Common challenges arise in every field service business, from properly managing inventory to effectively scheduling technicians. Fortunately, field management software can help solve some of the most common problems you face. Here’s how.
1. Lack of Historical Data
Detailed job histories can be invaluable in field service. Many technicians feel as though they don’t have the required information to properly do their jobs, which can lead to inefficiencies and wasted time. With field management software, your technicians can have all the data they need at their fingertips.
They can have a detailed record of the client’s problem, fixes that were tried in the past, and even videos and photos that were previously taken. This can help them adjust their approach and start working more efficiently. When your technicians have the job accessible records, they can not only do their jobs more effectively but can also enhance customer satisfaction.
2. Poor Scheduling
Your customers don’t want to wait for hours for one of your technicians to show up to fix an issue. You know this all too well—in fact, you may have lost clients in the past due to poor scheduling. What can be done to solve this challenge?
Field service management software comes with a scheduling feature that can help ensure all technicians show up where they need to be when they need to be there. You won’t have to wrestle with messy and complicated whiteboard or paper schedules. You won’t have to worry about double bookings. Technicians can see their schedules online, customers can pick open slots to schedule their maintenance at a time that fits into the technician’s schedule, and everyone can remain productive and content.
3. Lack of Communication
When technicians communicate effectively with customers, client satisfaction improves. Many field service management software programs have built-in messengers that can help technicians easily get in touch with clients if they’re running late or need to ask questions before or after a job starts.
Instead of leaving customers in the lurch, the software makes it simple and easy to get in touch, which helps them feel valued.
4. Being Late
Customers have to put their lives on hold to wait for your technicians to show up, and they don’t want to wait any longer than they have to. Not only does the scheduling feature of field service management software help ensure your technicians show up to client’s sites on time, but so does route optimization.
This feature helps your technicians determine the best route to a site, so they don’t show up late due to traffic, construction, or other logistical issues. In cases of emergency, you can even determine who’s closest to the site and can get there the fastest for prompt responses.
5. Inefficient Invoicing and Payments
You need to invoice clients and be paid in a timely manner to keep running your business efficiently and with the proper cash flow, but manual invoicing isn’t efficiency. You shouldn’t be billing clients weeks later when you get to it—that will only slow down payments. Your technicians should be billing at the client’s site, immediately after the work is performed. Use field service management software, which comes with billing and invoicing features.
With such features, you can accept a variety of payment methods, such as credit cards and cheques. This not only improves your cash flow but also enhances customer satisfaction since your clients will be able to pay with their preferred method. And the sooner you bill clients, the faster you’ll get paid, which is good for your business.
Field service management software can help you solve many of the common challenges that plague your business.