Automation is Key in Evolving Field Service Industry

Blog, Field Service

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Last updated Dec 11, 2019 at 2:02PM | Published on Jun 22, 2018 | Blog, Field Service

As field service management software continues to evolve, automation is one of the most important tools involved, especially when it comes to payments.

While having work order management systems, field service mobile apps, and business Intelligence modules are helping to manage field service organizations, speed up technician response and repair times and make the organization more effective, it’s all for nothing if payments aren’t also coming in at a faster rate of speed.

That’s why automating your payment process is just as important as doing the work itself, but late invoices or payments takes more administration time, as communication with customers’ needs to be done to follow up on outstanding invoices. Here are some of the trends field service software addresses by automating the payment process.

Integration with Accounting Software

If you’re using a field service software solution, like Fieldpoint, having it integrated with your accounting software is imperative, as automation has to run between the two systems. Fieldpoint comes out-of-the-box integrated with Microsoft GP, NetSuite, and QuickBooks, making it simple for information from the field service software to move to the accounting system automatically for bill processing.

It creates an end-to-end service solution that can take your invoicing to super speeds, straight from the field. Depending on your level of review required or the type of work being completed, invoices can be generated as soon as the customer signs off on the work order and closes it on their mobile app. The customer can have an invoice generated and sent to their e-mail in minutes. With invoice in hand, payments can be processed immediately, improving cash flow and avoiding any late payments. The integration with the accounting software is the lifeblood behind any payment automation, so it’s crucial to have the two systems speaking to each other to speed up the process.

Recurring Billing Schedule

Plenty of industries in field service have recurring maintenance plans with their customers. Automation takes care of creating the work orders for the job to be completed as part of a preventative maintenance contract set up in the field service software, but so too can recurring invoices be generated, removing any manual entry needed, each time one of the recurring service calls is scheduled. With this recurring scheduled payment, field service organizations can work with their customers on a bill payment schedule that works for both of them, ensuring payments come in on time, which helps improve the overall cash flow of the organization.

Project Billing Triggers

When completing installation projects that are complex, billing can sometimes be lost in the shuffle in all the moving parts. Field service software, however, has automated the billing process when completing projects as well, by adding triggers that generate invoices automatically based on varying intervals. Project managers can set up payments based on time and materials, percentage of work completed, by dates, or by fixed amounts, and many other billing types, to ensure that cash flow remains solid throughout the life of the project. As your service teams progress through the installation, the back office can rest easy knowing that invoices are being generated based on their progress, and not payment is missed.