Double Your Capacity Without Hiring More People

Looking to take on more jobs and increase profits for your service business?

If your team is out in the field repairing and working on things, you have to make sure your operational software is doing it’s job before you can really grow.

What Is Operational Software or Field Service Management Software and Why Does Your Service Business Need It?

By now, most service businesses rely on at least some technology. You probably have a website, email, and maybe telecommunications. But are you using the latest and greatest, or is your stuff outdated?

Operational software streamlines every aspect of your service business, from initial contact to collecting follow-up reviews and being proactive with your client base into the future. They want to know how to best use your services and what all you can do. And now you can do it easily while also having a FULL record of everything you’ve done for them at your fingertips. Your customers will love this and your team will be able to provide smarter more proactive service with the clarity that comes from available client data. It's a huge transformation in efficiency from using manual spreadsheets and starting the conversation over every time you talk with them. 

Technology lets you double—or even triple—volume without additional staff. How? Automated processes handle everyday tasks for you while increasing your customer satisfaction. You don’t have to work HARDER to increase your customer experience, you have to work smarter while using the right tools and adding a few new perspectives into your thinking and execution. Updating your systems also improves:

• Remote job order processing
• Appointment setting and communications
• Field project scheduling and dispatch
• Tracking service tasks and outcomes
• Managing client contracts and service histories
• Invoicing and payment collections
• Inventory management and control
• Customer experience
• Reviews and referrals
• and more…

It's easy for business owners to get into a rut and drag their feet when it comes to technology. Some shy away because it seems intimidating or downright scary and hugely expensive if not just simply a pain in the ass. They don't want to waste time and money going down the wrong path. Others believe they need to invest in all the really expensive stuff probably because their IT team tells them so, and that’s not true either. There really is an art to choosing the right tools for your business and budget and using them in the right ways to make your business run more smoothly while increasing your front line performance. While you will have to allocate some money to software, it's probably not as much as you think and if done right, it will pay you back quickly and over and over again. In the end, you'll only wish you made the switch sooner.

Save Time and Money While Scaling Your Field Service Business

It's time to retire those time-consuming, unproductive spreadsheets or simply hoping for the best for good. There are better, more efficient alternatives out there that actually work and will make your life easier and your business stronger. Smart technologies used in the right ways will streamline processes, boosts revenues, reduce workloads, and enhance the customer experience without any added staff. If you don't make the right switch now, it's only a matter of time before your competitors beat you to the punch. 

Here are 5 important technologies that help increase your capacity and increase your profits:

1) Worker/Team Management Software
Welcome to the Great Resignation. In January 2022, a whopping 4.3 million workers quit their jobs, with no end in sight. Retaining your current talent is more crucial than ever.

Why are they leaving? Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't all have to do with money. Many simply feel overworked and under-appreciated. Employees want you to value and trust them. More importantly, they desire the tools needed to grow and succeed. Team management software makes this possible by:

• Enhancing collaboration
• Increasing communication
• Limiting workloads

Instead of working in the field alone, employees feel like vital members of your team. Helpful tools, such as calendars, schedules, and document storage, make it easier for everyone to do their jobs. This software lets you manage people instead of spreadsheets.

2) Field Service Management Software
Working in a service business means you don't have to stare at the same four walls day in and day out. Instead, you travel out into the field to complete jobs for clients. While this sounds exciting, it does have a few disadvantages, namely communication and organizational barriers. Integrating field service management (FSM) technology is a lifesaver. It automates many of the daily tasks you would otherwise tackle by hand.

The top benefits of FSM software include:

• Automated Processes. The biggest advantage of FSM technology is automating pretty much everything that goes on behind the scenes. Examples include automated billing, communications, and scheduling. Streamlining these tasks reduces downtime and ensures your workers always have access to the most up-to-date information.
• Boost in Productivity. How much valuable time do your technicians waste filling out forms, entering client data, and updating logs at the office? There's a better place for them—out in the field! Since FSM technology automates these everyday duties, your techs can spend more time working face-to-face with customers.
• Increased Cost-Efficiency. Instead of dealing with piles of paperwork, this technology lets you digitize everything. Compile and store all forms in a single network that's accessible by your entire crew. Reducing the paper trail actually increases the number of jobs your team can complete in a day, maximizing profits.
• More Reliable Responsiveness. Service businesses know that anything can change in an instant. Perhaps the job needs a more specialized technician or requires a specific part. FSM lets you identify possible issues before sending someone out. This ensures you deliver better results the first time, improving both customer and employee morale.
• Better Driver Routing. What's a common customer complaint? Not knowing when the technician will arrive. FSM software prevents this with GPS tracking and visibility. With just a few clicks, you can view the location and ETA of every driver in real-time.
• Supports Growth. Building your business, increasing volume, and managing new leads are essential. But can your current systems handle the influx? FSM technology supports expansion. It's a fully scalable solution capable of handling complex data and ever-changing customer needs.

3) Inventory Management Software
Imagine showing up to a worksite only to discover you don't have the right tools or parts. Unfortunately, service businesses deal with this scenario way too often. It's not only frustrating for your technicians, but it also leaves a bad taste in your customers' mouths. Instead of playing the guessing game with your inventory, let software streamline it for you.

Inventory management is time-consuming when done by hand. Errors are common, and updates lag. That's why it's better to let technology take the lead. The software automatically tracks inventory as it enters or leaves the warehouse. You can even schedule restocks whenever popular parts run low. Other benefits include:

• 
  Leads to improved accuracy
• Facilitates better customer experience
• Promotes more productivity
• Saves time and money

4) AR Augmented Reality Telepresence Video Tools and Technology
Are video calls vital to service businesses? A decade ago, you would have rolled your eyes at the thought. But today, it sounds like a good idea—and it is. Virtual collaborations distribute knowledge anywhere in the field in real-time. Technicians can get trusted answers in an instant. Cloud software makes it possible to share tribal knowledge across the workforce with other workers.

Additional benefits of video software include:

• Save travel time and money with virtual interactions
• Enhanced team collaborations
• Fewer mistakes in the field
• Increased productivity
• Faster response times

Remote troubleshooting is a win-win for all parties. It streamlines operations within your organization and improves customer morale. Geographic location is no longer a barrier. You can even serve more clients without hiring additional workers.

5) Proactive/Predictive Maintenance Capabilities and Software
As a service business owner, you more than understand the importance of regular maintenance. You probably recommend it to your customers every day. But are you being proactive in maintaining your own equipment? As the saying goes, do what I say, not as I do. However, you can—and should—do better for your company.

Predictive maintenance software relies on domain knowledge or even IoT (Internet of Things) sensors to predict and proactively maintain equipment. You can have an army of cheap sensors tracking performance, usage and reporting with smart notifications for managing all your expensive systems out in the field. If you are the type of business that could use IoT then it can likely provide a cost effective way to powerfully out perform your competitors that do not. Here's why you might need this technology:

• Fewer equipment failures
• Extend asset lifespan
• Reduce the mean time to repair by 60%
• Accurate asset data predictions
• Reduce repair and replacement costs
• Improve technician efficiency
• Increase equipment uptime by up to 20%
• Better ROI

But we didn't have to tell you any of that. It's the same reason clients schedule routine services for their HVACs, plumbing, vehicles, and more. Functioning equipment means you can take on more jobs and boost profits. if you can get simple reports across all of your systems and how they are performing, then you have a dashboard that will help you KEEP THINGS RUNNING instead of breaking down. If you’re a B2B service business then this is critical and could revolutioninze your business model as well as your client satisfaction. When you can address the result your clients actually wan, which is continuous uptime instead of break-fix, now your goals are aligned with theirs and you may even be able to add ongoing maintenance programs into your mix to add to your ongoing revenue and bottom line. At the same time, your customers will appreciate your forward thinking approach and you’ll stand-out as the team that “gets-it” and the word of mouth will spread. IoT isn’t for everyone, but most B2B field service businesses should be seriously considering how they could deploy IoT into their service mix to jump ahead of the competition.

Standout Results wants to elevate your service business to the next level. We use a multi-faceted approach to deliver unbeatable results. From marketing to workflow transformation and everything in between, we have the experience necessary to handle it all.