In the third and final article of a series of excerpts from a recent white paper published by Praxedo, we look at the role of technology in empowering technicians to enhance customer relationships.
ARCHIVE FOR THE ‘praxedo’ CATEGORY
Sep 29, 2021 • Features • Digital Transformation • Software and Apps • GLOBAL • Praxedo
In the third and final article of a series of excerpts from a recent white paper published by Praxedo, we look at the role of technology in empowering technicians to enhance customer relationships.
This feature is just one short excerpt from a white paper published by Praxedo.
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.
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 Praxedo 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.
Equipping field technicians with a mobile app gives you additional opportunities to increase efficiency. But it does much more than that. A mobile app is key to delivering the extremely high service levels needed to enhance customer relationships and differentiate from the competition.
The app runs on any mobile device, and is connected to the software used in the office. It gives technicians anytime, anywhere access to all of the information they need throughout their day, even when they’re working in locations without cellular or Wi-Fi coverage. Technicians have the resources and flexibility they need to work smarter, take on more responsibilities, and increase customer satisfaction at every step throughout their day.
All Schedule and Travel Information is at Technicians' Fingertips
There’s no need for technicians to start their day from the office, or return to the office to check the latest schedules. Technicians can see their appointments, map-based views of the optimal travel routes to job sites, and detailed work order descriptions at a glance on their mobile device. And they can automatically communicate job progress to office staff by changing their status in the app.
Technicians also have more flexibility to manage their own schedules. If they finish a job early, they can schedule themselves for nearby jobs. They can also create work orders on the spot if new opportunities or require- ments emerge during the day. They can reschedule jobs if needed, and are instantly notified if office staff reschedule a job while they’re on-the-move.
Technicians Arrive On Site Fully Informed and Prepared to Act as a Trusted Advisor
All customer information, including the site address, contact details, and customer history are also available through the app. Before they arrive, technicians can re- view reminders and tips for working at the site, as well as any previous recommendations made to the customer by company sales staff and other technicians. They can also check spare parts availability and locations.
Technicians’ ability to review all of this information while they’re in the field means they always arrive on site fully prepared and equipped to efficiently execute on the job, and to have informed conversations with customers — whether they’re answering questions, reviewing mainte- nance packages, or explaining service options. And there are no delays or mix-ups if customers have multiple sites and different types of equipment.
During the service call, technicians can use the mo- bile app to access real-time solutions to real-time pro- blems. They can check data sheets, technical guides, and checklists of procedures to follow when troubleshooting or repairing specific types of equipment. They can also exchange instant messages and photos with other tech- nicians and company experts to get immediate assistance to challenging problems.
Service Reports are Always Accurate, Complete and Instantly Available
When service is complete, technicians can impress customers by immediately providing the completed electronic service report for validation. The report form includes mandatory fields, and is designed with checkboxes and drop-down lists so it’s fast and easy to complete, and en- sures technicians provide all required information.
Technicians can even collect customers’ electronic signa- tures and attach photos that illustrate the extent of the problem and verify the repair was properly completed.
The Benefits of a Mobile App Really Add Up
At the end of the day, giving technicians a mobile app helps you build every aspect of your business. You can:
- Increase profitability by providing faster, more res- ponsive customer service, improving first-time fix rates, and accelerating billing.
- Differentiate from the competition by empowering technicians to become trusted advisors that add value for customers at each stage of service delivery.
- Grow your business by expanding your relationship with existing customers and attracting new ones through referrals from happy customers.
- Improve technician satisfaction and retention by gi- ving them the flexibility and freedom to take more initia- tive and achieve greater success.
"There's a significant opportunity for field service providers who recognize the difference between serving customers and selling to them. When technicians make informed and helpful recommendations in the field, it must be in the context of providing better service. The worst thing a service organization can do is try to turn their technicians into sellers."
Jim Baston, Field Service Industry Expert
This feature is just one short excerpt from a white paper published by Praxedo.
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.
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 Praxedo 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.
Further Reading:
- Read more about Digital Transformation @ www.fieldservicenews.com/digital-transformation
- Read more about Software and Apps @ www.fieldservicenews.com/software-and-apps
- Read more about Leadership & Strategy @ www.fieldservicenews.com//leadership-and-strategy
- Learn more about Praxedo @ en.praxedo.com/
- Follow Praxedo on Twitter @ twitter.com/Praxedo
Sep 22, 2021 • Features • Digital Transformation • Software and Apps • GLOBAL • Praxedo
In this second feature from a series of excerpts from a recent white paper published by Praxedo, we look at how the right field service management software for your organisation can massively increase efficiency.
In this second feature from a series of excerpts from a recent white paper published by Praxedo, we look at how the right field service management software for your organisation can massively increase efficiency.
This feature is just one short excerpt from a white paper published by Praxedo.
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.
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 Praxedo 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.
With cutting-edge field service management software that’s delivered from the cloud, you can access the technologies you need most in a fast, easy, and cost-effective way. You can smoothly evolve from yesterday’s way of working to today’s and tomorrow’s way with minimal dis- ruption and predictable costs.
Work Order Management and Scheduling are Intelligent, Automated, and Consistent
Centralized management of digital work orders streamlines and accelerates work order creation and processing. Work orders are customized for your business and your operations to ensure they match the way you work. And there’s a logical and consistent approach to work order management across your entire organization.
Work order scheduling is also faster, easier, and more intelligent. The software automatically creates the optimal schedule for every technician and every job based on constraints and requirements such as:
• Technician availability
• Technician location
• Skillsets required for the job
• Customer location
• Customer time constraints
• Level of urgency
Travel Routes are Optimised
The software recommends the best travel route to job sites and between job sites, considering factors such as time of day, traffic congestion, and construction. As conditions change throughout the day, you can easily reoptimize and update routes to maintain maximum travel efficiency.
Technicians spend less time on the road, and have fewer travel-related frustrations to deal with. And you can reduce fuel consumption and wear and tear on vehicles.
You're More Connected with Customers
The software also allows you to set up automated emails and notifications so customers are informed in real time as their work order progresses. They know when their job has been scheduled, when technicians are on their way, and when the job is complete, whether they’re present at the job site or not.
"It's much better for customers to know exactly when technicians will arrive rather than having to wait around for hours for someone who finally shows up at the end of the day."
Jim Baston, Field Service Industry Expert
Invoicing is Faster
There’s no need to worry about losing business-critical data. Electronic service reports that are fully customized for your industry, customers, job types, spare parts, and other factors make it fast and easy for technicians to cap- ture all required data while they’re still in the field. Tech- nicians can complete the service report on their mobile device and immediately send it back to the office for processing and invoicing.
Because the field service management software seamlessly integrates with your enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), or accounting software, all report data are automatically populated in the system so there’s no need for manual data entry.
Performance is Highly Visible
Real-time reporting on key performance indicators (KPIs) gives you immediate visibility into how work orders are progressing in the field. You can see KPIs, such as the:
-
Number of completed work orders
-
Number of work orders tracking on schedule
-
Actual time to complete work orders
-
Number of work orders that started at the scheduled time
-
Number of work orders meeting service level agreement (SLA) commitments
With historical analysis of these same KPIs, you can identify trends — good and bad — and take the appropriate actions.
This feature is just one short excerpt from a white paper published by Praxedo.
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.
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 Praxedo 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.
Further Reading:
- Read more about Digital Transformation @ www.fieldservicenews.com/digital-transformation
- Read more about Software and Apps @ www.fieldservicenews.com/software-and-apps
- Read more about Leadership & Strategy @ www.fieldservicenews.com//leadership-and-strategy
- Learn more about Praxedo @ en.praxedo.com/
- Follow Praxedo on Twitter @ twitter.com/Praxedo
Sep 15, 2021 • Features • Digital Transformation • Software and Apps • GLOBAL • Praxedo
In the first article of a series of excerpts from a recent white paper published by Praxedo, we discuss how outdated operations can lead to losses to field services organisations and why it's important to switch to digital.
In the first article of a series of excerpts from a recent white paper published by Praxedo, we discuss how outdated operations can lead to losses to field services organisations and why it's important to switch to digital.
This feature is just one short excerpt from a white paper published by Praxedo.
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.
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 Praxedo 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.
We live in a modern, digital world where we’re surrounded by technology all of the time. And we rely on that techno- logy more than ever — to work, to manage our lives, and to have fun. The global pandemic has shown us how we can use technology in new ways, and in more aspects of our lives. There will be no going back.
As a field service provider working in the “new normal”, you’ll need to meet increasingly high expectations for digital operations from your customers and your em- ployees. If you continue working on paper, emails or dis- connected web-based tools like Google or DropBox, you won’t be able to meet those expectations. And you’ll face significant business risks:
- Lower profits. Dealing with paper and emails at each stage of service delivery is time-consuming and cumbersome. The need to manually exchange pieces of paper slows service delivery, forces technicians to frequently return to the office, and extends billing times. These inef- ficiencies quickly eat into profit margins.
- Lost data. Those many pieces of paper contain bu- siness-critical data you need for comprehensive and ac- curate billing. But paper is easily lost, misplaced, or da- maged in the field. Handwritten service reports that are incomplete, illegible, or inadequate for billing purposes further increase risks.
- Poor customer perception. Delayed service and old- fashioned ways of working give customers the impression your business is behind-the-times. And it’s all-too-easy for customers to assume this lack of sophistication also reflects your technicians’ capabilities and expertise levels.
The Losses Associated with Outdated Operations Quickly Add Up
These risks affect every area of your business. It’s a vicious circle, with every loss compounding on another.
At a minimum, you’ll fall behind the competition. In the cost-conscious, and often crowded, world of field service, you need every possible advantage to edge out competi- tors. With fewer ways to differentiate and make a strong, positive impression on customers, it will be far more diffi- cult to stand out in the crowd.
You’ll also lose valuable technicians, especially those who grew up with digital devices in their hands. They’ll quickly become frustrated with old-fashioned, inconvenient, and unwieldy ways of working and jump to your more technologically advanced competitors.
"When field service providers can retain customers and renew contracts, they can spend less time worrying about how to win new business simply to make up for customers they’ve lost. It becomes much easier to grow the business"
Jim Baston, Field Service Industry Expert
Sales opportunities will decline. Customers who have a poor perception of your business are unlikely to expand their relationship with you, or recommend your services to other businesses. And, if they share negative reviews of your services, it will influence the decisions of other potential customers.
Finally, you will lose customers. Customers can choose who they work with. And their expectations are high. If customers don’t feel your business is responsive enough, or your technicians are adequately informed and equipped to look out for their best interests, they won’t hesitate to switch providers.
Field service providers who are working on paper simply cannot afford to continue working as they are.
It's Time to Go Digital
The good news is field service providers no longer need to struggle with slow, outdated, and disjointed ways of working. There are affordable technology solutions that address the challenges and risks they currently face, and bring additional business benefits.
This feature is just one short excerpt from a white paper published by Praxedo.
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.
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 Praxedo 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.
Further Reading:
- Read more about Digital Transformation @ www.fieldservicenews.com/digital-transformation
- Read more about Software and Apps @ www.fieldservicenews.com/software-and-apps
- Read more about Leadership & Strategy @ www.fieldservicenews.com//leadership-and-strategy
- Learn more about Praxedo @ en.praxedo.com/
- Follow Praxedo on Twitter @ twitter.com/Praxedo
Field Service News is published by 1927 Media Ltd, an independent publisher whose sole focus is on the field service sector. As such our entire resources are focused on helping drive the field service sector forwards and aiming to best serve our industry through honest, incisive and innovative media coverage of the global field service sector.
Leave a Reply