In business today, the large range of technical solutions that exist can be over overwhelming for business owners, managers, and operators. Trying to find the right field service software solutions to improve your overall business productivity can be very frustrating for many who do not have technical backgrounds either. Today though, for service businesses, it is vital that there is a clear consideration for the use of field service management software. Among the most important features though would include work order management software too.
Getting used to working with this kind of service business software daily can be essential to the long-term improvement of operational performance and to your company’s bottom line. In the field, being able to rely upon technology to simplify daily processes is very important to productivity overall, especially for tedious non-revenue generating work.
The use of work order software daily is highly recommended for field service teams. Why, though? Why should this become part of your daily working habits?
What is work order software?
Simply put, work order software is a tool used to organize and prepare job orders for your service teams in the field. It provides a central hub for your entire organization to work from, offering staff in the office and in the field the chance to review and understand the workload for each day.
By having all your work orders all in the one place and visible to all team members part of a specific job, it is harder for any staff members to miss an important update that they need to know about. It also means that teams are more likely to follow the work order checklists and avoid skipping steps or changing protocols when in the field.
By having a single point of reference, it is easier to build a staff blueprint for how each daily task can be managed in the field. Not only does work order management software improve one’s understanding of each activity, but it allows for improved team communications and collaboration for those in the office and in the field.
Put simply, work order management software makes it much easier for a business to stay on top of its essential duties on each working day. Today, the use of work order software in conjunction with a full suite of field service software makes each working day so much more productive for SMBs. Tech startups like Zuper provide a full suite of field service management software solutions, including work order management software for small to large businesses everywhere – no matter what type of industry.
Why work order management is important for field service teams
Historically, work order flows have been taken in by phone calls to being managed on paper sheets to even more recently with excel or Google sheets. These processes have always been ripe for many issues whether servicing customers, proper accounting, and crew timesheets. Whether field technicians are fixing broken appliances, cleaning pools, landscaping for an HOA, or several other types of jobs required on a daily basis, the need for precise organization of work orders and management of service jobs is vital for the success of these service businesses. By having a work order software system, though, it is easier to create a standardized approach to each typical work order.
Work order management software also makes it easier to organize, prepare, and manage work orders as they come in – no matter how many you receive (thanks to great brand reputation and/or marketing). This allows for easier scheduling, planning, execution, and reporting on all of the aspects of any work order.
Daily service scheduling is much easier
A key reason for using work order software is to help build a plan for each working day. Members of staff, as individuals or as wider departments, can make some very wise choices this way. Each work order comes in with far more clarity in terms of the problem and the solution proposed. Instructions for what has to be carried out, and deadlines for when each step has to be finished, can be laid out very clearly to those in the field.
This ensures that work is done on-time each day, and that it is completed within the agreed budget. Leaders of each department can then ensure that those on the field are delivering the right services, at the correct time, within the budget available.
Planning, scheduling, and executing daily plans is much easier with an easily accessed work order hub. Instead of relying upon pen and paper stored in a distant place, all members of staff – in the field or otherwise – can access these important work details.
Access on the go
Another huge benefit of using a software solution like this can be the mobile factor. Instead of having to return to the office or find a desktop computer, they can be easily checked on mobile devices, typically through a field service management app – again, something that Zuper (mentioned above) offers in their large suite of software for service businesses. This allows members of your staff out in the field to quickly double-check the order of priority on their next work order. This has the long-term benefit of improving service uptime, reducing the risk of downtime, and cutting service costs.
Work orders can then be dealt with as and when they come in, with easy notification of all members of the team – even when they are out of the central office.
Reducing the risk and cost of equipment failure
By having a work order software system in place, businesses can benefit from predictive maintenance scheduling. Instead of waiting for something to fail and then fixing the issue, work order management software enables a more predictive maintenance plan for service operators and their customers. This means that the use of real-time data and insights can allow technicians to get in and solve a problem before it begins to cause breakdowns or any performance bottlenecks.
This is vital as it can improve efficiency, reduce dips in performance, and ensure downtime is minimized. If a problem is solved before it becomes severe, key operations can continue without disruption.
Communicate workflow progress with ease
Instead of staff having to call into headquarters or email various departments progress updates, everyone can see the status of the project in real-time online and/or in their mobile app. It is easy to update work order lists to show progress and status reports. Now, business leaders, department heads, and field staff can better understand what is going on with a certain task. This makes it easier to report to other departments, colleagues, clients, and partners about the status of a work order.
Maintenance teams and field staff can show clear progress on where a certain task is at. This allows for better clarity and insight into what is going on with the task at this current moment in time.
Easy messaging and notifications
Following on from the above, field service software allows for everyone to interact with each other in a transparent and visible way. Messages can be left on tasks underway, and staff can communicate using messaging and email features. This allows for better communication among staff, but also allows for easier analysis and insight into the progress of a certain task.
Notifications can then be sent out to everyone who should be notified. This allows for work orders to be updated easily, and for tasks – completed or in progress – to be finished with oversight from the right individuals.
Real time employee location insights
Another key benefit of work order management software is that it can be used to pinpoint where members of staff in the field are. This allows for easier real-time location and workflow updates to stakeholders and partners. Those who need to know exactly where a technician currently is in relation to the task can be given a real-time update, and how close they are to completion of the tasks involved.
This allows for more authentic ETAs, ensuring that everyone can be kept in the loop. Transparency is vital in the service industry and being able to fully detail the current situation is very important. Now, you can easily locate where jobs are, send field teams to the position, and ensure that they can get to work and deliver the best end results as soon as is possible.
Running a business becomes easier with field service software
In short, field service software that makes managing work orders remotely and locally is very important to a modern business. Being able to provide timely updates on where a project is at is vital for both in-house interaction and for client satisfaction. Being able to show visible proof of changes being made, improvements conducted, and maintenance applied is essential to building trust with clients, partners, and stakeholders.
In the past, a lot of opacity was involved in the running of a business in the field. It was often reliant on updates from members on the field as and when they could provide them. With software like this, though, it is much easier for a business to interact with and engage with their team and their clientele.
Being able to offer clear and specific updates improves workplace communication. It reduces confusion and minimizes the risk of performance bottlenecks. Crucially, too, it can play a significant role in keeping everyone in step with one another. This avoids jobs being double-booked, it avoids work being forgotten about, and it ensures that every member of staff knows what they should be doing, where they should be carrying out the task, and when the task should be finished for.
Service-based businesses can remove much of the day-to-day confusion involved simply by investing in a full suite of field service management software solutions. When used properly, these tools can make a previously complex industry so much easier to run, manage, maintain, and grow in the long-term. Best part of it all, you’ll be more productive, more profitable, and most likely, the software you purchase, or license is tax deductible too (double check with your accountant). Business is simplified with automation and technology that you should fully embrace.
Laila Azzahra is a professional writer and blogger that loves to write about technology, business, entertainment, science, and health.