Do you struggle with communication between the office and with technicians on the field? Is team management a hassle? Does invoicing and gathering paperwork take up valuable time? Are you thinking about making the leap to Field Service Management software to streamline your business? These are some questions to keep in mind when making your decision:
Will this work in my industry?
When talking about Field Services there is a large range of industries within. It is important to check what past clients the FSM vendor has worked with, and if those companies are similar to your organization. They are likely to know your business, the specific challenges associated with your industry, and provide a customized solution that is tailored to your organization’s needs. Check our case studies page to get a good understanding of how an FSM’s solution impacted a company in a specific industry.
What main features do I need?
It is critical to plan what features you are looking for in an FSM solution. Some key features may include routing, automatic invoicing, scheduling, inventory management, work order management, technician management, and reporting. Each business has specific needs that an FSM solution can be customized to, it is important to identify weaknesses in your processes to find the features you may need.
How many users will my system need?
Most FSM’s charge for their service based on the number of users, it’s good to set this out so you can set a budget and evaluate.
What type of support will I get?
Switching to or implementing an FSM can be a daunting change, there is stress around how smooth the transition will be and the support you will get along the way. Getting an FSM solution without the right support is a waste of time and money, you need to invest in one that will have a team to support you through the process of implementation and throughout the relationship. The support and guidance the FSM provider offers are vital to your company being successful and getting the most out of your investment. Some good questions to ask would be: Is there a support portal with tutorials and help guides? How is the technical support? Is there a designated point of contact that will be assigned to me?
What deployment makes the most sense?
FSM can come in two forms, on-premise, and cloud-based software. On-premise is an in-house solution that is managed by in-house IT staff and is costly to get up and running, with regular maintenance/service expenses. While cloud-based software is a software as service (SaaS) that is managed and serviced by a provider via the internet. This deployment has gained traction over the last few years, due to its ease of setup, low up-front costs, and regular maintenance and software upgrades with little end-user involvement. Cloud-based software also offers native mobile apps for different operating systems like IOS, Windows, and Android for mobile accessibility.
How will this fit with my current CRM?
As a field service business, you are more likely to have a Customer Relationship Management platform. It is key to ask yourself if the FSM solution seamlessly integrates with your existing CRM like Salesforce. This will allow you to connect your CRM of choice to continue to build on the relationships with your customers. If your FSM solution cannot integrate with your CRM, it will have a negative impact on customer service.
Doing thorough research on Field Service Solutions and asking the right questions can lead to a solution that provides increased productivity, efficiency, and profitability. Finding the right solution takes time and should work not only for you but for your customers. To ensure that you are getting the highest return on your investment, learn about FSM solutions through our FAQ page or book a demo today!