There are a plethora of Field Service Management software solutions out there. With so much choice, it can be hard to know exactly what to look for and what your company really needs. In this blog, we’ll break down several things you should think about when evaluating different FSM solutions.
Understand your needs
It sounds obvious, but the best way to evaluate what features you need out of an FSM is to think about what problems your business currently faces. Is scheduling your technicians taking up too much time? Or are invoices being lost? Being thorough and mindful of what your business’s needs are will benefit you, and this way you can avoid purchasing a solution only to find out that it doesn’t solve your biggest problems.
A great place to start is by simply looking at your current budget, where you might be spending, and the problems that are causing you to spend that money. A list of concerns you have that are preventing you from hitting your productivity and profitability goals will help you answer this question. Then do the same with a typical work day. If you can identify the areas of your work day that are causing you the most problems, you’ll be able to get a good idea of what features you need to look for.
Price
For many, price is the primary comparative factor. But it can be hard to get information, as many companies do not display the price of their offerings. Many solutions have their most necessary features locked behind the most expensive pricing tier. This means it can be hard to conduct an apples-to-apples comparison between solutions. There can also be hidden costs, such as start-up fees and support fees.
It’s also important to remember that price does not indicate value. A more expensive solution might come with features that are unnecessary for your business. Or, the price could be higher on a more well-known solution solely based on name recognition. Price should be but one of the many factors that you base your decision on.
CRM Integration
Some FSMs integrate with CRM platforms, and some are stand-alone solutions. ServiceEcho, for example, is built on top of Salesforce, the most popular CRM in the world. This comes with many advantages, such as tying your sales process to your field operations, and making your data secure.
If you’re already on Salesforce, it can be unwieldy to use an FSM that does not support Salesforce integration. Doing so may also mean that you end up ‘paying twice’ for features that Salesforce already provides. If your business is not currently using a CRM, Salesforce is a great, powerful option that can break down data silos and connect the various parts of your business. CRM integration is an important aspect to consider when evaluating FSM options.
Support
It’s also important to consider how well your solution supports you. When things break down and you need help, it’s crucial that you’re able to trust that you can get the help you need. At ServiceEcho, we have a customer support portal, as well as a dedicated team ready to work through any issues you come across.
Summary
A business owner needs to consider the capabilities of the solution before making a purchase. Booking a demo to see the software for yourself and asking any questions you may have is the best way to evaluate FSM software, and to determine if a given solution is right for you. On that note, we at ServiceEcho are always happy to connect and go into detail about our software. Use the buttons below to choose a time convenient for you, or to learn more on our website.