What are common things to Consider When Selecting Field Service Management Software?

There are tons of vendor specifics, requirements, and capabilities to consider before you make a choice — not to mention that FSM software solutions abound. A single search on the internet gives well over 200 results of providers, all claiming to offer the best solutions. Though most of these companies are small and their solutions are made of niche industries such as landscaping or HVAC repair, there is still a good number of enterprise-worthy FSM solutions in the bunch.

How can a company looking to acquire and deploy a modern enterprise level FSM software solution do that in the face of so many options? This article provides a brief description of important criteria businesses can use to evaluate and select a field service management tool for repair, maintenance, and other service-related operations.

Why Do You Need The Field Service Management Software?

If you want to find the best FSM solution for your business, you need to figure out why you need it in the first place. Taking into account the following considerations can help you out with that:

You are looking to streamline your operations- From the management of employee activities to making customer appointments, there is very little an FSM solution can’t do for your business. This leads to overall coordination of personnel, resources, and other systems.

You want real-time access- One of the most valuable business assets in the modern world is data. Having on-demand access to customer’s information like financial reports and profiles will improve service delivery and help you gain a competitive edge.

You want to expand your business activities- A manual system will not be able to handle your growing business; you will need to be more efficient. If you want to expand your operations, the adoption of a service management software will help you automate processes such as time logging, invoicing, and task management.

You’re new in the industry. Adopting the use of an FSM solution at the early stages of your business will give an advantage and propel your business to financial success faster.

Now that you have established that you really need an FSM solution, your next step will be to identify the functions you need the system to perform for your business.

What Functionalities Does Your Business Need?

FSM solutions come with a lot of capabilities and functions. Actually, capability and user-friendliness are the most important components of an FSM solution. Establish the gaps and challenges you need the solution to fill to improve performance and increase return on investment (ROI). Some of the features to look out for include:
Assignment calendar– This feature will help you see and manage the technicians assigned to particular tasks and when they should turn up.

Analytical reports– An FSM solution should give you customizable reports to help you analyse different aspects of the business.

Customer modules– This helps you keep track of your clients.

Schedule maintenance and asset management– This tool should help you manage installed assets and schedule maintenance.

Accounting integration– This feature will help you facilitate a seamless integration of your accounting processes such as journals and invoices.

How Much Are You Willing To Pay?

Last but not least, determine how much you are willing to pay for your FSM solution. This will depend on the size of your firm and the type of deployment. Be flexible and have a price range. If well implemented, a field service management solution will help you improve cash flow and reduce costs. Ensuring that all your employees get sufficient provider support as well as proper training on how to use the new system will help you get the most out of it.