Easily Shortlist Field Service Management Software
Every field service team is run differently. Quickly know which software options best suit your methods for Logging, Scheduling, and Tracking Field-Based Jobs. Takes 40 seconds, saving you 11 hours of research.
What Type of Field Jobs Do You Do?
Trusted by Southern Electic, British Gas, BOC Limited, Olympic Lifts, and 600 Micro, Small, Medium and Enterprise Field Service Teams
What Is Field Service Management Software?
Field Service Management Software is a digital solution designed to assist field service managers and help improve decision-making when it comes to tracking, managing, scheduling, and dispatching field workers. It helps field service teams to:
Record details about the field assets, jobs, technicians, contractors, spare parts, quotes and logistics
Log jobs against the field assets
Plan and schedule jobs
Provide a framework to complete jobs
Ensure jobs are taken and completed safely
Provide a framework to comply with health and safety standards
Ensure spare parts can be ordered and made available for the jobs
Quote on jobs
Take orders for jobs
Manage field service technicians via an iOS or Android mobile app
Field Service Management Software allows managers and back-office staff to report on:
First time fix rates
Jobs completed per technicians
The number of jobs open
Warranty information related to spare parts and labour
Replacement parts
KPI’s and parameters decided by the field service management team
It’s important to note that Field Service Management software means different things to different businesses, whether small businesses, medium businesses, or enterprises.
Field Service Management Software For Small Businesses (SMBs) Focuses On:
Recording jobs, quoting for jobs and completing jobs
There is less emphasis on complex planning and scheduling of jobs
Van Stock, Insurance and completing jobs on time and for a profit quite often are the priorities
Basic reporting
Field Service Management Software For Medium Businesses Is Focussed Around:
Providing common visibility and clarity about field service jobs to office based teams and field technicians
Moderate planning and scheduling based on skills, availability and cost
Quotation creation and approval processes
Time, Labour and Parts invoicing
Fleet availability
Van Stock
Notes and messages management between field and office based teams
Reporting on quotes to jobs, first time fix rates, Spare parts, Invoicing, Productivity by teams, and KPI’s set by the field service teams
For Enterprise Field Service Businesses (ENT), FSM Software should focus on:
Field service management for enterprise business is often complex. Evolution of ENT businesses, acquisition assets, legacy systems, ‘we have always done it that way’ approach and high volume jobs often require Field Service Management software which can be configured and reconfigured as the business changes.
Relevant and contextual information about the field assets, jobs, technicians, contractors, spare parts, quotes and logistics based on a role
Log jobs against the field assets
Recommend solutions to jobs after they are logged
Self-service solution to jobs
Manual, algorithmic, automated and dynamic planning and scheduling of jobs
Fleet assignment
Fleet tracking
Fleet maintenance
Spare parts management
Provide a simple framework to complete jobs
Use of augmented reality for skilled technicians to assist new technicians on jobs
Use of Machine Learning/Artificial intelligence to offer predictive service management
Integration with sensors
Ensure jobs are taken and completed safely
Provide a framework to comply with health and safety standards
Ensure spare parts can be ordered and made available for the jobs
Quote on jobs
Take orders for jobs
Provide an iOS or Android mobile App for Field Service Technicians
Issue certificates
Report on, first time fix rates, jobs completed per technicians, jobs open, warranty information, replacement parts, and KPI’s and parameters decided by the field service management team.
Analytics on improving first time fix rates, identifying service jobs before they are logged, improving remote fixes, reducing cost per service, improving technicians to jobs assignment, integration and data collection from sensors
Our expert’s view on Field Service Management Software
"Without software, I don’t think you would see half of the delivery that you see in the UK now… software will quite often predict what can happen. Now, we’re moving into a world with AI. It’s becoming even better, because AI would look at it and go, “We know the M42 ran by Birmingham Airport is gridlocked between three and six normally.” So that engineer might look like he’s only five minutes away. But truth be known, he’s going to be two hours. Without [software], I think we will probably be needing four or five times the amount of people, which means costs go up for the customers."
How to Find the Best Field Service Management Software
There are 5 steps to finding the right Field Service Management Software for you;
Map out the end user experience that you would like to provide and then work backwards to find the right Field Service Management Solution.
Identify Your Field Service Requirements and then shortlist Field Service Management solutions.
Identify the gaps in your field service delivery and then find the right field service solutions.
Collaborate with your Back-Office and On-the-Field Technicians and Users to identify Field Service systems that will really get adopted by your team.
Keep researching the internet till you feel you have found the right solution.
There is no one way to find the right FSM Software for your business. Yet there are well-known considerations you can use to find the right FSM tool for your business.
Key Factors to Consider
Your team’s digital experience of using software tools and apps
Simplicity of your requirements
Clarity of your goals with the FSM system
End User’s expectations from your field service management
The importance of Field Service to your overall business
The Speed at which you would like to implement the new system
Questions to Identify Your Service Management Requirements
How do end customers log service requests?
How are jobs scheduled (either by priority, technical availability, parts availability, or completion time)?
How do field staff communicate with office-based staff?
Are services updated and is it by the customer, job status, or billing?
How do office-based teams process service requests and information?
What are the top 3 gaps in your field service management?
Once current field service tasks are outlined, the next step is to identify gaps and challenges. When doing so, businesses should separate challenges into distinct groups:
Identify Your Service Management Gaps
The key to improving efficiency is to have clear guidelines regarding operations. This is something that all field service managers can relate to. Logical service management challenges include:
Not meeting SLAs
Inconsistent job completion times
Delays to jobs due to inaccurate inventory
Not assigning the right field technician to a job
Find Information and Visibility Gaps
To improve the customer experience and increase job completion rates, information is essential. Several users require information about a job. Including field staff, supervisors, and customers. Having the right data helps to:
Assign a qualified worker to the right job
Increase first-time fix rate
Avoid delays due to the availability of spare parts
List Desired Field Service, Workforce, and Commercial Outcomes
Leading field service businesses set clear goals. For instance, if a business receives 300 job requests per month, its total service management costs will be £400,000. The average service time would be 90 minutes. But, with a field service system in place, a business can improve its targets. Instead, it can set a target to reduce field service costs to £300,000. Whilst also reducing the average service time to 60 minutes.
Set ROI Goals For Your Field Service Management Software Purchase
It's important to set out in advance what you want to gain from your software purchase, this can be done by setting ROI goals. Example goals look like this:
Field Service Parameters
Targets With Manual System
Targets With Field Service Management Software
Number of Service Requests Per Month
300
300
Service Cost Per Equipment
5.5% of the total equipment cost per annum
4 to 4.5% per annum
Equipment Life
6 Years
7.5 Years
Total Service Costs
£400,000
£300,000 to £320,000
Clear and fact-based ROI will get you the speed of decision-making. Taking a numbers based approach to get the Buy-In is the easiest way to get the tool you want.
For example, a business has budgeted £23,000 per year on Field Service Management Software. They know that this tool will save them £38,000 per year. Meaning they’ll recover their investment in nine months.
Highlight Features That Work For You
Most Field Service Management tools have comprehensive features. The best field service teams focus on features that are important for them. Below are some of the questions that may help you to focus on the key features that your back-office and field service team will use.
What value does this feature add to a service team?
Can this feature be used by all stakeholders?
Will this feature help meet KPIs?
Is training required to use this feature?
Are their legal requirements needed to use this feature? (compliance, GDPR laws, privacy policies, etc.)
Shortlist Field Service Management Software Options
Whilst most field service management products look similar, there are key differences. Each variation makes a big impact on a business’s ROI. For instance, some systems will prioritise ease of logging service information. While others may focus more on mobile planning.
When finding a solution, a company should have a list of products to compare. Ideally, this list should consist of five different solutions. Once listed, an evaluation team can begin to compare each field service tool:
Does it match core requirements?
Is it easy to use?
Would it be a good industry fit?
Is it easy to deploy?
Do teams and employees need to be trained?
What type of solution is it? (web-based, cloud-based, on-premise, or open-source)
Other Key Factors to Consider
Does a Vendor Offer a Free Trial or Demo?
Most buyers don’t speak with a vendor’s existing customers. But, by doing so, it can give validation about the product. As well as how well the implementation was and how good the support is.
Understand Your Contract Agreement
Licensing conditions need to be clearly understood. When buying cloud-based software, businesses are only renting the software. As well as the storage space needed to hold their customer and job data. A business should be aware of what happens to their data after payments have stopped.
If purchasing an open-source field service management product, there are other considerations. A business will need to have a clear understanding of how to install the product. As well as how they’re going to configure it and get support.
What Support and Training Is Offered?
Although the chosen product may seem easy to use, field and office staff will require basic training. This can be in the form of reading or attending webinars and classes. Most UK-based products come with support included in the pricing. Yet it’s worth cross-checking support terms with the vendor. Understanding a vendor’s training processes also indicates their quality of support. As well as how quickly they’ll be able to resolve problems in the future.
7 Best Field Service Management Software Solutions
INFRASPEAK
INFRASPEAK uses field service asset data and your field service goals to deliver an intelligent field maintenance product that is light on data input. It takes a platform oriented approach which means it can address complex field service requirements and is yet fully scalable.
Ideal For
Organisations looking to simplify maintenance program creation and management across multiple sites.
Totalmobile’s service management solution aims to drive improvement. As well as increase control across all aspects related to the delivery of field-based services. It enables companies to manage upcoming tasks, schedule work, and collect data. Totalmobile aims to deliver a tool that improves cloud-based management.
Ideal For
Organisations with 100+ in-field workers and mobile-intensive workflows.
Pricing
From £4-30 per user, per month for a standalone product
IFS Field Service Software offers a best-in-class service management system. Capabilities include spare parts management and service contract management. IFS is a true end-to-end solution that improves business efficiency. Ensuring fast response times and real-time reactivity.
Ideal For
Large to enterprise-size organisations in asset-intensive industries.
ServiceMax is for asset-centric service providers. It can automate complete service supply chain. It comes with pre-built service workflows and a 'No-Code' service workflow designer. ServiceMax is built by field service engineers so from the ground up is designed to deliver on field service goals.
Ideal For
Asset-centric service organisations looking to digitise processes and enhance profitability.
Lumada from Hitachi is an enterprise field service management product for servicing critical field assets. It is hardware-agnostic and built to manage high value critical field assets and service processes. It integrates with legacy systems and is implemented by Industry experts.
Ideal For
Organisations for whom asset uptime is critical to business continuity.
FSM Software designed to help fast-growing and family-owned businesses (such as sole trader gas engineers and plumbers) streamline their installations, servicing, and planned maintenance.
Ideal For
Organisations that need a more flexible service than the big corporate software providers can offer.
9 Core Features of Field Service Management Software
1. Dynamic Scheduling and Dispatch
Automated and dynamic job scheduling capabilities enable field service managers to assign field staff more efficiently. When a work order or customer request is created, scheduling can be set on triggered events or pre-defined calendars.
This ensures that the technician with the matching skills, qualifications, and experience required for the job is assigned. While also taking into account factors such as:
Worker availability
Contractor or sub-contractor agreements
SLA agreements
Availability of spare or replacement parts
Job and worker location/route planning
Video: Estates & Assets Director at Serco Health, Greg Markham, talks about the future possibilities of using tech such as HoloLens and VR to have real-time 3D walkthroughs with engineers across multiple sites.
2. Vehicle and Engineer Tracking
Real-time tracking is a key feature of any field service management solution. It allows managers to track their mobile workforce and vehicles with GPS capabilities, showing their location on a live map. By doing so, engineers closest to a job can be assigned, reducing customer wait times.
Tracking features are also used to plan and optimise driving routes. By seeing real-time traffic updates, workers can gauge an estimated time of arrival and pre-warn customers of any delays via text or email.
3. Digital Billing & Invoicing
Digital invoicing and billing features enable engineers to create invoices and receipts as soon as a job is complete. By using mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones, field workers can produce customer, professional-looking invoice templates and take payments via Stripe.
This capability reduces the chances of non-payments once a job is complete, as well as reducing the effort taken to follow up with customers over unpaid invoices.
4. Digitise Job Sheets
Field Service Management Software provides the tools that allow managers to store all job information on digital job sheets. This allows information such as job type, location, expected completion time, and parts needed to be shown on an engineer's mobile device. As opposed to having to travel to the office to get a paper job sheet or work from whiteboards.
5. Mobile App
Using mobile apps allows office-based staff to easily connect with workers in the field. Mobile access allows workers to have access to data anywhere at any time. Meaning they don’t have to travel back to the on-site office. Engineers can remotely access calendars, inventory, and resources. All of which can assist them in completing a job without delays.
Effectively improving first-time fix rates and delivering good service to customers. Having mobile access enables field staff to:
See job information on tablets, mobiles, and laptops
Access job checklists
Update job progress and status
Track spare parts and inventory
Take customer payment and send digital invoices
6. Work Order Management Alerts
Managers can track jobs from planning to completion with the right service management tools. They can gain visibility of each job and work order from a centralised dashboard. This lets them know when a job is complete or if a job will be delayed. Work can be updated by an engineer on the job on a mobile app. Resulting in a live job status update for managers.
7. Contract and SLA Management
Contract management tools provide easy access for office-based staff to have an overview of each customer contract. This ensures service level agreements (SLAs) are being tracked and met during each job.
8. Inventory & Spare Parts Management
Real-time inventory management lets field workers know what spare parts are available. Making sure they have the equipment required to complete a job. If a part is not available, workers can place an order and track its delivery.
9. Reporting and Data Analytics
Service teams use Field Service Management Software as a central place for information. They set it up to capture and relay data effectively. Using that data to draw insights and identify trends. Ultimately making transformational service level decisions based on data. Reports can be generated for serval tasks, including:
Service incidents and status by customers
Job completion metrics by technicians
Profitable service jobs
Loss-making service calls
Adherence to SLAs
Threshold ordering for parts
Spare parts management
Vehicle servicing management
How Field Service Leaders Benefit From FSM Software
End-to-end Job Management
The main functionality of a field service solution is to provide a complete overview of the job management process, from job planning to service delivery. Having all of this information in oney system allows decision-makers to understand what is working and what can be improved on in the service delivery process.
Improve Service Delivery Outcomes and Meet KPIs
By giving technicians and engineers access to the right information (like manuals and tutorials, spare part inventory lists, job information, and more) in a mobile app, the chances of a successful service delivery are greatly improved. That helps businesses to meet targets such as first-time fix rates and one-time job completion rates.
Increase Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) and Retention Rates
Customers expect quick and quality service delivery. By utilising Field Service Management Software tools to increase the chances of quality service and one time fixes, CSAT rates sky rocket. This leads to receiving good feedback (which can be used in marketing efforts against competing businesses) and a higher chance of retaining that customer's business.
Quickly Dispatch Engineers When and Where Required
Field Service Management Software allows managers to be more dynamic and flexible with job scheduling. Managers can load data into a system and automate the tasks of dispatching engineers. Looking at skills, location, and workload to assign the right worker to the right job. Tools include:
Real-time calendar view to know which technicians are available and when
GPS tracking and route planning to calculate a worker’s proximity to a job
Access to a worker’s labour rate and job knowledge
Podcast: Adam Neale, former UK Field Engineering Director at BT, talks about how AI and connective technology can improve the time taken to assign, schedule and dispatch engineers before failure occurs.
Open Communication Channels Between Office and Field Staff
With Field Service Management Software, all employees have access to a shared dashboard, which includes information that both on-site and off-site workers need such as job requirements and customer information. Without a single point of access, workers rely on job details being sent via email or over the phone, which means information can be delayed or even false.
Who Uses Field Service Management Software?
Field Service Management Software is used to connect, assign, and dispatch workers in the most efficient way possible. The features found in an FSM solution allows it to be used by anyone working in the field service sector. Particularly those businesses that find themselves regularly moving from on-site to off-site locations, including:
Electricians
Plumbers
Energy providers
Landscaping
Pest control
Field Service Software can also be utilised by numerous personnel within a business. It is used by managers, engineers, office staff, customers, and fleet managers.
Managers use it to assign workers to job sites. Office staff use it to provide customers with real-time location updates. Accounting teams use it for invoicing and payments. Field workers use it to access information such as resources and inventory updates.
Field Service Managers and Team Supervisors
Real-time tracking and speedy communication have propelled the efficiency of assigning jobs. Managers can assign workers in the proximity of a job request and schedule jobs with advanced warning. As well as dispatch their more qualified workers to a particular job. This helps to increase the chances of a first-time fix as well as improve customer service levels.
Office-Based Staff
With the right FSM tools, on-site staff are easily able to connect with workers in the field. This helps to improve the collaboration between both teams and increase the speed of data input. Including hours logged, job status, job completions, and payments processed.
Field Workers (contractors, sub-contractors, technicians, engineers)
Workers have access to a shared dashboard that provides them with real-time updates on things like job locations and inventory levels. This helps to accelerate job completions and ensures that each worker is prepared when going to a job. Without service management tools, workers are more reliant on manual approaches and office staff relaying job information, which results in delays and unsatisfied customers.
Just a decade ago, working off pen and paper, where there would be 4 copies (one for the customer, one for the service technician, one for the back office, and one for finance) of a job card, was a normal practice. Whilst job sheets still exist, they are somewhat less visible.
Service technicians now fully understand the importance of good service data. Easily accessing the information on Open Jobs, Job Types, First-Time Fix Rates, Quotes, and many other aspects of the jobs, helps technicians to be more productive.
Most technicians also fully appreciate that tech, not pen and paper, is the way forward. Hence there is increasing adoption of the use of field service mobile apps by service technicians.
Customers & Clients
Businesses have the option to share certain details regarding a job and their workers with their customers. This provides customers with real-time location updates to know exactly when a technician will be arriving.
Cloud, On-Premise & Open Source FSM Software Delivery: What’s the Difference?
Cloud Field Service Management Software
Cloud computing is a cost-effective method offering a fast-paced delivery of software. A vendor hosts their application in-house and on their own servers. Companies wanting to use that product then rent access via the internet.
There are three types of cloud-based Field Service Management Software. Each one provides users with different capabilities.
Public Cloud: Public cloud is the most common type of cloud computing. It refers to accessing a service, typically SaaS, over the internet from a third party vendor.
Private Cloud: Private cloud services refer to an application used by a single service provider. It can be located on-site, similar to an on-premise solution.
Hybrid: A hybrid cloud service combines the qualities of both public and private. In some cases offering greater flexibility and security.
To access cloud FSM software, service providers typically pay a monthly subscription. In the form of a pay-as-you-go payment. Cloud-based Field Service Management Software offers multiple benefits, including:
No hardware, up-front, or set-up costs
Fast deployment
Support from IT professionals
The flexibility of using it anywhere at any time
Receiving automated security updates
The delivery of cloud Field Service Management Software can be broken down into three categories. These include Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS). As well as software as a service (SaaS).
IaaS: The most basic category of cloud computing where companies rent IT infrastructure.
PaaS: Levelling up from IaaS, PaaS provides tools to build applications. As well as renting IT infrastructure.
SaaS: This is the most popular cloud computing service among field service companies. SaaS vendors host an application, provide the infrastructure, and handle maintenance. Including security patches and updates. Providing access over the internet on a mobile app.
Cloud
On-Premise
Cost
Costs are kept low, with no up-front or start-up fees. Maintenance and security costs are typically included with the rental fees.
Costs can be ongoing, including maintenance to servers and infrastructure. As well as paying for power consumption and rental space for hardware.
Security
Data is stored safely in an off-site location and is usually encrypted. If data is comprised, it can be recovered when stored in the cloud.
Data is secured locally, but needs to be kept safe to avoid hacks or corruption.
Control
Data is stored and encrypted by a third-party, meaning ownership of data can be a grey area.
Field service providers are in control of their data regarding operations and clients.
Open Source Field Service Management Software
Open-source Field Service Management Software is a free and popular choice for businesses. It is an application whose source code is openly available and operating with an open licence. Allowing programmers and developers to edit a software’s foundations. Helping to build unique features that a business requires. Such as appointment scheduling, job management, and contract management.
The benefits of choosing an open-source FSM software product include:
No licence fees
Unlimited modifications
No restrictions
However, there are risks when it comes to deploying open-source software, including:
Lack of security
No warranty
Quality of software
An opposite approach to open-source FSM software is proprietary software. This refers to a product that can only be modified by its creator. Be that an individual developer or an organisation.
Open-Source
Proprietary
Cost
Open-source software is available to users free of charge without licence fees.
Users will have to pay to use a vendor’s proprietary software.
Security
Patches and security fixes are performed quickly with help from a community of users.
Businesses will have to wait for software owners to fix bugs and deploy security patches.
Control
Flexibility allows for open collaboration between developers and programmers.
Control is restricted to the owner of the software licence.
Field Service Management Software FAQs
Q
How Much Does Field Service Management Software Cost?
The cost of Field Service Management Software can vary depending on several factors such as the size of a business, implementation, staff training, subscription fees, and hardware. Typical service management costs include:
Monthly costs: £15 - £300
One-time fees: £500 - £5000
Installation costs: £400 - £5000
The cost of Field Service Management Software can also depend on the vendor. Some vendors provide free solutions or demos with limited access, such as Service Fusion and Service Cloud from Salesforce. Whereas other solutions require a monthly fee or a percentage of revenue, such as SAP Field Service Management, Field Nation, and Oracle Field Service.
It’s also important to know the cost of a service management tool before getting buy-in from decision-makers. This means not only knowing the outgoing costs of purchasing a tool but also its ability to improve current field service processes. Giving an idea of a tool’s return on investment (ROI).
Q
What Are the Key Field Service Management Trends to Look Out For?
Field service companies aim to deliver fast, reliable, and effective service to customers. As businesses move forward and scale, as does technology. Meaning service providers need to be continuously looking out for new tools and capabilities. Allowing them to keep up with competition and maximise their service delivery processes.
Most advancements in the field industry are focused on improving customer service and efficiency. Three key trends to back this up include:
Remote and Virtual Services
A leading factor in the acceleration of field service technology has been the Covid-19 pandemic. During the pandemic, field workers were unable to complete site visits and interact with customers. This has paved the way for virtual, contactless, and remote solutions to deliver services. The adoption of technology has been key in making this a reality for field service organisations. With the use of IoT, artificial intelligence (AI), and augmented reality (AR).
Customer Self-Service Tools
Another trend on the rise in the field service industry is the use of self-service tools. These include self-service portals such as knowledge bases and FAQs. Self-service tools allow customers to find a solution to their own issues. Without having to wait to hear from a technician. As well as communicating with chatbots and live chat to set appointments and track the status of tickets.
Predictive Maintenance with IoT and AI
Predictive Maintenance (PdM) tracks and monitors the condition and performance of assets during operation. By doing so, technicians can identify possible defects and fix them before they fail. IoT-enabled tools such as condition-based sensors enable workers to set up service alerts. As well as monitor health performance to reduce the risk of failure in machinery. This helps to reduce unplanned downtime. Reducing the costs associated with emergency repairs and replacements.
Q
What’s the Difference Between FSM Software and Mobile Workforce Management?
The differences between field service management and mobile workforce management (MWM) are vast. Firstly, one caters more towards field work and the other towards mobile workers.
Mobile workers are employees whose jobs and tasks take place away from the office. Types of mobile workers include health care specialists, trainers or service providers, and home contractors.
Field service workers travel to sites to either maintain, repair, or install specialised equipment and systems. Because of these differences between mobile and field workers, the management processes for both types of employees vary.
Mobile Workforce Management Features
Workforce tools are built with a greater focus on customers and employees. With a customer-centric approach, features of a mobile workforce system often focus on:
Flexible scheduling
Real-time job alerts and notifications
Seamless reporting
GPS location tracking
Proof of delivery and payment
Field Service Management Features
Field service management is designed to focus on the maintenance, upkeep, and installation of physical products. This hands-on approach is found in most asset-intensive industries. Including manufacturing, utilities, and infrastructure. Features typically include:
Job planning and dispatch
Quote management
Contract management
Work order management
Spare parts inventory tracking
Mobile inspection checklists
Reports and analytics
Q
What Type of Field Assets Can Be Managed With a Field Service Solution?
Physical Field Assets such as:
Equipment
Machinery
Tools
Metres
Fleet
People
It’s important to note that most virtual or digital assets cannot be managed remotely using a field service system. For example, software installed on your equipment or machinery cannot be remotely updated.
There are a number of field service systems that offer Augmented Reality (AR) capabilities to monitor field assets remotely. The same technology can be used to train new field service technicians.
As an example, a senior technician can be at your office and a new starter technician on site. Using AR, the senior technician would be able to see what the junior technician is seeing and can guide them to successfully complete the job.
Q
What Applications Can Be Integrated With Field Service Management Software?
Vendors enable end-to-end integration of other software applications to get the most out of your Field Service Management Software. These integrations include:
Accounting: Integrating financial information keeps all accounting and purchasing data in one system, such as purchasing spare parts and invoicing customers. Popular field service accounting integrations include Sage, Xero, and QuickBooks.
CRM: A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system allows you to store and connect customer data to provide greater customer service to clients. Popular field service CRM integrations include HubSpot and Zendesk.
Location-based tools: To enhance dispatch and scheduling tasks, field service systems can be connected to location-based tools and apps such as What3words and a Geographic Information System (GIS).
Admin tools: Most field service management systems can be integrated with tools that encourage greater internal communication and service delivery planning, like connecting with Google Calendar and Slack.
Specialised & custom integration: Some vendors connect your field service management system with bespoke Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and specialised tools such as Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solutions.
Q
What Industries and Service Operations Benefit From Using Field Service Management Software?
Utilities Service (Oil and Gas, Water, Power, Renewable Energy)
HVAC Installation and Maintenance
Facility and Property Management
Security Installations and Maintenance
Plumbing Services
Telecommunications
Electrical Services
Home Services (Lawn and Grounds Maintenance, Pool Maintenance, Pest Control)
Cleaning Services
Building and Decorating Businesses
Construction and Contracting
Appliance Repairs Services
Environmental (waste management, recycling, hazardous material removal)
Q
Is Field Service Management Software a Key Part of Field Service Automation?
Yes, without a field service or job management system, it would be difficult to automate tasks such as scheduling and inventory management using IoT and mobile devices alone.
Field service automation is the combination of Field Service Management Software, IoT technology, and mobile devices. In this workflow, an FSM system acts as a centralised system for all job, worker, and customer data.
This technology-driven approach to field service management enables companies to:
Automate job assignment, scheduling, and dispatch
Integrate inventory management data with job requests
Track worker locations in real-time
Plan and optimise routes to job locations
Gain real-time insight into job and worker analytics
Helpful Guides for Using Field Service Management Software
Field managers use job scheduling tools to assign and dispatch the right engineers to the right jobs. They'll review travel time, skill level, and more. Finding the perfect blend of worker, job, and client.
Discover the essential tools that service managers need to elevate the management of their mobile workforces and improve overall customer expectations and satisfaction.
See how the rapid advancements in technology such as the Internet of Things (IoT) are helping businesses to increase profitability, improve customer expectations, and make significant improvements to their field service operations.
The importance of digitising your job sheets with Field Service Management Software to maximise efficiency for office-based teams and mobile workers in the field.
How embracing digital invoicing and billing tools in field service management can improve speed, increase efficiency, and give financial peace of mind.