Even in the year 2020, many field workers still work (in part) with pen and paper. And that's a shame. Working digitally has so many advantages. For your company, your service technicians and your customers. Here are the four main reasons to use field service software that makes pen and paper a thing of the past.
1. Service technicians spend more time on their craft
Service technicians are professionals. And you want them to spend as much time as possible on what they are really good at: service, maintenance and repairs. So no filling out paper work orders, searching through thick paper files, spending valuable time on administration and entering all the data on the computer at a later time. With a field service application, service technicians handle all administration quickly and easily. Fewer errors, no double entry, no losing papers and no illegible handwriting. Directly handle the administration and move on to the next job.
2. No more leaving money lying around unnecessarily
With paper records, you are leaving money on the table. Partly because it is error-prone and time-consuming. But digitization also helps you follow up service requests in a timely manner, schedule more efficiently and manage and administer service contracts. Customers more readily accept a quote they can sign for right away or an invoice for a job done earlier that day instead of three weeks ago. And you will enter into more service contracts with better insight into what they cost, what they generate and when they expire. Paperless service management gives you more grip and insight so you no longer unnecessarily waste money.
"Making the right decisions based on accurate and complete data. That's much nicer than going by your gut feeling, isn't it? "
3. Digital is better
Besides improving the productivity of service technicians, there are many other reasons to go for paperless service management. Satisfied customers by receiving everything digitally immediately. Satisfied employees by leaving more time for other work and less frustration. More revenue for your company and more data for reporting and analysis. Digital is also safer and more reliable than paper records. And better for the environment.
4. Making decisions based on data
Making the right decisions based on accurate and complete data. Isn't that much more pleasant than relying on your gut feeling? Better planning, for example, with a graphical planning board where you can see all work orders to be planned and all mechanics with their availability and skills. Or having precise insight into which parts need to be replaced frequently, which service contracts are the most profitable and how long certain standard work takes. By working digitally with the service department, you collect data, which you can convert into relevant information and base your decisions on that.
Of course, everything hinges on HOW you go paperless. With the use of the right software and hardware, support from a specialized partner with industry knowledge and a good project approach that includes sufficient time and space for employee training, pen and paper can be put away for good after implementation.
Philip van Kemenade is marketing manager at Dysel and has daily contact with end users of software.
