From Lost Hours to Productivity: How FSM Software Streamlines Workforce Management

Field service business has jobs that must be managed remotely to deliver the service. Without technology, it was common for companies to hire field supervisors to make sure workers were performing or organizing ‘surprise’ inspections. That’s a lot of manpower if your business is taking off and can get chaotic during peak seasons.

A simple way to streamline a mobile workforce is to adopt field service management software that comes with mobile app features – read more to know how this works.

How does manual operations impact workforce management efficiency?

Field service technicians are often on the move – and many times, it can get difficult to track them, especially in low-network job sites. This results in challenges for delivering good service as follows:

• No idea of the worker's location: not knowing where your workers are is bad as it puts your customers in a state of ambiguity. Many times workers may even waste time and lie about their whereabouts.
• Too much admin work: it is not a good use of time for a field service technician to waste it on coordinating with your staff for time-offs, timesheet submissions, raising special requests, asking for inventory status, etc.
• No fuel optimization: workers may choose a longer route unknowingly or may even get lost while traveling to the job site even using google maps. This results in wasting of fuel and increased delay in delivering the service.
• Communication gap: being on remote sites may mean that you do not know how the workers are executing the job. Sometimes, the job details may change post-assignment – and such situations significantly waste a worker’s time.

What is a field service management app?

A field service management software helps businesses handle field servicing operations via automation. It streamlines tasks and automated manual work so that your team can focus on service delivery.

For example, using the FSM app, you can completely automate work order management using forms to collect job details. Using its automated scheduling, this job gets assigned to the right field service technician without much team involvement. Software’s like Zuper provide a mobile app along with their cloud-based field service management software which makes it easy to remotely handle the assigned workforce.

How does field service management streamline mobile workforce management?

Below are statistics on the use of the application for personnel management.

Field service management software can solve many mobile workforce management challenges as follows:

Real-time communication with the workforce

The FSM app provides a quick and secure channel for mobile field service technicians and managers to communicate work status remotely. They can video call, and share images, or files to diagnose any issues or check completed work. In case of emergencies, workers can immediately ask for help and schedule more resources as required.

Instant access to resources

Assigned field service technicians need not go back and forth to your office or do paperwork to get the required resources for performing the job. They can instantly access available equipment, tools, or materials and place orders with the team if not already allocated. It also helps them access help documents or equipment manuals on the job to avoid any rework or carrying of huge hard copies of manuals.

GPS for locating the workforce

Features like geo-tracking and geo-fencing help keep an eye on your workers and their real-time location. It’s easy to know about any issues and send help accordingly. GPS also ensures the workers are on-field for their designated hours and they are compensated for productive hours spent on the job site.

Get instant payments and feedback

Employees can immediately ask the client to pay for the service provided using a payment gateway. In case of the need to book additional services, the technician can help the customer instantly book the same using the FSM app. They can also ask for simple feedback about the service delivery and help with collecting data for your business process optimization.

No more surprise inspections – use field service management software to make the workforce accountable

Field service management software removes unnecessary manual paperwork-related tasks from your mobile workforce. This allows them to focus on getting the work done – which means more jobs completed at the same time spent on the field.

Want to know more about how the FSM app helps you do this – book a demo today with Zuper’s team today.