Field Service News

Echoes Across Servitization and Digitalisation

Jun 25, 2021 • Features • Digital Transformation • The View from Academia • Servitization and Advanced Services • EMEA • University of Liverpool • Chris Raddats

Kris Oldland, Editor-in-Chief, Field Service News is joined on the Field Service News Digital Symposium by Dr Chris Raddats of the University of Liverpool a seasoned expert with experience from both the industry and academic sides of the aisle...

Conflict and Resolution Around Data Ownership

Jun 21, 2021 • Features • Digital Transformation • The View from Academia • Servitization and Advanced Services • EMEA • University of Liverpool • Chris Raddats

The Close Relationship Between Servitization and Digitalisation

Jun 18, 2021 • Features • Digital Transformation • The View from Academia • Servitization and Advanced Services • EMEA • University of Liverpool • Chris Raddats

Why Digitalisation Further Emphasises the Importance of Outside-In Thinking

Jun 14, 2021 • Features • Digital Transformation • The View from Academia • Servitization and Advanced Services • EMEA • University of Liverpool • Chris Raddats

Just How Big is Big Data for Field Service Operations

Jun 11, 2021 • Features • Digital Transformation • The View from Academia • Servitization and Advanced Services • EMEA • University of Liverpool • Chris Raddats

The Need For More Robust Definitions Around Servitization

Jun 09, 2021 • Features • Digital Transformation • The View from Academia • Servitization and Advanced Services • EMEA • University of Liverpool • Chris Raddats

Has Servitization Reached Critical Mass?

Jun 04, 2021 • Features • Digital Transformation • The View from Academia • Servitization and Advanced Services • EMEA • University of Liverpool • Chris Raddats

UK Small Businesses Plan to Step-Up International and National Trade Post-Pandemic

May 26, 2021 • News • Small Medium Businesses • SMB • Leadership and Strategy • EMEA • xero

More than half (57%) of SME owners plan to expand trade to new territories outside the EU and at home after the pandemic with the help of online tools, according to global small business platform, Xero.

The boom in e-commerce and new EU trading conditions are driving many SMEs to break into fresh territories and customer segments. According to Xero’s Future of Small Business report, more than a third (36%) say it’s too expensive to sell to European countries, due to Brexit trading regulations and import-export charges.

This hasn’t dampened small business ambitions. It’s pushed 44% to explore new markets for the first time, with one third (33 per cent) increasing their customer base geographically during the pandemic due to a bigger focus on borderless e-commerce sales.

A THIRD OF SMALL BUSINESSES INCREASED THEIR CUSTOMER BASE GEOGRAPHICALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC DUE TO A FOCUS ON BORDERLESS E-COMMERCE SALES, AS COMPANIES QUICKLY ADAPTED AND EMBRACED NEW TECHNOLOGIES

The rise in remote working and rapid adoption of new technology has made it much easier to sell beyond physical location. 2 in 5 (41 per cent) say that online tools have been key for targeting new customers both at home and abroad. And 34% of SME owners are now more willing to hire staff that are completely remote as a result of Covid.

“The way small businesses operate on a global scale is transforming and it’s positive to see the impact of Covid and Brexit hasn’t dampened their ambitions. Technology and automated software in particular – like e-commerce platforms – have undoubtedly opened up trade opportunities for small businesses, allowing them to trade both across the UK and further afield,” said Donna Torres, director of small business at Xero.

Max Henderson, Co-Founder of Hotpod Yoga, also commented: “Dealing simultaneously with a global health pandemic and Brexit, has certainly been challenging. Luckily for us, the reaction in the UK since lockdown restrictions eased has been extraordinary and we’re seeing our classes hit 100% capacity across the whole country.

“This kind of rebound has meant we're back on the front foot and looking to launch around 40 new locations across the UK and Europe within 12 months - but with that comes a lot of work to understand the rules of operating in different markets and of course a large amount of paperwork for things like customs and rules of origin. We’re yet to see the immediate effects of Brexit on trading, with cross-continental trade having been put on hold due to various lockdown restrictions in each market, but given our success in the UK, we’re optimistic about the opportunity.”

Thea Paraskevaides, Founder of Beaumont Music, explained her situation: “Due to Brexit we've had to register for VAT in six countries which we were already distributing to. The amount of paperwork this has come with is overwhelming but using digital software like Xero has made the process far more streamlined.”

Xero has a dedicated Brexit Hub - here - with advice and resources to help businesses stay up to date.

Research methodology

The survey was conducted in January and February 2021 by Censuswide with 500 SME owners and 2,000 consumers.

Aircargo Transport Tracks Vehicle Theft Using Vimcar’s GPS-Tracking Software

May 25, 2021 • News • fleet • Managing the Mobile Workforce • EMEA

Vimcar, the fleet management software for small- and medium-sized businesses, has been working with international transport service provider Aircargo Transport to optimise its fleets’ route and track its vehicles – enabling the identification and tracking of a stolen vehicle in real time, resulting in minimal cost implications.Aircargo Transport is an international transport service provider, responsible for the efficient movement of air cargo and special ‘high value shipments’ via a 13-strong fleet of specially designed trucks.

Aircargo Transport initially installed Vimcar’s Fleet Geo to help optimise their fleet’s routes. With a strong focus on improving customer experience, the SaaS plug-and-play solution allowed Aircargo Transport to provide critical, real-time information on the whereabouts of their vehicles and location. Using this information, the team are then able to provide their customers with arrival times, down to the minute – even notifying the organisation when a vehicle had been stolen.

VIMCAR'S FLEET GEO ALLOWS AIRCARGO TRANSPORT TO OPTIMISE ITS FLEET' ROUTES AND TRACK ITS VEHICLES IN REAL TIME.

Sven Kirchner, Managing Director, Aircargo Transport says: “A notification came through to my mobile saying a truck was on the move. After speaking to the driver of the truck, we quickly realised it had been stolen. After a quick call to the police, they were able to track and secure the vehicle using Vimcar’s live tracking functionality before too much damage was done.”

“The truck had only travelled a small distance, but we would never have been able to find it had we not had the Fleet Geo software installed.” Kirchner says.

Ronald Clancy, UK Country Manager, Vimcar comments: “This is another great example of how businesses can benefit from Vimcar’s easy-to-use solution. As we found in autumn of last year, vehicle misuse threatens to add further economic strain to SMEs in the UK, with vehicle theft costing UK businesses more than £16,000 per year. For those looking into a telematic system, a GPS fleet management system that includes features such as live tracking, geofencing and data exportation would be the best way to curve vehicle theft and misuse.”

Kircher continues: “Our aim is to provide our customers with critical, real-time information about the location of their goods, 24-hours a day. Punctuality is the top priority for us, no plane will wait for our trucks’ cargo. Vimcar’s solution has supported us hugely in optimising our fleets routes and making sure we are arriving on time, every time.”

Founded in Berlin in 2013, Vimcar is the leading provider of fleet telematics solutions to SMEs in its home country of Germany and introduced its Fleet Geo product to the UK market last summer. Vimcar’s SaaS telematics solutions cover all aspects of fleet management, including cost and document management, outlier analysis, CO2 reporting, real-time vehicle tracking, theft warning and route planning. With an emphasis on easy-use, affordability, and strong customer support, its products are perfect for fleets of 1-200 vehicles, particularly for smaller businesses with no dedicated full-time fleet manager. Vimcar aims to redefine fleet management for European SMEs by digitalising the company car of the future.

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Echoes Across Servitization and Digitalisation

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Conflict and Resolution Around Data Ownership

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The Close Relationship Between Servitization and Digitalisation

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Why Digitalisation Further Emphasises the Importance of Outside-In Thinking

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Just How Big is Big Data for Field Service Operations

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Further Reading:

The Need For More Robust Definitions Around Servitization

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Further Reading:

Has Servitization Reached Critical Mass?

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Further Reading:

UK Small Businesses Plan to Step-Up International and National Trade Post-Pandemic

A THIRD OF SMALL BUSINESSES INCREASED THEIR CUSTOMER BASE GEOGRAPHICALLY DURING THE PANDEMIC DUE TO A FOCUS ON BORDERLESS E-COMMERCE SALES, AS COMPANIES QUICKLY ADAPTED AND EMBRACED NEW TECHNOLOGIES

Further Reading:

Aircargo Transport Tracks Vehicle Theft Using Vimcar’s GPS-Tracking Software

VIMCAR'S FLEET GEO ALLOWS AIRCARGO TRANSPORT TO OPTIMISE ITS FLEET' ROUTES AND TRACK ITS VEHICLES IN REAL TIME.

Further Reading:

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