Introduction
Field service management software can benefit office staff in several ways. The software can help companies go paperless and automate much of their workflow. Employees can appreciate and make good use of the advanced tools and features that field service management software provides.
Office staff can also perform their work more quickly and to a higher level of accuracy with the help of field service management software. It can greatly improve office worker efficiency.
Although approximately 52% of companies still use outdated manual methods for the majority of their field service operations, around 48% of organizations are already making use of field service management software.
Field service management software can modernize your field service operations and bring them into the 21st century.
It’s no wonder companies are catching on when there are so many benefits of using field service management software for office staff.
Definition of Field Service Management
The term “field service management” refers to the practice of managing workers who operate out in the field, away from company property.
Some industries that employ field workers include:
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- HVAC
- Landscaping
- Pest control
- Telecom
- Waste management
- Construction
Not all field workers are happy with the technology they currently use. Fieldpoint outlines how 45% of field technicians say their current tools are not fast enough and 38% of the same group say they can’t access all the information they need.
Luckily, field service management software benefits both field workers and office staff and helps the two groups coordinate and work together more seamlessly.
3 Benefits of Using Field Service Management Software for Office Staff
Companies that have field service operations also employ office staff members that have a ton of responsibilities. They can sometimes be overwhelmed with the number of tasks that come up during a working day.
However, it doesn’t have to be this way. Field service management software solutions can greatly assist office workers in their day-to-day jobs. Office staff can get more done in less time, streamline their operations, and overall benefit greatly from utilizing field service management software.
Here are the top three benefits of using field service management software for office staff.
Improve Scheduling
Field service management software can help office staff schedule appointments in advance and on the fly. The software often features dynamic scheduling.
If a field worker has room in their day for more work, office staff can update their schedule with information on the upcoming job, its location, and customer information like name, phone number, and purchase history, all in real-time.
If a customer cancels suddenly, field service management software makes it easy to reschedule for the customer and find a new nearby job for the field worker. This avoids unnecessary downtime for your employees.
With field service management software systems businesses can update their clients in real-time about when they can expect a field worker to arrive on the job site. This can save office workers from tedious hours on the phone updating clients on field worker arrival time.
Track Vehicles and Equipment with GPS
Every good field service management software system allows companies to track their vehicles and equipment with GPS.
Being able to locate a driver at any time is very useful for office workers. If a driver gets lost en route to a client, field service management software makes it easy for office staff to find and redirect them. It also makes it easy to catch drivers who are driving in unauthorized ways or places.
Field service management software with integrated GPS can alert office staff automatically when a field worker has arrived at or left a client’s address.
If an urgent service call comes in, field service management software makes it easy for office staff to locate the worker nearest to the job and route them there quickly.
Field service management software systems update in real-time so office workers always know exactly where field workers are located. The software can even re-assign field workers to higher priority jobs.
If a field worker is unable to make it to a client’s location, another available employee—the closest one with the right skills and tools for the task at hand—can be assigned the job.
If office staff receive complaints from clients that field workers did not show up or arrived late for the job it is easy to verify their claims with GPS logs. GPS logs can also protect your company in the event legal action is taken against your business.
Many field service management software systems that include GPS will alert office staff automatically if a field worker gets into a collision. If a vehicle is stolen, it is easier to recover with GPS-enabled field service management software.
Equipment Tracking
GPS technology-integrated field service management software systems let office workers track the location of company equipment in addition to vehicles. The software can often collect data on equipment such as the last time it received maintenance and which worker used it last.
With GPS tracking office staff can determine if equipment has been stolen or used by unauthorized personnel.
Records of Client History and Employee Knowledge
Field service management software systems contain databases with client history and order information in addition to technical guides. Some of this information may have previously been stored in the minds of employees and lost when they leave the company if it is not recorded somewhere.
Field service management software can greatly assist office staff in replacing field workers who retire, quit, or become ill. When this happens, a new worker can seamlessly substitute for their peer using the information stored in the company’s field service management software system.
Conclusion
Office staff can get very busy at companies that have field service operations dealing with scheduling, reacting to both client and field worker cancellations, managing a mobile workforce, and handling other responsibilities.
Field service management software can make the lives of office staff easier and benefit them in several ways.
If you want the best software to track vehicles and equipment, monitor field workers, and automate tasks including scheduling, check out Azuga.
