Design a Field Service Automation Strategy
Achieve field service success in the age of extreme mobility.
- Field service software is not new. Vendors like Astea and ClickSoftware have been providing solutions to improve management of workers in the field for many years. However, newcomers like ServiceMax are arriving with innovative new features that shake up the field service landscape.
- Rapid growth in the capabilities of mobile technology and the promise of cloud computing are changing how field service automation needs to be evaluated.
Our Advice
Critical Insight
- Determine which features are required and which can be left out. Some organizations only need a solution that optimizes scheduling and dispatch, while others need advanced knowledge base and collaboration capabilities.
- Decide between a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) implementation and an on-premise installation, and choose a solution that excels at your chosen hosting method. Also consider the availability of wireless Internet, and which Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems are already in place, to find a vendor who offers a solution to meet your needs at the lowest cost.
- Issue an RFP, score responses, and get demonstrations from the finalists to gather information about your choices and make an informed decision.
Impact and Result
- Choosing the right field service automation solution will increase the efficiency of field technicians, and directly increase revenue by creating new opportunities for sales in the field.
- Implementing field service software comes at a price, not only in the software itself, but in an investment in training and an upheaval of corporate culture. However, ultimately there is a high ROI associated with automation.
- Advancements in mobile and cloud technology are further increasing the potential benefit of field service automation, provided the solution that best fits your organization is chosen.
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We produce unbiased and highly relevant research to help CIOs and IT leaders make strategic, timely, and well-informed decisions. We partner closely with IT teams to provide everything they need, from actionable tools to analyst guidance, ensuring they deliver measurable results for their organizations.
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Contributors
- Empowered Networks
- Hobart Food Equipment
- Indian Electric Cooperative
- Anonymous field technician, Rogers Communications contractor