In the field service industry, it is an understatement to say that mobility is a requirement, which is why it is a trend offering the most promise. The ability to work off a smartphone while in the field is a game changer for field technicians around the world. At the touch of a button, technicians can access field reports and job sheets anytime, anywhere. The digital workflows do not revolve around the technicians, but the entire business—back office, management, customers and even equipment, facilitating a real-time, end-to-end information flow through the network that allows everyone involved to make informed decisions. The other advantage is that there is a dramatic improvement in the work environment as processes are completed much faster, enabling the technicians to achieve work orders quicker as well.
The increase in speed is down to the reduction in communication between field technicians and dispatchers, and the lack of waiting around for confirmations and new job orders while in the field. The instant updates and processing that is done by the field service management software also ensure that a much higher level of accuracy is maintained by the business at all times. The minimal human intervention virtually eliminates any errors that are made during processing. A digital workflow gives firms with a complete view of what is happening with the company, making all the business process transparent and more efficient. Payment is another aspect that is greatly improved with a digital workflow. As everything is processed through a smartphone, invoices are generated instantly, giving technicians a piece of mind.
