Deploying a good cloud based field service CRM software can improve your ability to provide better management of your service resources. This article describes how cloud based Field Service CRM like Field Force Tracker can help you deliver betters services and improve your productivity. A good service software can help everyone in the company to better manage the effectiveness of your service delivery. Using extensive capabilities of Field Force Tracker’s software, you can improve the effectiveness for field services in your organization.
Service companies are trying to move to electronic model of providing services. Paper based operation is too slow to address customer concerns and cannot provide suitable data analysis. Field Force Tracker is the most comprehensive software for field service management. It takes care of everything from customer management to the payment collection for a service company. By using this software, our clients can see major improvement in their productivity and the customer satisfaction. Service managers are constantly working to improve the quality and effectiveness of their service delivery with Field Force Tracker.
Impact of Cloud software on Field Service
Cloud technology is revolutionizing the way that IT manages employees, data and customers. Through the adoption of cloud-centric operations, companies are realizing unprecedented flexibility by becoming unchained from the limitations of in-house data storage systems. The significant reduction in maintenance of these systems has facilitated new possibilities and opportunities to offset, or even eliminate, expenses related to data storage, access to that data throughout the company and customer account management. Cloud technology, combined with mobility, has liberated companies to get more return out of the investment into their business.
Mobile Devices Work Nice With Cloud Software
In the past, companies often had to issue mobile phones to their employees if they intended them to be used for work, or at the very least, many would provide an allowance for mobile charges. Today, however, almost everyone has a personal smart device and many have unlimited calling and data plans on their phones. This is especially a benefit for companies with field service workers that would like to update their field service management operations from manual processes to automation of their service business.
As a cost savings measure, companies are now leveraging the Bring-Your-Own Device (BYOD) concept to reduce overhead. This has become so pervasive that it’s increasingly being established as a standard of practice for employees to use their personal mobile devices for work without further compensation. The exception may be in the use of tablets as they are still considered more of a luxury item compared to the smart phone. Nevertheless, BYOD is saving companies thousands of dollars per year. This is due in part to the marriage between cloud technology and mobility.
No Servers or Data Centers Needed
Some may say that cloud computing shifts investments from asset-based capital expenses (CapEx) to operational expenses (OpEx). This is not an accurate statement. While it is true that the initial investment for on-premise data storage may be made as an up-front expenditure, so can an investment in the cloud. Likewise, both can have investments paid over time.
One of the greatest benefits to investing in cloud technology is the reduction of additional expenses. On-premise data centers require maintenance; human capital hours to maintain the services, parts and accessories needed for upkeep and service, significant investment into software and application upgrades, and the ability to cover the costs for scaling the storage as usage and memory demands increase.
Cloud technology, on the other hand, does not require these additional expenses. When a company’s data is hosted through a hosting service or a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) vendor such as Field Force Tracker, these expenses are absorbed through subscription fees. This reduces the need for greater working capital, enabling the investment of funds into other areas of the business.
In field service-related businesses, this could mean more funds are available to better compete in the marketplace. For example, a company may choose to invest in improving their website making it easier for a visitor to find information that will convert them to a viable lead. Or, in the case of a medical equipment manufacturer with service teams, an investment may be made into better diagnostic equipment. A heavy equipment dealer may reallocate funds to purchase a greater inventory of parts to ensure field engineers can make repairs to reduce downtime in one call or complete an upsell while on site. All of these help companies position themselves against their competition.
Better Service and Savings for Customers
Today’s savvy customer knows that they have the advantage in the market. If they decide that a business is not meeting their needs, they can easily shop to find an alternative to their current provider. What’s posted in association forums, LinkedIn groups and other digital feedback resources can help a business to retain or gain customers.
The flexibility and long-term cost savings provided through cloud technology can be a key component in competing for customers. The impact on cash flow and working capital can also provide a business the option to pass savings on to their customers. This can be realized in a few ways, such as through:
- Direct reduction in the costs of goods and services to customers.
- Investment into the development and improvement of existing products and services.
- Training customer-facing field service engineers – they make a direct impact on the quality of the customer experience.
Each of these can provide a competitive advantage and encourage more opportunities for customers to share positive feedback in both digital forums and when referring potential new business.
A field service company that takes advantage of the cloud not only realizes cost savings, but it creates opportunities to improve their business. This freedom results in better positioning in the marketplace to win and retain customers that will not only appreciate your brand, but also evangelize your business to their peers.
Why Field Force Tracker
Mobile enabled, cloud-based field service software was designed to provide ease of use with incredible flexibility. Along with the ease – and speed – of our implementation and the ongoing support service that we provide we enable companies to take full advantage of today’s mobile field service.
Field Force Tracker’s power mobile apps for iPhone and Android are available to all new and existing Field Force Tracker customers. They can extend the feature set with the enhanced mobile forms capabilities, and better system integration. Field Force Tracker, a mobile enabled web-based field service management software, streamlines technician scheduling, dispatch, customer management, vendor and employee management, work orders, equipment maintenance, inventory tracking, contracts, estimates, invoices, payments and accounting. It is considered one of the most feature rich software of its kind.
About Field Force Tracker
Force Tracker (http://www.fieldforcetracker.com) is a leading global provider of its award winning mobile workforce solutions for service-based businesses of all sizes delivered as software-as-a-service (SaaS). Its solutions enable businesses of all sizes (from 1 user to 10,000 users) to meet the challenges associated with managing and running complex service operations. It helps in improving the productivity of their mobile workforce.
With Field Force Tracker customers can create service schedule and route quickly, dispatch sooner, collect correct information at once in the field and invoice faster. The field service software makes it easy for users to eliminate waste, get more done in less time and be more profitable.
Field Force Tracker is a wholly owned unit of Rapidsoft Systems Inc. (http://www.rapidsoftsystems.com). Rapidsoft Systems, Inc. has its main office in Princeton, NJ, USA, a US R&D Center in Mercerville NJ, and sales, support and development offices in Palo Alto, CA, USA, Singapore, Dubai (UAE), Bombay, and Noida (India).
