According to Fortune Business Insights, the market size of field service management (FSM) is expected to grow from USD 3.4 billion in 2021 to USD 8.06 billion in 2028. The CAGR of 13.9% proves that demand for FSM is at an all-time high. Despite the pandemic impacting businesses, the need for state-of-the-art tech solutions hasn’t plummeted. Many industries, like mining and healthcare, use field service management to refine their working mechanisms.
What is field service management?
Field service management is the process of assigning, organizing, and performing tasks till completion when in the field. Managing labor, scheduling orders, and dispatching them timely are a few of the primary tasks that field service requires. Field managers have a hard time maintaining productivity in the field. Therefore, they take the assistance of field service management software.
7 advantages that FSM provides in scheduling and dispatch are:
Many field managers of today are blending their experience with the right tools so that scheduling strategies are successful. A company that understands scheduling and dispatches will have work orders in place, technicians and labor hours in check, and not miss out on closing jobs and making invoices timely. The field service industry can be vast and unmanageable sometimes, but FSM is here to make it effortless in the following ways:
- Automates the scheduling process
With field service management software, all schedules can be automated. This improves the management at the workplace as workers are aware of their tasks beforehand. Eventually, the quality of service provided to customers gets better as many risks are tackled prior. This way, you get to tick off two goals: resource optimization and customer satisfaction. Or, as they say, you get to have your cake and eat it too.
- Collects data for better decision-making
In field service operations, accuracy and speed are the key performance indicators of the entire process. Collecting data and understanding how logging, scheduling, assignments, and more can be improved is crucial. When data is stored and analyzed in one centralized location, field managers can make better decisions based on the same when it comes to charting out schedules for workers.
- Updates orders and availability in real-time
Once scheduling becomes an automated mechanism, checking the availability of resources also becomes a requisite. Therefore, you must have all the tools and equipment handy to complete orders promptly. The order status and inventory availability will be checked in minutes through field service management software. As a result, the dispatch processing time will also be amped up.
- Tweaks worker dispatch time
Completely automating systems in terms of scheduling means a better method of managing orders. Whenever there is an incoming request, it will soon be assigned to the available worker. The software is laden with advanced features where datasets will ensure that the order is given to the most capable worker. Doing so will lead to higher productivity and job completion rate.
- Improves the skillsets of dispatchers
FSM ensures that all dispatchers are in line with their roles and responsibilities at work. In case of an incoming request, the system can automatically assign it to the available workers and also find the next best alternative to get the job done. Finding a replacement or reassigning schedules when orders are canceled is easy. This ensures that more dispatchers are trained for the job and willing to improve their skills.
- Encourages accuracy and transparency in work
Auto-scheduling processes using field service management keep field managers in a loop of how work is being done at all stages in the company. Similarly, the system regularly updates everyone on how the resources are 2used and how satisfied customers are with the service provided. Finally, you will be able to improve turnaround time, save expenses and time and enhance operational efficiency.
- Covers a plethora of field operations
Any field service management tool first handles scheduling and then tackles other operations. When you prioritize scheduling, the following experiences, as discussed earlier, are smoothened out:
- Increases customer satisfaction and experience
- It brings in more bookings
- Prepares field technicians for their nearest jobs
- Adjusts work schedules immediately to maintain operational productivity
- Eliminates the challenges associated with manually managing schedules and dispatches.
Futuristic thinking with field service management
Field service management is one of the best tech-forward and customer-centric solutions in the global market. Over time, FSM requires maintenance and upgradation as your business goals will keep evolving. However, as long as you have scalable field service management software, you will not have to compromise the quality and efficiency of service on the field.
