Data management specialist Proact has signed a new partner agreement with LogicMonitor to enable Proact and its customers to better collect and consolidate critical performance and operational data on their IT infrastructure and cloud services.

THE PARTNERSHIP WITH LOGICMONITOR WILL ENHANCE PROACT EXISTING MANAGEMENT CLOUD SERVICES

We are excited about this new partnership as we are seeing a strong market trend in movement towards AIOps. It’s a new mindset within IT operations where machine learning is applied to collected data, to predict what will happen within certain environments. This new partnership will benefit both customers that decide to operate our monitoring platforms themselves and those who use our Managed Cloud Services” says Per Sedihn, CTO and VP, Portfolio and Technology at Proact IT Group AB.

“LogicMonitor continues to evolve its partner strategy to focus not only on global expansion, but also on hyper-localisation. In the wake of the pandemic, many enterprises have turned to local organisations with market leading expertise to address their business needs,” says Sanjay Gupta, Global Vice President of Channels and Alliances at LogicMonitor. “We recognize the power in aligning with companies that not only have a global footprint but also established trust within their local markets. Partnering with Proact extends LogicMonitor’s availability via a trusted global IT managed services provider who has strong local ties within their key markets.”

The new partner agreement with LogicMonitor stretches across all countries in which Proact operates and will also act as a foundation for enhancing Proacts existing managed cloud services.

Further Reading:

• Read more about Digital Transformation @ www.fieldservicenews.com/digital-transformation
• Read more about Artificial Intelligence @ www.fieldservicenews.com/artificial-intelligence
• Learn more about Proact @ www.proact.eu
• Find out more about LogicMonitor @ www.logicmonitor.com
• Follow Proact on Twitter @ twitter.com/proact_it

Strata Logistics has seen its fleet mpg soar by 12 per cent thanks to connected technology introduced to improve productivity, driver behaviour and tachograph compliance.

The Letchworth-based haulier’s integrated solution combines Webfleet Solutions’ fleet management platform WEBFLEET, connected cameras from VisionTrack, TDi Software’s TransMaS traffic management system and disc-check tachograph software.

WEBFLEET’s OptiDrive 360 functionality highlights dangerous or inefficient driving, profiling drivers based on incidents such as harsh braking, sharp cornering or speeding. VisionTrack’s connected cameras, meanwhile, provide associated video evidence for every event.

THE TECHNOLOGY ALLOWS STRATA TO STREAMLINE ITS WORKFLOW MANAGEMENT AND SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE FLEET ADMIN TIME

“The improvement in our average fuel consumption has been helped in no small part by a 75 per cent reduction in speeding and a 50 per cent drop in vehicle idling incidents,” said Paul White, Managing Director, Strata Logistics

“We also expect our maintenance spend to fall as we experience less wear and tear on vehicle components, such as tyres and brakes."

By using a single software interface, Strata has also streamlined its workflow management and seen a significant reduction in fleet admin time.

Jobs can now be scheduled dynamically, with daily job itineraries sent to drivers via Webfleet Solutions’ PRO 8375 TRUCK ruggedized terminals. As jobs are accepted by Strata’s drivers, the system automatically provides truck-specific navigation instructions and accurate ETAs, meaning customers can be notified when their deliveries are due to arrive.

“We had previously relied heavily on manual planning, but the introduction of the integrated WEBFLEET and TransMaS solution has been revolutionary,” White added.

“We have seen fantastic gains in productivity and now have full visibility over our entire operation."

In addition, the combination of WEBFLEET TachoShare with TDi’s disc-check is making life easier for Strata to remain compliant with tachograph regulations.

TachoShare has taken responsibility away from the company’s drivers by automating the remote download of driver card and vehicle unit data, saving them time through reduced administration. Disc-check then simplifies back office analysis and reporting, helping to monitor and reduce the likelihood of future infringements.

Strata Logistics’ investment in the fleet management solution was supported by TDi Software, an official Webfleet Solutions partner.

Further Reading:

• Read more about Managing the Mobile Workforce @ www.fieldservicenews.com/managing-the-mobile-workforce
• Read more about Fleet Technology @ www.fieldservicenews.com/fleet-technology
• Learn more about Strata Logistics @ stratalogistics.com
• Learn more about Webfleet Solutions  @ www.webfleet.com
• Find out more about Vision Track @ www.visiontrack.com
• Follow WebFleet Solutions on Twitter @ twitter.com/Webfleetnews

In this final article of a series of excerpts from a recent e-book published by IFS, we discuss how to achieve the full benefits of digital transformation with less risk, lower cost and in a fraction of the time.

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This feature is just one short excerpt from an exclusive Field Service News e-book published by IFS.

www.fieldservicenews.com subscribers can read the full e-book now by hitting the button below.

If you are yet to subscribe you can do so for free by hitting the button and registering for our complimentary subscription tier FSN Standard on a dedicated page that provides you instant access to this white paper PLUS you will also be able to access our monthly selection of premium resources as soo as you are registered.

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Data usage note: By accessing this content you consent to the contact details submitted when you registered as a subscriber to fieldservicenews.com to be shared with the listed sponsor of this premium content IFS who may contact you for legitimate business reasons to discuss the content of this white paper, as per the terms and conditions of your subscription agreement which you opted into in line with GDPR regulations and is an ongoing condition of subscription.

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Harness the Power of Integrated Data

 

The Challenge

In order to create more value for customers annd deliver a seamless, branded experience, organizations need to harness data and intelligence to not only meet, but also anticipate, their customer's future needs.

This type of outcomes-based innovation requires huge cultural and organizational changes, breaking down data silos and coordinating processes across your entire enterprise. By enabling every employee to have a 360-degree view of the customer, teams can deliver a thoughtful, personalized experience at every customer touchpoint.

The Solution

While many businesses today are utilizing technology that helps them manage their customers, people and assets, only forward-thinking innovators can join the dots between these systems so that they can deliver amazing outcomes-based customer experiences.

In order to do that, you need to have solutions that are optimized specifically for your customers, your people and your assets. IFS Cloud will be the single home for IFS's entire portfolio across manufacturing, project management and service, delivering Enterprise Resource Planning, Enterprise Asset Management and Field Service Management capabilities under one platform - breaking down category silos and giving a single-point of truth for information.

"You need to give customers a consistent level of service no matter where you operate, and this platform allows us to do that"

Gyner Ozgul, Senior Vice President, Smart Care.

 

The Full Benefits of Digital Transformation

The Challenge

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated digital transformation in a variety of industries. Yet to achieve the full value of digital transformation, your business must be able to integrate one data source with pmultiple other data streams and software systems.

You also need innovations that can provide scalable, agile solutions that are designed for utilizing complex sets of data this way.

The Solution

Companies struggle to make meaningful use out of their data because it's siloed in different departments and systems. IFS Cloud helps solve that problem. It is built on a common data model and is designed to be completely open to your business and IT landscape. This gives businesses a consistent way to connect its people, assets, products to IFS Cloud and easily integrate with other systems.

A key trend in enterprise software is the concept of the Composable business, which enables organizations to adopt and scale the technology capabilties they need, when they need them. This type of technology also allows you to grow without haveing to constantly introduce and integrate new platforms and data silos. IFS Cloud is built as a containerized environment, on a common platform made up of compostable units. This means you can select the technology capabilties you need with industy best practices built-in, allowing you to implement them in a fraction of the time to support your changing business needs.

Lastly, having innovations embedded in our solution removes complexity and reduces cost and risk for businesses. It also enables you to harness and scale new capabilities across your entire organization, such as IOT, Digital Twins, Ai, machine learning and process automation. You get to choose the exact combination of dunctionality and innovation and the right kind of deployment model that works for your business - all combined with the in-depth industry focus and expertise that you need. With IFS Cloud, there are no bolt-on integrations or expensive proof of concepts. Our embedded, natively builtinnovations mean you achieve value from your technology investment faster.

 

"By 2023, Gartner predicts that organizations that have adopted a compostable approach will outpace competition by 80% in the speed of new feature implementation..."

 

Deliver Amazing Moments of Service

Customers today don't want to buy products, they buy experiences. These experiences can be made delightful if you adopt digital business models and orchestrate your entire value chain to achieve, not only a great Moment of Service, but also the full benefits of digital transformation for your organization.

Discover how IFS can help your organization embrace the service delivery models of the future and the softwate that will meet your ambitions. Download the IFS Service Managers' Buyer's Guide that explains exactly how to align your service workflow uniquely to the technologies that will help deliver growth.

 

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This feature is just one short excerpt from an exclusive Field Service News e-book published by IFS.

www.fieldservicenews.com subscribers can read the full e-book now by hitting the button below.

If you are yet to subscribe you can do so for free by hitting the button and registering for our complimentary subscription tier FSN Standard on a dedicated page that provides you instant access to this white paper PLUS you will also be able to access our monthly selection of premium resources as soo as you are registered.

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Data usage note: By accessing this content you consent to the contact details submitted when you registered as a subscriber to fieldservicenews.com to be shared with the listed sponsor of this premium content IFS who may contact you for legitimate business reasons to discuss the content of this white paper, as per the terms and conditions of your subscription agreement which you opted into in line with GDPR regulations and is an ongoing condition of subscription.

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Further Reading:

• Read more about IFS on Field Service News @ www.fieldservicenews.com/ifs
• Read more about Digital Transformation @ www.fieldservicenews.com/digital-transformation
• Learn more about IFS @ www.ifs.com
• Download the IFS Service Managers Buyer's Guide @ www.ifs.com/assets/service-management-buyers-guide/
• Learn more about IFS Cloud @ www.ifs.com/ifs-cloud-overview/
• Follow IFS on Twitter @ twitter.com/ifs

IFS, the global enterprise applications company, announces that Jacqueline de Rojas has joined its Board as a non-executive director. Following three years of successive double-digit growth, the appointment of de Rojas adds strength and depth to the IFS Board, providing direction, governance, and support to management during this phase of expansion. The appointment is effective immediately and brings the current number of non-executive directors at IFS to five.

De Rojas is an experienced technology executive and industry thought leader. Through her various roles and appointments, she has helped the industry at large address the digital skills gap, deliver on diversity and inclusion, and ensure technology is accessible throughout all levels of society. Her work and commitment have been recognized by industry bodies and governments. She has also been awarded Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for services benefiting the technology sector related to international trade.

TENURED TECHNOLOGY EXECUTIVE AND PRESIDENT OF TECHUK TO SUPPORT IFS THROUGH THE NEXT PHASE OF GROWTH

Commenting on her appointment, de Rojas said, “As the global economy reboots following the Covid-19 pandemic, technology will play a crucial role in helping businesses to build back better and make up for lost ground. Throughout this crisis, we’ve seen the power of IT in action to deliver life-saving public services, swift vaccination rollouts and keep businesses operational.”

“IFS stands apart from its competitors by marrying the Company’s deep industry expertise with its ability to rapidly create business impact,” she continued. “The leadership team has a clear vision of how to empower its customers to deliver meaningful moments of service and value. I’m thrilled to be joining the diverse and ambitious team at IFS which is set to play a major role in the reshaping of industry business models as we enter a post-Covid economy.”

Darren Roos, CEO of IFS, said, “Jacqueline’s track record speaks for itself and she is a real ambassador for the things we care about as a business. Her experience and passion will be meaningful as IFS continues its transformation and growth trajectory. The expertise she brings will further enhance the board’s ability to support and oversee the delivery of our strategy.”

Jacqueline de Rojas CBE

De Rojas holds Board-level assignments for several leading global businesses: as Chair of Metapraxis; and as a Board director at Rightmove plc, FDM Group plc, Costain Group plc. She is also President of techUK, an advocate for diversity and inclusion, and a mentor at Merryck Group.

Prior to her current assignments, de Rojas had a 30-year career in enterprise software having held senior leadership positions in global tech businesses such as Citrix, CA Technologies, McAfee, Novell, and Business Objects.

For more information about the members of the IFS Board, please visit: https://www.ifs.com/corp/company/governance/

Further Reading:

• Read more about Leadership and Strategy @ www.fieldservicenews.com/leadership-and-strategy
• Find out more about IFS @ www.ifs.com/
• Read more about IFS on Field Service News @ https://www.fieldservicenews.com/ifs
• Learn more about the IFS Board @ www.ifs.com/corp/company/governance/
• Follow IFS on Twitter @ twitter.com/ifs

In this third article of a series of excerpts from a recent e-book published by IFS, we look at how to use artificial intelligence to optimize resources and make predictive scheduling a reality.

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This feature is just one short excerpt from an exclusive Field Service News e-book published by IFS.

www.fieldservicenews.com subscribers can read the full e-book now by hitting the button below.

If you are yet to subscribe you can do so for free by hitting the button and registering for our complimentary subscription tier FSN Standard on a dedicated page that provides you instant access to this white paper PLUS you will also be able to access our monthly selection of premium resources as soo as you are registered.

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Data usage note: By accessing this content you consent to the contact details submitted when you registered as a subscriber to fieldservicenews.com to be shared with the listed sponsor of this premium content IFS who may contact you for legitimate business reasons to discuss the content of this white paper, as per the terms and conditions of your subscription agreement which you opted into in line with GDPR regulations and is an ongoing condition of subscription.

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Artificial Intelligence to Optimize Resources

The Challenge

Optimizing the productivity of your field workforce while delivering a great experience for your customers is ever more challenging in today's on-demand world.

Field service software with embedded Artificial Intelligence (AI) delivers knowledge efficiently, processes solutions to complex data seta, and automates repetitive activities to allow human workers to focus on personalized service, solving complex problems and escalations - where people excel. AI is revolutionizing the way resources are optimized, paving the way for predictive scheduling and enabling organizations to consistently meet service level agreements for enhanced outcomes.

However, despite almost 90 percent of businesses intending to make an investment in AI, it can be difficult for them to get started on the journey to delivering the value that AI promises. The important thing is not AI in and of itself, but how it can be used as an enabler within our solutions. Our AI solutions are focused on clear use cases that will allow you to better support your business, both now and in the future. We make AI easy to use and to understand for non-technical data specialists, removing the complexity while still delivering solutions that are rubust and powerful in their use of algorithms and data science.

"IFS scheduling optimizing is a phenomenally powerful tool. It is key to us in delivering the outcomes our customers want in the most efficient way possible."

Mike Gosling, IT Service Platforms Manager, Cubic Transportation Systems.

The Solution

IFS gives you what you need to optimize your planning and scheduling activities to manage the strategic, operational and tactical elements of your resource planning.

Powered by industry-leading artificial intelligence, IFS can do in minutes what our competitors take hours to accomplish. Our planning and scheduling solution allowa you to forecast and model your requirements to test strategic changes before you implement them, saving you time, money, and headaches.

Service is the New Product. And It Enables the Move to Outcomes

The Challenge

Adopting Artificial Intelligence allowa your organization to move towards greater automation of business processes when it is effectively combined with other technologies to solve problems end-to-end.

As you've seen, for example, the predictive service of assets relies on effective live data gathering via IoT sensors, machine learning to predict future asset performance using a model built on data sources like maintenance history, and advanced scheduling and optimization to plan the most effective maintenance schedules based on these predictions.

The Solution

The key to how IFS delivers improved processes lies in our Intelligent Process Automation, which is a combination of the following tools:

• Process discovery and representation through a business modeler used for a Digital Twin of the Organization (DTO)
• Data and knowledge management through the creation of connected knowledge representation to describe processes and their related entities and properties
• Process monitoring through Machine Learning, continually improving execution through reinforcement learning
• Automation through a workflow engine that can initiate actions within our software

"It's inevitable: selling products as services will become a major component of businesses over the next decade."

Aly Pinder, Product Director, Service Innovation & Connected Products, IDC.

Business applications have always been about process automation, but historically knowledge has been captured and implemented using human-crafted business rules and thresholds. This approach has shortcomings: the rules used are typically of limited complexity, do not change dynamically over time and purely encode knowledge as directed by humans, who might not be doing things efficiently or correctly. By incorporating machine learning, IFS can help organizations leverage historical data to detect patterns and rules that might not be apparent to people, while learning continues over time to produce the best decisions and enable organizations to adapt to changing business environments.

Look out for the next feature from the e-book "The Future of Service Management Technology" next week where we look at two major service challenges to overcome when it comes to the service workforce.

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This feature is just one short excerpt from an exclusive Field Service News e-book published by IFS.

www.fieldservicenews.com subscribers can read the full e-book now by hitting the button below.

If you are yet to subscribe you can do so for free by hitting the button and registering for our complimentary subscription tier FSN Standard on a dedicated page that provides you instant access to this white paper PLUS you will also be able to access our monthly selection of premium resources as soo as you are registered.

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Data usage note: By accessing this content you consent to the contact details submitted when you registered as a subscriber to fieldservicenews.com to be shared with the listed sponsor of this premium content IFS who may contact you for legitimate business reasons to discuss the content of this white paper, as per the terms and conditions of your subscription agreement which you opted into in line with GDPR regulations and is an ongoing condition of subscription.

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Further Reading:

• Read more about IFS on Field Service News @ www.fieldservicenews.com/ifs
• Read more about Digital Transformation @ www.fieldservicenews.com/digital-transformation
• Learn more about IFS @ www.ifs.com
• Download the IFS Service Managers Buyer's Guide @ www.ifs.com/assets/service-management-buyers-guide/
• Learn more about IFS Cloud @ www.ifs.com/ifs-cloud-overview/
• Follow IFS on Twitter @ twitter.com/ifs

In this new article by Aquant, we look at a step-by-step approach that all service leaders should consider to ensure a smooth tech deployment.

Artificial intelligence is a growing force in the service space, but without proper pre-project planning, problems are bound to arise. To ensure a smooth deployment, team leaders should rely on a step-by-step approach to bring the final product over the finish line.

Enter the mighty checklist, whose power to manage expectations, help stakeholders remain consistent, and guide a project to completion knows no bounds. In our recent Service Leaders Spring Break sessions, we identified four essential steps that all service leaders should consider when implementing AI tools within their organizations.

let's put together the plan

1. Define the problem. Hone in on the larger business problem, then tie your service challenges to those broader business initiatives. Begin by diagnosing what the problem actually is — that means trying to solve for the root cause instead of putting bandaids on symptoms. Next, show the C-suite that your proposed service deployment will address those big issues. For example, if increasing customer satisfaction is a top initiative, be clear how technology that increases first time fix, or helps spread technician knowledge will result in boosting those customer service goals. Lastly, break those big goals down into tangible wins that will resonate across departments. For example, IT wins with cleaner data, and managers can rejoice at trackable KPIs.  
2. Create a stakeholder map: Stakeholders, assemble! From executives to end users, it’s important to determine who has an interest in the outcome, as well as influence over the overall project. A successful team contains a healthy mix of partners with the power to set and modify requirements, as well as others who will be directly impacted by the project's outcome. Once you assemble your dream team, you can determine what they need to succeed and start guiding the project to be as successful as possible. Throughout the duration of the implementation, your stakeholders will give you quick feedback and deeper insights — both necessary for a successful end result. Don’t forget to get back to basics by assigning tasks, due dates, and keeping everyone (equally) informed with regular check-ins. In short, don’t let any one group feel left out.
3. Perform a data reality check: There’s no such thing as good or bad data — only existing data and what you make of it. In most companies, IT and business departments will need to work in tandem: the first gathers the data, and the latter interprets it. For a successful implementation, both parties need to have an understanding of what data exists, and how they’d like to use it to achieve results. The AI vendor can further analyze and interpret. One last note here, don’t worry that your data is too messy or that your company doesn’t have enough data. The starting point should be simply assessing what’s available.
4. Agree on realistic project expectations: We’ve heard the horror stories when it comes to AI implementations — complexities, escalating timescales, and spiraling costs can run rampant. For these reasons and more, companies tend to label large-scale implementations as confusing and risky. However, keep in mind that artificial intelligence is a “living” tool — one whose capabilities expand and contract as it absorbs more data. You should not expect your AI to work at 100% efficacy right out the gate, but rather, remember that its accuracy will increase as it learns how to utilize your organization’s data. That means that project expectations should start small and grow in relation to the project. Don’t forget, implementation is the first step, then comes full user adoption, and that’s when results will really take off.

Once you hit these pre-project milestones, it will be easier to move forward gaining approvals and rolling out the projects.

need some inspiration?

We built the checklist so you don’t have to.

To accelerate your project, Aquant created The Ultimate Guide to Tech Deployments, a comprehensive list designed to help you fully define the benefits of AI and leverage its power within your organization. We know it can be overwhelming to consider the many puzzle pieces, so you can use our checklist to take your deployment to the next level, or simply use it as a guide.

Further Reading:

• Read more about Aquant on Field Service News @ www.fieldservicenews.com/aquant
• Read more about Digital Transformation @ www.fieldservicenews.com/digital-transformation
• Watch the Aquant Service Leaders Spring Break sessions @ view.aquant.io/servicespringbreak/
• Download Aquant's Ultimate Guide to Tech Deployments @ www2.aquant.io/ai-deployment-checklist
• Learn more about Aquant @ www.aquant.io
• Follow Aquant on Twitter @ twitter.com/Aquant_io

In the third and final excerpt from a recent white paper published by Aquant, we look at four solutions for effectively building the new service workforce...

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This feature is just one short excerpt from a white paper published by Aquant.

www.fieldservicenews.com subscribers can read the full white paper now by hitting the button below.

If you are yet to subscribe you can do so for free by hitting the button and registering for our complimentary subscription tier FSN Standard on a dedicated page that provides you instant access to this white paper PLUS you will also be able to access our monthly selection of premium resources as soo as you are registered.

 

 

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A little understanding of generational differences goes a long way in building the tech-savvy, customer-centric, and skilled (multigenerational) workforce you need.

The most talented young service workers won’t magically appear at your door simply because post a job online — you need to attract them with the right mix of tools and approaches, empower them with the technology they expect, and enable their learning and professional developmen

Leverage the Latest Technologies Across the Entire Organization

From the initial hiring processes to the provision of everyday work tools, outdated technology is a big turnoff for digital natives like Gen Z and Millennials. If they sense that your technology is stuck in 1999, they’ll take a different job. A 2019 Yello survey found that Gen Z has a baseline expectation that employers use up-to-date technology for the application process and that their platforms be mobile-friendly. A quarter (26%) of Gen Z candidates say that a lack of technology during the hiring process alone would prevent them from accepting a job with the company, so tech matters from the very start of the relationship. Set the right expectations early (and always).

When it comes to using technology for work, Millennials and Gen Z want to use (and master) the latest and greatest digital tools to help them do their jobs more effectively. In a recent webinar with Rodger Smelcer of United Service Technologies, he explained how he’s got one of the youngest service teams in the industry, and how UST’s up-to-date technology is key to keeping younger employees engaged and productive.

Smelcer details how younger service engineers utilize everything from mobile apps and social media to AI tools to capture findings and share new fixes or hacks with the entire UST team. He also notes that junior staff are energized to use the latest technology that empowers them to crush daily service metrics and foster long-term career advancement.

Enable Collaboration

Tech-savvy Gen Z workers and Millennials have grown up accustomed to collaborating in real-time in every aspect of their daily life and they bring those same preferences to the workplace. While it’s generally assumed that the youngest members of the workforce rely exclusively on digital tools, Gen Z, and to a lesser extent, Millennials, actually prefer to have a full menu of collaboration options, showing a desire for face-to-face interactions as one option (among many) to stay connected at work. And younger workers also want continuous, face-to-face feedback about their contributions at work.

It isn’t either technology or face-to-face, but preferably all-of-the-above.

What does that mean at a time of social distancing for an industry where field engineers have traditionally worked solo on job sites? Remote collaboration tools have never been more relevant than today to ensure the safety of service employees and their customers. These remote tools enable the workforce to feel (and literally be) connected and access the most accurate information and advice from across the entire organization. The benefit? The ability to resolve service issues with little or no in-person contact with customers.

Especially at a time of remote work and remote service, building collaboration into daily workflows and adopting technology to foster a collective knowledge base is essential for ensuring (contactless) service quality and extending a sense of camaraderie in service teams.

Support Continuous Learning

Professional development is among the top priorities for Millennials and Gen Z. When asked why they were dissatisfied with a job or planned to quit a position after less than two years, lack of training and professional development ranked third for both younger generations, just behind pay and a lack of advancement, according to research by Deloitte.

Both groups express eagerness for on-the-job mentoring along with digital tools that let them learn-as-they-go and share their findings with colleagues. Meeting the expectations of this young, motivated workforce is key to adapting to ongoing demographic shifts and a business climate of rapid digital transformation. When your younger workers learn via digital tools, not only do they stay engaged with your organization, but they also drive better service outcomes for your customers (who also expect tech-savvy solutions, by the way.

Set Your Business Up for Post-Covid Success

COVID-19 has served to accelerate digital transformation, for both business organizations and the customers they serve. Customers, in general, turned to more digital solutions, from online grocery shopping to Zoom meetings to streaming entertainment. Businesses were forced to keep pace and “up” their digital game

Those service organizations that had invested in digital transformation prior to the pandemic or have accelerated digital investments during the pandemic have generally outperformed organizations that have been slower to deploy digital-first approaches. In the service industry, for example, remote service provision has become a key success factor at a time of public health concerns and social distancing. Moreover, maintenance of equipment is increasingly becoming predictive and proactive, as sensors transmit continuous streams of real-time performance data that enables service and maintenance teams to intervene even before equipment breaks down

Digital tools that support faster, predictive, or remote service are now even more critical drivers of customer experience. The technology also helps reduce time on site, which is helpful in terms of public health. Whatever the future brings, digital tools can help ensure the continuity of your service operation and enable you to scale service provision.

WHAT'S NEXT

Now’s the time to act before small problems become insurmountable.

Digital tools, like intuitive AI solutions, can help your service team leverage and share service knowledge, which is the key to improving service outcomes — including improving KPIs and enhancing the customer experience. Those same tools will help attract and engage younger service talent by helping them feel both comfortable and more empowered.

Equally important, leveraging digital technology can help you future-proof your service organization in times of crisis, such as during COVID-19.

The service organizations that coped best with social distancing had already invested in digital transformation, which helped them adapt faster to “the new normal.”

Whether it’s a public health crisis or a demographic/workforce shift, you’ll need to remain agile: digital tools offer the best way forward regardless of the challenge.

Your new recruits (and customers) will thank you!

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This feature is just one short excerpt from a white paper published by Aquant.

www.fieldservicenews.com subscribers can read the full white paper now by hitting the button below.

If you are yet to subscribe you can do so for free by hitting the button and registering for our complimentary subscription tier FSN Standard on a dedicated page that provides you instant access to this white paper PLUS you will also be able to access our monthly selection of premium resources as soo as you are registered.

 

 

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Data usage note: By accessing this content you consent to the contact details submitted when you registered as a subscriber to fieldservicenews.com to be shared with the listed sponsor of this premium content Aquant who may contact you for legitimate business reasons to discuss the content of this white paper, as per the terms and conditions of your subscription agreement which you opted into in line with GDPR regulations and is an ongoing condition of subscription.

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Further Reading:

• Read more about Aquant on Field Service News @ www.fieldservicenews.com/aquant
• Read more about Digital Transformation @ www.fieldservicenews.com/digital-transformation
• Read more about Leadership & Strategy @ www.fieldservicenews.com//leadership-and-strategy
• Learn more about Aquant @ www.aquant.io
• Follow Aquant on Twitter @ twitter.com/Aquant_io

 

In the second article of a series of excerpts from a recent e-book published by IFS, we discuss how IoT and machine learning make predictive maintenance a reality.

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This feature is just one short excerpt from an e-book published by IFS.

www.fieldservicenews.com subscribers can read the full e-book now by hitting the button below.

If you are yet to subscribe you can do so for free by hitting the button and registering for our complimentary subscription tier FSN Standard on a dedicated page that provides you instant access to this white paper PLUS you will also be able to access our monthly selection of premium resources as soo as you are registered.

---

Data usage note: By accessing this content you consent to the contact details submitted when you registered as a subscriber to fieldservicenews.com to be shared with the listed sponsor of this premium content IFS who may contact you for legitimate business reasons to discuss the content of this white paper, as per the terms and conditions of your subscription agreement which you opted into in line with GDPR regulations and is an ongoing condition of subscription.

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Break / Fix is Dead.

The Challenge

As innovators vie to stand out and become leaders in today's highly competitve landscape, the traditional model of break-then-fix is no longer holding weight with the consumer.

To embrace the service delivery models of the future, businesses need to evolve over time from reactive to proactive to democratized and ultimately, to predictive and prescriptive maintenance.

The Solution

IFS' advanced asset monitoring technologies enable you to establish a higher level of service above and beyond fixing individual pieces of equipment when requested. It guarantees your customer continued operation and focuses on building a long-term partnership to increase their asset lifecyles and enhance their operational performance.

IoT measurements and readings draw your attention to possible faults and anomalies before they occur, allowing service teams to deliver quick and appropriate response to avoid downtime.

IFS predictive maintenance adds machine learning power from sensor data and historical asset service information to identify under - or over - maintained assets. You can revise and optimize maintenance plans, moving from time-based preventive action to condition-based predictive action for increased uptime and asset output.

IFS customer Eickhoff, like many manufacturers, has been redefining the role service will play in the company's ability to differentiate. Eickhoff's 1300 employees worldwide support two business units: mining equipment and gearboxes for industrial and wind turbine applications. Its mining customers are focused heavily on uptime and output since any downtime of the equipment is incredibly costly.

"IoT and data analysis are critical to Eickhoff's evolution. Porting notable events from our IoT environment into IFS's platform is helpful in terms of history and documentation, in detecting event that are worth alerting customers to take action on, and to schedule out and event predict service needs. But moreover, the insights we can glean are a new line of customer value. Their ultimate goal is uptime, so not only can we provide the machinery but also insights to help them achieve that goal."

Dietmar Schmitz, Head of Product Development Service, Eickhoff.

We're helping our customer Icelandair to analyze data from multiple sources while utilizing predictive modelling that's powered by machine learning. Plus, we're using explainable AI to not only predict when an aircraft may experience an issue that requires ground-time within a certain time frame, but also predict which area of the aircraft is most likely to experience a failure.

Instead, businesses need to deliver a customer's desired outcome for their product, equipment or asset, and often before the customer has even thought to ask for it. Whether it's B2B or B2C, all customers want greater value from their investment, and that means providing a service that works for them, exactly how they want it to. The additional challenge, however, is for service organizations to deliver this in a way that's sustainable and cost-effective.

"We're saving costs and increasing our on-time performance."

Lilja Scheel Birgisdottir, Reliability Engineer, icelandair.

Subscribe to access the full e-book where you can watch two videos from Icelandair, where Reliability Engineer, Lilja Scheel Birgisdottir explains how, with the help of IFS, they are able to reduce costs by collecting technical data that enables them to constantly evaluate the health of their fleet.

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This feature is just one short excerpt from an e-book published by IFS.

www.fieldservicenews.com subscribers can read the full e-book now by hitting the button below.

If you are yet to subscribe you can do so for free by hitting the button and registering for our complimentary subscription tier FSN Standard on a dedicated page that provides you instant access to this white paper PLUS you will also be able to access our monthly selection of premium resources as soo as you are registered.

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Further Reading:

• Read more about IFS on Field Service News @ www.fieldservicenews.com/ifs
• Read more about Digital Transformation @ www.fieldservicenews.com/digital-transformation
• Learn more about IFS @ www.ifs.com
• Download the IFS Service Managers Buyer's Guide @ www.ifs.com/assets/service-management-buyers-guide/
• Learn more about IFS Cloud @ www.ifs.com/ifs-cloud-overview/
• Follow IFS on Twitter @ twitter.com/ifs

In this second article of a series of excerpts from a recent white paper published by Aquant, we look at two major service challenges to overcome when it comes to the service workforce...

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This feature is just one short excerpt from a white paper published by Aquant.

www.fieldservicenews.com subscribers can read the full white paper now by hitting the button below.

If you are yet to subscribe you can do so for free by hitting the button and registering for our complimentary subscription tier FSN Standard on a dedicated page that provides you instant access to this white paper PLUS you will also be able to access our monthly selection of premium resources as soo as you are registered.

 

 

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Data usage note: By accessing this content you consent to the contact details submitted when you registered as a subscriber to fieldservicenews.com to be shared with the listed sponsor of this premium content Aquant who may contact you for legitimate business reasons to discuss the content of this white paper, as per the terms and conditions of your subscription agreement which you opted into in line with GDPR regulations and is an ongoing condition of subscription.

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All service organizations face external challenges around evolving customer demands and internal challenges around developing their capacities to address those evolving customer demands. When it comes to the service workforce, two challenges stand out above the rest.

 

CHALLENGE #1: The Need to Build a New Workforce for Today and Tomorrow

The shifts described above and the disruptive impacts on service delivery, have been hitting the service industry for a decade now, and are projected to continue for at least the next few years. While many organizations have transition plans in place, you should ask yourself:

“Does my transformation consider ALL aspects of the service cycle?”

That includes:

• People
• Processes
• Technology
• Customer demand and shifting preferences
• Long-term scalability

Here’s why the time to act is now.

• There is a massive demand for highly skilled talent in the service industry, but it’s in short supply.
• A workforce with a wide range of soft and technical skills is required to service today’s mix of equipment and machines. They also need to play the role of front-line brand ambassadors.
• More businesses are competing on service as the differentiator vs price. And the quality of service increasingly represents a major competitive advantage.
• Top younger and tech-savvy talent have more choices, and they’re more likely to leave a workplace that doesn’t meet their expectations for onboarding, training, professional development, and more.

CHALLENGE #2: Today's Growing & Costly Skill Gap

Historically (and today too), the service smarts exemplified by industry veterans came primarily from on-the-job experience and were developed over time. A major challenge for service leaders right now is figuring out how to quickly transfer that knowledge from veterans to the new workforce.

Another factor: these experts are being asked to play two major roles at once — leaders want them to be trainers and mentors, but their deep skillset is needed in the field. Your top service experts simply can’t be in two places at once.

We know you’d love to clone your SMEs and have them on your team forever, but that’s not reality. Here’s what’s happening now as a result of the brain drain.

• Increased service costs

• Decrease in service KPIs, including first time fix rates

• More customer churn

• Lower employee morale

Let’s dive deeper into costs, and for this part, we hope you’re sitting down.  

The skills gap is expensive. The bottom performing quarter of the service workforce (challengers) costs organizations 80% more than the top quarter of the workforce (service heroes), according to our Service Intelligence Benchmark report.

When you have a failed first service visit, the costs continue to grow. A failed first service visit leads to, on average:

• 2.6 total visits to resolve the service issue

• 15 additional days in Mean Time to Resolution

• Customer dissatisfaction and loss of service brand reputation. A failed first visit is especially problematic in light of the pandemic-driven urgency to limit time spent on job sites.

What should service organizations be doing to overcome these issues and build up a dream service team with the know-how to resolve issues efficiently? The first step is attracting, retaining, and empowering members of the two most recent workforce generations, Gen Z and Millennials.

Look out for the next and final excerpt from the white paper "The Service Leader's Guide to Recruiting and Retaining Gen Z & Millennials Employees" next week where we look at 4 solutions for effectively building the new service workforce.

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This feature is just one short excerpt from a white paper published by Aquant.

www.fieldservicenews.com subscribers can read the full white paper now by hitting the button below.

If you are yet to subscribe you can do so for free by hitting the button and registering for our complimentary subscription tier FSN Standard on a dedicated page that provides you instant access to this white paper PLUS you will also be able to access our monthly selection of premium resources as soo as you are registered.

 

 

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Data usage note: By accessing this content you consent to the contact details submitted when you registered as a subscriber to fieldservicenews.com to be shared with the listed sponsor of this premium content Aquant who may contact you for legitimate business reasons to discuss the content of this white paper, as per the terms and conditions of your subscription agreement which you opted into in line with GDPR regulations and is an ongoing condition of subscription.

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Further Reading:

• Read more about Aquant on Field Service News @ www.fieldservicenews.com/aquant
• Read more about Digital Transformation @ www.fieldservicenews.com/digital-transformation
• Read more about Leadership & Strategy @ www.fieldservicenews.com//leadership-and-strategy
• Learn more about Aquant @ www.aquant.io
• Follow Aquant on Twitter @ twitter.com/Aquant_io