Why Do You Need to Use Field Service Smart Forms?

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Why Do You Need to Use Field Service Smart Forms?

Field Service Smart Forms are the new and efficient way to edit non-spatial information regarding GIS features. Many field service organizations undergo digital transformation after realizing its importance. It provides high-accuracy GPS collection and location tracking.

In this article, you will learn the significance and benefits of field service innovative forms for a field service organization. However, start with the basics of smart forms to better understand their needs.

Table of Contents

What are field service smart forms?

Field Service Smart Forms are an essential feature of field service management software. The FSM designs smart forms for mobile devices so field technicians can use them more easily. It helps field technicians deliver better services.

The field service organization uses it to track their field technician’s work. They also use it for customer interactions, recording or initiating work orders, and collecting data on appointments.

Organizations use the software depending on their needs. Most FSM software features include offline mode, dispatching, and document scanning. It can also automate sending of forms, photos, and sketches.

How do smart forms work?

The FSM software developed the smart forms based upon existing, published web feature layers. The form is stored in the technician device’s map instead of creating another item.

The Smart Forms app designs dynamic smart forms and management tools. It is used to create guidelines and documentation for the service execution. The app offers a flexible, robust design interface. Its interface allows designers to assemble smart forms according to the field service organization’s needs.

The Smartforms app designer built it to make your organization more efficient. You can easily copy templates when you need adjustments for a new situation. It instantly changes its status so that you and your field service technician have up-to-date information.

How does it resolve the top challenges in the field service industry?

A field service organization faces many obstacles when not utilizing the Field Service Smart Forms. You may also face these challenges if you don’t use the field service smart forms app, including:

Smart forms are solutions to all the above issues that a field service organization has to deal with.

What are the benefits of field service smart forms?

  • Improved workflow

    It helps the field team complete their tasks quickly without having to print paper forms. It also eliminates the traditional way of filling papers, scanning, and entering data

  • Track with analytics

    Smart forms furnish the analytical engine with proper live data without any errors. An organization can use it to gather data on the status of the consolidated customer profile and machines under annual maintenance contracts. Organizations can make data-driven decisions and improve their track record of performance with this relevant data.

  • Mobile agility

    In today's world, everyone can easily access a mobile phone. Field techs using a field service smart form on their mobile phone help them increase their agility and efficiency while in the field. Consider software built for today's devices, including tablets, smartphones, and laptops.

  • Adoption

    Organizations that are looking for digital transformation can use this software. It provides field service organizations with a robust and easy-to-deploy and adopts technology. It is easy to use, drag, and suitable for intuitive workflows.

  • Higher control and visibility

    Field Service Smart Forms provide organizations with a high level of control and visibility. It helps your field service organization when working with a blended workforce.

  • Increase customer feedback

    Nowadays, customers have great expectations of the services and businesses they choose. Field service organizations are also working to make their business more beneficial for their customers. However, they will need their customers' reviews and feedback to do so. Field service smart forms have feedback and online survey functionalities. It can help you get your customers' opinions, which will help you improve your services. It also helps with your business's revenue.

  • Auto-capture of the required information

    It ensures that field service organizations get relevant information in convenient ways. Smart form designers create software that allows the setter to program certain fields to gather data automatically. It may extract data from various repositories or read from IoT sensors. It will enable field service agents to access the latest and most comprehensive data without much effort and time

  • Acquiring customer details

    It captures updated customer details easily. Field service support agents can access these customers' information, like their social media accounts, during a chat. However, the smart form is the best source to get up-to-date information about the customer. Consider a brief form since most customers will drive away when seeing a lengthy form.

  • Better response

    Field technicians find filling out a form much easier. It also motivates them to get started. The need to fill up a smart form prompts you to do the needful

  • Easy capture of information

    The main benefit of smart forms is that they capture information in a structured manner. It also allows field service technicians to collect secure, intuitive, and straightforward data. The form setter may use different fields to capture the necessary data, causing each field to be assigned a specific format or range.

  • Improved collaborative capabilities

    It increases the collaborative power of the data, meaning it helps field service distribute the forms. It enables you to share information for required tasks. It contains structured data that professionals verify to ensure it is relevant and free of error. They remove any form part that may lead to confusion and misunderstanding.

  • Regulatory compliance

    The form allows field service organization authorities to capture the necessary information in the prescribed style and manner. It helps keep track of statutory obligations like regulatory filing. The back-end system automatically creates a report from the form particulars.

What are the things needed in a sound field service smart form software?

When creating a field service smart form software for your organization, you should consider some of its capabilities and features.

Data collection capabilities

Many field technicians face the problem of not having accurate and real-time data to finish their jobs. Technicians will need an easy method of data collection. You should ensure that the data is accessible to all other stakeholders within your organization.

Suitable for field service organizations

When looking for smart form software, ensure it is perfect for your field service organization. It would help if you avoided vendors that don’t have enough experience working with field service organizations. 

You should also avoid those vendors that require you to modify the form of input slightly. Use only smart form software that is designed especially for field service use.

Part of an integrated solution

Having a field service smart form as an integrated field service management solution has many benefits. Its features help field technicians use other features in one app. Create software that is a part of unified, holistic, and integrated solutions. It allows field technicians to quickly complete their job without opening another program.

Adaption of smart forms

It would be best to consider software that dynamically changes according to user inputs. It helps your organization with other tasks, including workflow and diagnosis analysis

Intuitive interface and easy deployment.

Consider software that is integrated with existing systems and easy to deploy. The feature of intuitive interfaces will help new field technicians learn about software quickly. However, avoid investing in software that has too complex an interface.

In Conclusion

Partner with an excellent field service management software solutions provider. It will help you evaluate the right software.

MIMOIQ offers exemplary field service smart form software solutions for your organization. With this software, you can digitally transform your field service organization.

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Guide for Understanding Field Service Management

Guide for understanding

Guide for Understanding Field Service Management

This guide helps you fully understand field service management. This guide also answers commonly asked questions related to it.

Field Service Overview

Field Service Management (FSM) is a complex system that coordinates with field service operations. It manages the company’s resources, such as work activities and employees. This system includes managing worker activity and ensuring driver safety. It also aids in integrating the management of other activities, including billing, inventory, and accounting. Companies with requirements to manage repairs of systems or equipment and installation services use FSM. It helps companies with field service management via cloud-based software.

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Activities Involved in Field Service Management

Field service involves many activities in the field instead of on company property. The first is scheduling activities, including service appointments and completion timelines. It is known as “field service scheduling.” 

It manages dispatch activities, such as coordinating dispatch. It is known as field service dispatch management, and work order management, including assigning and tracking services. It is also involved in its activities.  

It also manages field service contract management, including contracts with the customers. It helps ensure companies get service-level agreements. This process is known as “field service contract management.” 

It also ensures the flow of inventory management. This process includes keeping track of supplies and parts.

It also records the transferred, consumed or adjusted products. It is known as inventory management. 

Components of Field Service Management

Field service management typically involves dispatching contractors to a client’s location. They dispatch them to repair or install the company’s equipment. The function of a field service manager is to track a company’s field resources. They help companies to provide skilled and specialized services to their clients.  

Advantages of Field Service Management

A company needs effective field service management solutions to manage its resources. 

The advantages of field service management include: 

  • Reducing mean time to repair

    It assigns the right technician to a suitable job. It helps improve first-time fix rates. If the technician has a suitable date at the right time, they can offer quick repairs to the clients.

  • Increasing uptime

    It identifies necessary repairs at an early stage in the asset lifecycle. It helps companies reduce downtime and offers high levels of performance.

  • Lowering field service cost

    It uses insights and data to finish the maintenance task on time. It also virtually offers tasks.

  • Authorize field service technicians

    It provides technicians with mobile capabilities and remote assistance. It helps technicians stay safe, troubleshoot, and finish tasks more efficiently.

  • Boost customer satisfaction

    It helps the company know the satisfaction level of its customers. It allows them to know whether the technicians are meeting customers' expectations. Quickly responding to customers' concerns and unexpected delays helps increase their satisfaction.

The Future of Field Service Management

Many businesses understand the need for field service operations. They also know the significance of its development. In the future, you will find more features that improve its efficiency. Many businesses empower the right field service technician. It helps them to offer their service anywhere, anytime, and on any cloud. 

IoT field service

The Internet of Things (IoT) devices obtain predictive maintenance based on data. Augmented reality (AR) helps in developing powerful troubleshooting. It will help to limit maintenance on assets. 

AI in Field Service Management

AI is everywhere in developing systems. It will help technicians reduce their workload.  

It will augment the training and skills required for technicians. It will also increase the ability of companies to analyze large amounts of data. 

Field service automation

It is estimated that AI-based robotic optimization will be helpful. It will help dispatchers to improve their field resource quality. It will also help them do better at troubleshooting. 

Cloud field service management

A hybrid cloud will help connect data across an organization and its customers. It will also deliver data to the partnerships via an integrated platform.

What are Field Service Management Industry Applications?

  • Manufacturing

    It dispatched the technicians to prevent the repair of equipment under warranty. It uses predictive maintenance for various equipment, including; electronics and consumer products. It also offers its services for aerospace, automotive, and industrial products.

  • Energy and utilities

    The energy and utility industries use technicians to schedule time-sensitive work orders. They will need to consider geospatial information from remote assets. It helps technicians with complex crew organizing tasks.

  • Transportation

    Service technicians need access to information about inventory and assets in the transportation industry. It helps them to maintain road and air traffic operations. Some information is necessary, including driver logs, fuel management, and spare parts.

  • Oil and gas

    These industries focus on safer and more reliable operations. Companies can reduce costs by streamlining field service maintenance performance.

Types of Field Service Management Software

Field Service Management (FSM) software aids organizations in managing their resources. Managers and technicians use this software to automate scheduling. They also use it to process job orders and dispatch. It also helps in keeping a record of the services. Your business can also use this software to track the collected payment details. You can also manage customer service contracts.

There are 3 types of field service management software that you can use according to your business requirements.

Enterprise asset management software

It is also known as EAM software. It helps organizations maintain and monitor their operational equipment. You can use it to control operational assets on or off-premises. This software features AI-powered remote monitoring. It helps managers to maximize the use of assets. It helps increase uptime and lower operational costs. 

Inventory management system

This system offers a view of the maintenance, repair, and operations (MRO) inventory performance. A company uses this software to optimize its MRO inventory. It helps in reordering the levels for each stocked product. It also helps reduce work and aid in delivering optimized recommendations for the list. 

Mobile field service management software

This software offers cloud and mobile capabilities. It helps companies improve their communication. It provides your business with real-time communication. This software allows you to connect with technicians to transfer necessary details while doing their job. 

Mobile capabilities allow field service technicians to capture equipment images on their devices. It helps them quickly access data and find the cause of problems. Some software works with AR and AI capabilities to evolve their software.

What are the challenges that field service management faces?

There are many problems a maintenance technician leader faces. Some include the inability to attract and retain talent and the lack of technology for field service. However, the software automates specific tasks to lower the stress on the crew. The software must also provide capabilities that boost knowledge transfer and help field technicians.  

According to mobile service technicians, they encounter problems such as miscommunication about job tasks and scheduling conflicts. They also find it difficult to obtain essential data and make return trips.

Many companies recommend the main system CMMS capabilities on tablets and phones. The system must involve these features, such as GIS-location data and asset maintenance histories. It also needs the analysis of work order information and real-time communication. Other companies suggest having integrated, cohesive, end-to-end solutions to run your business smoothly.

FAQs

What to consider before reviewing FSM options?

Before choosing the FSM options, learn about the company’s experience and reputation. You should also check how many good quality companies are using their software.  

Who uses FSM software?

Field service operations are essential in almost every industry. Some companies that use it include plumbing service companies, cleaning industries, and HVAC service businesses. Electrical contractors and telecom also use this software.  

What is essential in the field service industry?

Field service management is essential for the industry since it resolves these issues: 

What do you require from field service management software?

You will need these FMS software features as a business owner. 

Conclusion

MIMOIQ is the leading company that offers last-mile delivery and excellent field service management solutions across India. Grow your business by managing all the resources in Field Service activities via field service management software.

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Transforming the Field Service Business Model with Field Force Management Software

Field Force Management Software

Transforming the Field Service Business Model with Field Force Management Software

Your website and products may offer better customer service, but the real service test happens when your personnel is on-field. The first personal interaction with a consumer happens when they purchase your product. Businesses must maximize this touchpoint to boost client retention and foster brand loyalty in today’s world of growing impatience.

Field executives are starting to understand this. According to Gartner, customer satisfaction will increase from about 50% today to 70% of firms by 2020 as the main advantage of integrating field service management. However, they must modify their current service models to please clients and remain responsive to their needs. The field service business model should be appealing enough and is essential for enhancing client loyalty and trust in all areas, from repairs to preventative maintenance. 80% of decision-makers believe that field service is essential to their entire strategy, and 75% believe it drives revenue. Although there are some effective measures, using technology can be long-term, especially with the arrival of AI, IoT, geolocation, and others.

This article presents you with practices adopted by the field service industry as a part of the modern field service business model.

Table of Contents

Top New Technology Adoption for Field Service Business Model

Adopting AI and VR Technologies

Today, remote service is a successful business strategy. Over the years, two things have contributed to this: the growth of high-speed internet. The introduction of 5G networks will further simplify remote service. Second, the development of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies.

The client and the company both benefit from remote service and self-service. It decreases downtime, saves money, and eliminates the inconveniences and delays associated with an agent traveling to the client’s location. Remote working makes it possible to provide contactless service during pandemics. Integrating AR, VR, and CRM suites with the field service software are best for remote service to function.

Improved Inventory and Field Visibility

Select a software program that enables real-time communication between your technicians’ mobile devices and your CRM, ERP, and inventories. These are already present in the workplace knowledge base. Let them help your field service effectively address the client and provide service without taking too long. The mobile devices of the technicians can also record services in real time. They may quickly complete orders through digital signatures and get to their next task.

Using Predictive Maintenance

Predictive maintenance is one service widely used in the service business, improving customer experience and retention rates. But the question here is: where does the data come from?

IoT is the answer to this. By using an IoT tool, you can monitor the equipment. These IoT-connected gadgets and sensors continuously gather data about the machinery and can notify the field service company when maintenance or repairs are required. Field service companies can reduce unplanned downtime or service delays while the device or equipment system is still functional by proactively monitoring their clients’ equipment through IoT.

IoT technology implementation can boost revenue for field service companies. An IoT gadget, for instance, can transmit vital real-time data to field workers so they can accurately determine what is required. It enhances workflow, preparation, and efficiency.

Involving Digital Transformation in the Field Service Industry

Technology is constantly changing. Digital transformation is driven by forward-thinking field service businesses to provide business continuity and lower risks. The pandemic has expedited such plans. Paper inspection forms and digital whiteboards for scheduling are outdated manual processes. Mobile-integrated field service platforms are already the norm. Businesses yet to adopt mobility and the cloud will soon go out of business.

Savvy businesses have already embraced the newest generation of technology. They use machine learning algorithms to automate dispatching, scheduling, and other crucial activities. As rivals catch up and technology becomes standard, clever businesses prepare to innovate. Such innovation aims to stand out and give customers better value.

Transforming Field Service into Responsive Enterprise

In the demanding field service industry, only a responsive organization succeeds. Growing customer awareness and intense rivalry tip the scales in their favor. As a part of the field service business model, companies must always put the consumer first if they want to survive. They must be proactive in soliciting client input to achieve this. Smart businesses incorporate customer feedback into their primary company processes and strategies. They start gathering feedback and suggestions shortly after the work is finished. Through social listening and other methods, they also get feedback from customers.

Effective managers adjust operations and take other proactive measures based on reliable input. Additionally, they alter the structure as necessary, considering the consumer’s comfort, tastes, and desires. Customer expectations are made obvious when feedback is recorded in the CRM, which boosts engagement.

Training and Listening to Field Service Team

Your field service business shouldn’t limit digitization but should go beyond technological advancements. All employees should participate in the process, representing a significant shift in business culture that focuses entirely on the client in all tasks. Their participation in the initiative is crucial to its success. Employees should have a voice in meetings and project work committees, receive comprehensive training on the new tools, and have their suggestions for improvement is essential.

Changing Priorities

Besides digital transformation, field service companies’ top goal is to shift with time. Enterprises during 2020 were majorly concentrated on enabling reliable communications. They also tried giving field agents the appropriate digital tools to do their work without going to the office. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has made safety a priority. Businesses use technology to manage their field forces safely and securely. For instance, biosecurity guidelines are included in inspection forms.

Businesses that do not adopt biosecurity measures risk losing both clients and staff. Similar to this, contactless services that reduce physical closeness include those that provide customer support via video calls and phone support.

Analyzing and Collecting Customer Feedback

As a part of the field service business model, considering your customers’ ideas and input is essential if you want to provide them with the highest quality service possible. The ability to record customer feedback on the service received from the same mobile device is now possible, thanks to technology. This information is beneficial and can be researched thoroughly to help the service be improved over time.

The more contemporary CRM solutions, which gather comments about your business on social networks from customers and the general public and utilize cutting-edge social listening technology and emotional analysis to analyze them, are additional tools of interest for monitoring customer feedback.

Personalization of the Service

Customer happiness is directly related to the profit of service businesses. Providing a personalized experience is one of the key factors influencing consumer happiness. Smart organizations use analytics to discover client preferences and promote personalization. Personalization, however, extends beyond giving specialized advice and assistance. Field agents deal directly with clients; therefore, training technicians in soft skills will improve their ability. The professionals are still in the best position to determine the demands and preferences of customers.

The best solution is to integrate field service data with customer requirements, which will help to obtain real-time, current information on client engagement and sentiments.

Conclusion

MIMOIQ, with its Field Force Management Software, makes it easier for service companies like yours to become digitally enabled. Get in touch with us to Scale up your field service business model. Our experts will examine your situation and demonstrate how to succeed in this transformation process. We work closely with the organization to customer field service operations for better field service.

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How Does Field Service Software Builds Your Appliance Repair Business Strong?

Field service managemeent software

How Does Field Service Software Builds Your Appliance Repair Business Strong?

Appliance repair business owners can increase income by up to 95% by increasing client retention by 5%. Therefore, rather than scouring the globe for new clients, business owners would be wise to consider increasing the lifetime value of current clients to increase revenue. When it comes to finding a new client for your newly started repair business, it can cost five times as much. As a result, it is vital to invest in dedicated appliance repair software solutions that can increase the overall appliance repair business solution.

Table of Contents

What Is Field Service Software?

Field repair service management software allows managers to install, maintain, or repair equipment and systems and send employees or contractors to a site outside the company’s facilities. The manager handling the field service software can keep track of the organization’s field resources and smooth functioning.

Activities Involved In Field Service Management

How Can Field Service Management Software Help Businesses?

There are crucial benefits to using field service management for your repair service business. Some of these are:

Helps In Smart Dispatching And Resource Utilization.

It is pretty challenging to assign work for your newly commenced appliance repair business without making the best use of field service management software. Complete dependability in your company is essential for the success of any field service. However, improper scheduling could cost your organization repeat revenue and new client referrals. Thanks to the best cloud-based appliance repair scheduling software, your business will never assign the wrong onsite technician. The best part of using this software is that you will be able to know about the location and have access to all the information you need regarding the whereabouts of your technicians, the upcoming work, etc.

Allows Handling Digital Inventory Management

Your field service company must have the necessary stock to complete appliance repairs quickly. You risk losing a customer’s loyalty if those components aren’t readily available. You can better comprehend items and when to make additional arrangements by keeping an eye on your inventory. With the aid of appliance repair business software, you may digitally save the details of your appliance equipment, allowing you to employ your stocks over an extended period while conserving time and managing costs.

Simplifying Invoices And Automatic Payment

It can be cumbersome for your appliance repair business to keep daily track of invoices and payments. Software for scheduling appliance repairs saves all of your billing information in one place and replaces easily lost paper records.

In addition to making money collection more superficial, it also helps empower you to write invoices quickly and grants you the flexibility to adjust your bills as needed.

Technician Scheduling Visibility

On the job site, technicians will, at last, be able to obtain client signatures and generate invoices. A tablet or a mobile phone lets you view and update customer records—it aids in lowering data entry and disagreements in the back office.

Making The Best Use Of Field Service Resources

The work order management software enhances appliance repair service income by optimizing the overall field service resources with a reliable appliance repair software system. It includes allocating general appliance repair jobs to technicians right through the software and allowing a dispatcher to use a drag-and-drop “Click To Dispatch Console.”

A high-quality solution is delivered in the cloud to guarantee appliance repair specialists get complete access to their work histories, warranties, and other crucial installation data.

Take Your Staff Efficiency Level To The Top Level

A perfect appliance repair solution enables you to quickly find team members who are accessible and can deliver job details, GPS directions, customer information, and specific customer notes to the team members as they operate in the field. Using an effective appliance repair scheduling tool may save time and streamline communication.

Real-Time Tracking Feature And Account Tracking

One of the significant benefits of using an appliance repair software solution is that it allows you to track the overall work completely. It is simpler for the repair team to view task status and create estimates and invoices with job charges. Your appliance repair field technicians must have a proper workflow. It is simple for the repair technicians to access their schedule, keep track of customer histories and service manuals, and do other tasks by giving them mobile access.

Some Of The Key Features Of The Appliance Repair Software Solution

  • Mobile Field Service Competences

    Field technicians with mobile field service capabilities are frequently on the go due to their job roles. Choose a mobile-friendly appliance repair scheduling program to provide your technicians with all the necessary task data. It comprises forms, work orders, equipment details, part inventories, etc. It also includes customer location and history information.

  • Integrated Field Service Management Solution

    Looking for appliance repair scheduling software integrated with a field service management solution is vital. The scheduling software will occasionally need to communicate with other parts of a management solution, so you should ensure that it is prepared for successful integration.

  • The software works with major appliance brands

    To guarantee quick repair times, technicians must be familiar with the particular appliances; the finest appliance scheduling software must cooperate with major appliance brands. You also need to check if the software communicates with other programs offering real-time data on parts inventories, particulars of appliances from popular brands, etc.

According to the customer portal, customers have high standards for the technology they utilize: It is vital to impress your customer with the best scheduling software for appliance repairs. For self-service interaction, look for software that offers a customer portal: Utilizability, in-the-moment task status updates, maintenance tech addresses, and other features. The best is to increase client retention and happiness by giving the customer some measure of visibility and control.

Different Fields To Use Field Service Management Software

Manufacturing

In many industries, including automotive, electronics, industrial products, consumer items, etc., technicians need predictive maintenance and repair tools covered by a warranty.

Transportation

Transportation Service personnel need access to information regarding assets and inventory, including fuel management, spare parts, bay schedules, and other information for maintaining rail, road, and air traffic.

Utilities and Energy

Technicians must accommodate sophisticated crew scheduling for high volume and time-sensitive work orders while taking geographic information from remote assets into account.

What is the Future of Field Service Management Software?

The demand for work order management software is on the rise, thanks to the adoption of automation. The connected technician will get the empowerment experience while working in service management and has a bright future.

Field service technicians will take advantage of solutions that give them important information from IoT devices about the use of service equipment. With the help of automation and AI support, technicians can work on their overall productivity. Customers will also benefit from having access to cloud-based digital services. These technologies will keep revolutionizing field service management in the future.

Bottom Line

Investing in the correct software can be challenging if you want to strengthen your company’s appliance repair field services in today’s competitive industry. The field service management software from MIMOIQ exceeds the critical assessment criteria and enhances the service experience for your appliance customers. The appliance repair software solution will manage all field service jobs, streamline scheduling, correctly track staff hours, and keep everything moving quickly.

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