies and roaming is not possible? All you have to do is keep working because the team at Frontu has developed a powerful offline mode that stores changes and data that are synced on the cloud the moment you’re connected back to the Internet.
Route optimization and navigation
The delivery route planner is one of the most robust features on Frontu. Our collaboration with FleetComplete allows you to track and allocate your assets anywhere, anytime. Couple that with the ability to access information like vehicle model, license plate, and location, and what you have is the recipe for smart scheduling.
Allocate tasks to the nearest car and technician, get an accurate calculation of fuel costs, and update your pricing structure with precise quotes.
Reach the preventive maintenance Promised Land
Waiting for your car to start making weird noises or fuming in the middle of your road trip is not exactly best practice. The same principles apply to vehicles and equipment in the field service management industry. What service software will allow you to do is track the utilization, and wear and tear of an asset and get notified about maintenance well before there is a need for it.
Maintenance is a big part of inventory management for service businesses and getting it right could reduce costs significantly. Proper servicing can extend the life of an asset and save money on repairs.
Access data for smarter decisions
Back in the days of manual operations, managers were buried in files, folders, and printed documents whose main reason for existence was tracking work. Field service management software allows you to build a library of data about work, performance, and results that help your company get smarter.
Harnessing that data can pave the way for more efficient use of your resources and a more personalized approach to your service delivery. You can upsell your services because you know the tendencies, likes, and dislikes of a specific customer. Recurring jobs can be executed with greater efficiency since you now have a blueprint, a template of what worked.
Frontu not only optimizes the service process and helps you schedule jobs, but it also creates the foundation, the ecosystem you need to build your service company operations.
