04.26.08
Filling a Void in the Field Services and Job Management Marketplace
Time was, only the big boys could afford to reengineer their operations to utilize mobile Field Services and Work Order database oriented systems. By that we mean, having the ability to store data in a formatted usable method for data collection and management analysis.
The majority of Small to Medium sized Businesses (SMBs) were happy with just receiving text messages from their main office, after which they inputted the work order information into their accounting system.
Companies that have evaluated and selected real time mobile data delivery and collection systems were usually surprised when software companies hit them with additional charges for customization and other special features.
We believe that with simple procedural changes and new business practices, many of the unique functions that a service provider may have could be resolved in other ways.
To be more specific, we believe that at the end of the day, no matter how complicated the goal is, what we do on a daily basis are a series of tasks to complete a job or project.
We therefore concluded that if companies could identify all or most of the measurable steps of a job and then input these tasks in the database once, almost as an ingredient of a recipe, then when the service call comes in, the dispatcher would simply select the project profile and click the tasks related to that project and the system would do the rest, by identifying which technicians are qualified and available to do the assignment.
The dispatcher would then select the tech and the project is would be available to be deployed to the field.
Our 80-20 rule is that 80% of service calls are routine and the remaining 20 % may be difficult or unique. So why not have a system where repeat calls are predefined and easily copied and deployed to the field? In addition, difficult jobs can still be defined in the system but they may be subject to some level of special handling after the fact.
In summary, the significant reduction in handwriting by the techs, the elimination of clerical re-keying in the office and the improvement of the invoicing process should be the main goals of this approach.
Field Services (HVAC, Plumbing, Delivery, Facility Maintenance, and Site Inspectors) companies could benefit from this approach.
Service providers should consider the following questions.
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How to shorten the time between last-mile worked and receipt of payment |
Comments
Get the cash in the bank faster |
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How to simplify the data collection process |
Reduce the after the fact data entry |
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How to eliminate redundancy and other internal “Special and Unique” activities |
Many internal functions should be reexamined for efficacy |
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How to train the next generation of service techs to utilize mobile devices |
Technology advances reshape the industry and eliminate old traditions |
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How to standardize their IT systems |
Keep things simple |
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How to utilize externally hosted computer systems |
Oftentimes, you don’t need a resident IT person |
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How to re-engineer their business without braking the bank |
A top-down systems analysis should be performed every two years |
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How to migrate from getting the job done to doing the job efficiently |
Customers will appreciate NOT seeing you too often |
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How best to grow the company without having to increase administration costs |
Reassign and retrain admin staff for other duties |
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How technology investments can improve the overall business |
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For more information on how Field Service Repair, Delivery and Site Inspection companies could benefit from the utilization of affordable field services technologies go to www.taskcaddy.com
Instant Benefits from TaskCaddy
- Using the TaskCaddy system, the project manager can input all task orders into the database. Task steps are defined once, and used often, so that the job ticket creation for routine maintenance projects is dramatically speeded up.
- All job standards – Task duration, scheduled stat time, planned material usage and other costs are measured against actual
- The field tech can print the work acknowledgement directly unto a mobile printer in the presence of the customer, thus speeding up the approval process and reducing return calls, faxes and unnecessary correspondence
- Using TaskCaddy, the supervisor would match the technician with the assignment before deploying the project
- Using TaskCaddy, the supervisor would attach installation instructions and other support material if required, to be viewed on the PDA or on the host server via the mobile device
- Using TaskCaddy, the supervisor may automatically assign multiple projects to multiple techs (paperless)
- Using TaskCaddy, the system would match tasks by qualifications and certifications
- Using TaskCaddy, the tech start-stop activity would be logged and sent to the main server
- Using TaskCaddy, the tech would capture an electronic customer signature and print a service acknowledgement
- Using TaskCaddy, the system would automatically compute inventory usage upon job completion
- TaskCaddy provides the ability to store and reuse estimates from previously completed jobs for current or future use
- You can Incorporate the ability to use GPS for driving optimization and Location Based Tracking
- Using TaskCaddy a field tech has the ability to take a before and after photo capture of the job site
- Using TaskCaddy mangers can capture the task completion metrics and feed to Excel or other business reporting systems
For more information on how Field Service Repair, Delivery and Site Inspection companies could benefit from the utilization of affordable field services technologies go to www.taskcaddy.com
