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Few businesses have more use for mobile field solutions than field service providers.<\/span> Technicians are on the road most of the time, and they need to be able to find customer locations, get to appointments on time, and make sure they have the right manuals, parts, and paperwork. Plus, they have to keep customers and managers up to date, let accounting know what to invoice, and alert sales about follow-up work. Mobile field solutions help them do all that while making it easier for technicians to do what they do best \u2013 helping your customers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Here are the five essential mobile field solutions you need to enhance your team\u2019s productivity and should integrate with your field service management software:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/span><\/p> Field service schedulers have to strike a delicate balance. They need maximum billable hours from each technicians\u2019 day, but they have to leave enough time for work to be done properly and for employees to travel to the next appointment on time, so customers are not waiting for late techs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Schedulers are very good at what they do, but they can\u2019t see the future. When a job takes longer than expected, traffic snarls on the freeway, or emergency work comes in, they may need to adjust schedules on the fly. With mobile calendars, they can see the daily appointments for each technician and move them around if needed. In the field, engineers get instant updates so as they finish one job, they know exactly where to go next.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Make the most of mobile calendars with a field service management solution (FSM) like BlueFolder. Each BlueFolder user has their own personal calendar with daily, weekly, monthly and other views. Users can also integrate and sync their BlueFolder calendar<\/a> with personal applications like Outlook, Google Calendar, or iCal.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/span><\/p> Most mobile phones come with cameras that are easy to use and work well in varied lighting conditions. Having the ability to snap photos of the work environment, completed repairs, and equipment condition helps technicians quickly capture complex details. Photos convey more information than written descriptions and take much less time to create. For very technical issues, techs can take videos and narrate what they see.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Photos provide proof of work for invoices and customer communications. They also demonstrate why additional work might need to be done and record the status of equipment with time and date stamps for a repair history or maintenance records. With a field service management software like BlueFolder, you can easily upload photos and videos to the relevant work order<\/a> record, so you never have to copy and paste them after the job.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/span><\/p> Your field team has to move as quickly as possible between appointments, but road construction, car wrecks, and traffic jams can ruin a day quickly. Plus, it\u2019s easy to get lost when going to a new customer location. Phone and tablet-based map applications help keep technicians moving in the right direction and will even route them around wrecks and backups.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p> These services typically announce directions out loud, allowing drivers to focus on the road instead of a small mobile screen. For extra efficiency, BlueFolder\u2019s FSM integrates Google Maps so technicians can access directions right from the work order, and schedulers can locate techs by office location to find the closest one to a customer site.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p> Mobile map applications also estimate time of arrival so if a technician is going to be a few minutes late, they can call the customer and let them know, which improves the customer experience. For technicians, the software points out nearby gas stations, convenience stores, and restaurants where they can take breaks or fuel up.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/span><\/p> Messaging applications such as email and text are easy to access on any phone and most tablets. These are great ways to get in touch with field engineers to send updates, answer questions, or check on status. And they don\u2019t interrupt employees while they\u2019re working or driving like a phone call would.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p> While text is the easiest way to send quick details, you can use emails for sharing in-depth conversations, recording customer approvals, or attaching relevant documents. BlueFolder\u2019s FSM integrates email conversations with work order management, automatically attaching discussions to work orders. Emails won\u2019t get lost in the noise and each communication becomes part of the record to reduce misunderstandings.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/span><\/p> The machinery field technicians work on is complicated and varied. For any job, the engineer may need to refer to manufacturer\u2019s documentation, electrical schematics, or parts lists. It\u2019s not easy to carry these papers around and employees may find they need to access information they didn\u2019t anticipate before they arrived on site.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p> While most important documents for equipment maintenance and repair are available in PDF format, they can be hard to read with web browsers. But with mobile PDF readers on their phones or tablets, techs can easily access the information they\u2019re looking for. PDF readers allow them to magnify the view, scroll through pages, and make notes on the text for reference. To make life even easier for techs, BlueFolder allows users to attach manuals, photos and other files to any asset or equipment record, so all the information engineers need is at their fingertips.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/span><\/p> Our customers love BlueFolder for its ease-of-use, and our mobile field application is no different. Employees find it intuitive and can start using it with almost no training. It\u2019s designed to help engineers get to the right location with the right support documents and easily update work orders when the job is done. With the mobile app, techs can share real-time status with managers, customers, sales, and accounting in just a few clicks. And customers can approve the work by signing the phone or tablet directly, so you can generate invoices faster and speed cash flow.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p> The mobile app works seamlessly with BlueFolder\u2019s web-based FSM software. BlueFolder makes it easier to:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p> And BlueFolder is so simple to set up and use, most of our customers are up and running in a day or two.<\/span> Schedule a demo<\/a> today and see how BlueFolder can help you.<\/span><\/p> \u00a0<\/span><\/p> [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Few businesses have more use for mobile field solutions than field service providers. Technicians are on the road most of the time, and they need to be able to find customer locations, get to appointments on time, and make sure they have the right manuals, parts, and paperwork. Plus, they have to keep customers and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5035,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"\r\n Managing multiple field service technicians and equipment while keeping your business organized and accurate is quite the chore, especially without the right software. There are a few different options to consider when it comes to\u00a0properly managing your teams and equipment efficiently<\/a>. Writing everything down by hand just isn't going to cut it anymore. To grow as a company you have to put systems in place that help you achieve your full potential. That means using software that can assist you with everything from customer management to\u00a0work order management<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Most companies use either a field service software (or field service management software) or a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS). However, many people don't know the difference between the two or how each one can benefit their companies. While they share similar features and capabilities, a CMMS and an FSM solution both serve different purposes.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n To determine which one is right for your company, let's take a look at what both a CMMS and an FSM solution can offer your company and the key differences between them.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A\u00a0computerized maintenance management system<\/a>\u00a0(CMMS) is a software program used to manage information about the maintenance operations of a company.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n It also allows companies to:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A CMMS comes with benefits that can help your company be much more proactive and efficient about its maintenance operations.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n A CMMS can benefit your company in multiple ways, including:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The features of some of the top CMMS software programs include:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Field service management<\/a>\u00a0(FSM) software is similar to CMMS software in that includes work order management and the ability to track and schedule equipment maintenance. But FSM software also helps collect field data and track client requests and personnel status, as well as improve operations visibility.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n FSM software can help improve\u00a0work order management<\/a>\u00a0and service delivery while enhancing customer service. It will improve your team's overall efficiency by streamlining work orders between the fieldworker and the company office while making it easier for teams to communicate. FSM software also makes it easy to optimize maintenance routes and check your company's key metrics and analytics anytime. But more than that, it helps with:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n An FSM allows for smart scheduling and for self-service (which makes your company more efficient and attractive to customers). FSM also increases mobility by bridging the gap between technicians in the field and employees in the office. Your teams can utilize messaging and notifications to stay in sync on open jobs and status.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The best features of FSM software help make life easier for you and your employees. For instance, some of these features allow you to manage customer records, set up recurring jobs, track work orders, assign work orders to your technicians, manage service contracts, and more. With customization options, you can tailor your FSM to meet your needs.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Some of the other top features of FSM software programs include:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Some FSM software programs also have digital signature capture, branded templates and PDFs, voice and search commands, and phone system integrations. Others offer features like intelligent scheduling at the point of booking, open API, a supplier database, and real-time suggestions optimization.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n While they share similarities, there are key differences between field service software vs CMMS software.\u00a0FSM software is primarily focused on serving external customers and includes tools to help you document and accelerate your service billings, get paid faster, and grow your business. CMMS solutions are typically more geared towards organizations that are performing asset and equipment maintenance for internal customers and don't require robust customer management tools or billing features.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
#1 Make the Most of Technicians\u2019 Time with a Mobile Calendar Solution<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>
#2 Support Work Orders, Invoices, and Reports with Camera Photos and Videos\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>
#3 Mobile Maps Help Technicians Find Their Way<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>
#4 Keep Communication Going with Email and Text<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>
#5 Make it Easy to Access Documents Anywhere with PDF Readers<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>
BlueFolder\u2019s User-Friendly Interface and Mobile Field Application Power Your Team<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>
Field Service Software VS CMMS Software<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
What is CMMS Software?<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Benefits of a CMMS<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Features of CMMS Software<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
What is Field Service Software?<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Benefits of Field Service Software<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Features of FSM Software<\/h4>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
What are the Key Differences?<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n