It’s no surprise that field service has become heavily reliant on mobile technology. But with the ever-expanding methods of digital communication, the expected benefit of increased productivity remains a challenge for many field service organizations, as they aren’t utilizing mobile field service apps to their fullest ability.
A mobile workforce is a more connected on every level, as technicians and subcontractors can access their field service management software from the field, including accessing all work order information, inventory controls, service and contract history, and quoting tools, without the need to make a phone call back to dispatch. It’s less communication with more communication, as mobile tools limit the needs of technicians to contact multiple departments for answers, but instead, giving them all the information and tools needed in one mobile field service app.
Better Communication with a Mobile Workforce
When we talk about better communication in the field with a mobile field service app, we must understand what communication we are talking about. We have more tools today to communicate, such as social media, hands free devices, and text messaging, but when it comes to benefits for technicians and subcontractors, better communication tools need to make them more productive and efficient in the field doing their job, which actually means less communication with back office administrators.
With a mobile field service app, administrators can see real-time updates of where the technician is in their service call, which can then be relayed to customers. Or, it can help them in scheduling new jobs coming up, as they can estimate when technicians will be completed with the jobs they’re on without having to call them.
A mobile field service app can be a great collaboration tool. A technician or subcontractor walking onto a job site to either replace or help a different employee can quickly look up any notes or checklists and take over quickly, without having to call the former technician for an update.
At the same time, help manuals can be attached in the field service management software that can be accessed on the mobile field service app, giving junior technicians the help they may need to fix a problem without having to call for an answer.
Work completed faster with mobile field service app
What field service organizations want to see is more service calls being completed, which ultimately means greater revenue for the organization. To do so, you need a field service management software that has the ability to utilize a mobile field service app to enhance the workforce and increase the speed at which they can process work order information, complete tasks, and get to the next call.
With a mobile field service app, dispatchers can schedule technicians for any job and have their schedule changed without having to contact the technician. The work order is just pushed to their mobile device with routing tools and checklists needed to complete the job. This helps the technician get to the job faster and complete their service call without missing any step, ensuring fast service with high standards. It also removes any manual paperwork that needs to be completed, as everything is completed on a mobile field service app, which can immediately be sent back to the field service management software for billing and reporting purposes.
By having the tools to close out work orders faster, technicians aren’t spending time on administrative work and, instead, travelling to their next job. Communication in the field is key, but it needs to improve the technician’s work life, make their job easier, and maximize their time in the field, which ultimately will keep them happy.
Benefits of a Mobile Workforce
- Better workforce communication
- Real-time response on the job
- Peer and corporate team support
- Safety and security
Bottom Line Benefits of a Mobile Workforce
- Better workflows and processes
- Manage remote workforce
- Support from seasoned techs to junior techs
- Better communication through a single unified platform
- Scale service capabilities
- Work completed faster
- Better employee retention
- Customer visibility
- Maximized time in the field