Field service management has completely changed the way mobile and fleet-based companies operate and reach their customers. In the past, these companies were bound to a central office with technicians who constantly had to report back to the office. With the widespread adoption of smartphones and tablets into regular business practices, field service management now has a mobile component, making it much easier for technicians and businesses to stay connected throughout the day. Why is mobility an absolute necessity for Field Service businesses? It’s all about real-time communication.
Inventory control
Field technicians using a field service management system to communicate with their business can communicate their inventory throughout the day, logging products used and transferred. This allows the business to keep track of their products without having to read through a physical manifest at the end of the day. In the event that they use an automated ordering system, inventory changes are constantly updated, making it easy to stay stocked up on the right equipment and tools.
Further, real-time inventory updates allow managers to identify which technicians have specific equipment. In the event that a technician needs a specific tool or product, the manager can arrange for a transfer in the field. There’s no need for the technician to return to the office if someone else has the part they need.
Increased Productivity
More time in the field means more jobs get completed. This allows your field technicians to service a wider area and allows your business to expand at a rate that otherwise would have been impossible without opening up a secondary office. The automation of inventory systems allows field technicians to complete jobs more quickly. Tasks that once required multiple trips get completed in one outing, resulting in an increase in customer satisfaction and worker productivity. Storing client information and service records in the cloud also makes them immediately accessible to technicians in the field. Rather than having to carry large clipboards laden with paperwork, they’ll have all the information they need on one tablet or smartphone.
Security Issues
Older versions of mobile and cloud-based technology came with countless security concerns. Mobile communications were spotty at best and much of the paperwork still had to be completed by hand, potentially getting lost on the way back to the office. Customer data was not secured and losing inventory records and service receipts complicated accounting practices. Now, cloud-based technology allows for the secure storage and transfer of information on the fly. Task-specific apps are constantly being developed to streamline the field management service even further.
Affordable and Green Alternative
Cloud-based technology is more accessible than ever and with the advent of affordable mobile tablets and phones, implementing mobile field service management processes is easy. You can lessen your company’s carbon footprint by reducing the amount of paper used during the course of your day.