Over the past year, businesses have learned to shift to a remote life. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about a rapid shift in the way we work, and the field service industry is no exception. However, a Gartner survey suggests that remote work is set to rise, so businesses must consider how to improve and simplify their processes to keep up with remote work.
As remote work becomes the standard, field service management has been forced to adapt to this reality, as the service providers rely on customer interaction. To tackle these challenges, they need to stay informed of evolving trends and make the necessary changes to their work methods.
The challenges behind remote work in field service management
The major challenge behind field service management falls on the productivity of the field service workers. As the following tasks become trickier.
- Smooth communication between team members and customers
- Keeping customer relationships strong
- Coordinating multiple field workers at the same time
- New equipment training and support system
- Challenging for workers to access the resources
Despite these challenges, with the use of Field Service Management Software, remote work has also presented several opportunities for the field service industry.
By selecting the appropriate FSM platform, you can digitize most of your tasks, making it easier for remote employees to work more efficiently. While field technicians are critical and still work on-site, field service management software enables contactless scheduling and dispatch, convenient messaging, remote support, and on-site quote generation. Customers can pay with a credit card to minimize personal contact and receive their invoice and receipt via email.
The key aspects of FSM software that help remote works
Following are the key aspects of field service management software that shape the future of remote work.
Centralized Management
FSM software that centralizes remote operations, simplifying decision-making and planning processes. With all data accessible on a single dashboard, decision-makers don’t have to switch between systems. FSM software eliminates the need for a physical office for field service management.
Efficient Work Order Management
With field service management software, schedulers and dispatchers can monitor automatic scheduling from anywhere. Customers receive prompt updates on assigned field technicians, and real-time push notifications ease the workload of customer support. The FSM software synchronizes work orders to prevent agent shortages or unexpected spikes in field demand.
Seamless Collaboration
Collaboration is a crucial aspect of remote work, and the field service management software enables real-time collaboration between field technicians and provides instant technical support as needed. Real-time collaboration minimizes downtime, optimizes resources, and makes remote work more manageable.
Efficient Payment Processing
The field service management software simplifies invoicing and payment processing by automating the process. Contactless payment options, synchronized transactions, and updates to the customer database make payment processing efficient and hassle-free.
In closing,
The shift to remote work has had a significant impact on field service management, but it is important to remember that it is not all negative. Companies in the field service industry must find ways to overcome the challenges and take advantage of the opportunities presented by remote work to improve their operations and better serve their customers.
One way to overcome the challenges of remote work in field service management is by investing in a dedicated FSM software. The software enables field service companies to improve communication, increase efficiency, and provide workers with the tools and resources they need to be successful. Incorporating FSM software capabilities is not only advantageous, but it is now a necessity to stay competitive in the field service industry.