According to Forrester, investments in artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are predicted to grow by 300% annually. AI is transforming business operations in every industry, and field service management is no exception. In FSM, companies have already begun implementing AI solutions to improve processes, productivity, and customer service. 72% of respondents to a Worldwide Business Research survey said their field service organizations are already leveraging Ai and machine learning in some form, and another 27% are planning to implement the technology in the next 12 months. 

In this blog, let’s look at four ways AI is transforming the field service industry and what we can expect for the future.

Route Optimization 

Inefficient routing is a costly challenge that many field service organizations face. Technicians can spend a long time sitting in traffic or on the road longer than necessary, costing your business extra fuel costs and unhappy customers who are left waiting for too long. AI can optimize routing and minimize travel time to and from work sites in real-time. AI-driven route optimization shows technicians the quickest routes to and from job sites from their mobile devices with turn-in-turn directions. It also gives field service managers the location of their technicians on the field to know where they are throughout the day. Managers can also check the map and assign the work order to the nearest technician if a new work order arises. AI improves communication between technicians and managers and ensures everyone is kept in the loop.

Scheduling and Dispatching Automation

AI-powered FSM software enables companies to efficiently schedule and dispatch technicians. According to Verizon Connect, 38% of field service companies find scheduling and dispatching inefficiencies their biggest challenge. Done manually, dispatchers must consider all technicians and their schedules, which can take a lot of time. AI automation collects data using intelligent algorithms and selects the best technician for the job based on their expertise and schedule. Through the mobile application, technicians and managers are notified and kept up to date, with the ability to make any necessary changes. Using AI allows dispatchers to be more informed, productive, and focused on their decisions and work. It is also essential to reduce downtime and improve customer experience.

Resource Management

Managing inventory is a crucial component of field service management. Not having the correct tools and parts for a job can significantly decrease customer satisfaction and wastes more time. You can track your inventory and assets using an AI-based inventory management tool. The system ensures that all the tools and spare parts needed to perform a work order are available and prevent inventory levels from running low.

Customer Support Chatbots

For many customers, the thought of contacting customer support is dreadful. The long wait times, the customer service agent not being able to help with the issue, and more are all pain points that lower customer satisfaction. According to Copperberg, field service officers believe AI will have the most impact on improving customer satisfaction, within their organization, by 83.81%. AI-powered chatbots, powered by intelligent algorithms, can instantaneously deal with customer inquiries. Chatbots can efficiently handle the majority of customer requests that are routine and simple, based on a Q & A library built from the company’s past work order history. AI is also continually learning and improving the quality of its service with each interaction. This allows agents to deal with more complex cases. Intelligent chatbots help businesses meet customer expectations quicker and more accurately. 

ServiceEcho

In today’s market, field service management companies are expected to be efficient, accurate, and have an outstanding customer experience. These expectations will only increase with technological advancements, and AI is just the first step. FSM companies prioritizing field management software already have the edge over their competition. To experience these benefits for your company, try ServiceEcho’s AI-driven field service management software and book a demo to learn more.