Slow dispatching processes, complex scheduling and poor communication are challenges in field service operations that make managing feel like solving a puzzle with missing pieces.
Fortunately, with the right field service management software requirements, you can overcome these obstacles and get the whole picture.
Get our Field Service Management Software Requirements Template.
Having a field service management (FSM) system completes your workflow so you can hit the road and cross everything off your list seamlessly.
In this article, we’re providing a comprehensive checklist of key field service software requirements, purchasing considerations and steps for selecting the best platform. Let’s dive in!
Field Service Software Requirements
Generate and send invoices automatically based on completed services.
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Access a centralized hub for all customer information, interactions and service histories.
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Assign jobs in real time based on factors like location and skills for better service outcomes. With automated dispatching, streamline workflows, minimize travel time and increase first-time fix rates.
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Monitor the status, maintenance schedules and lifecycle of your assets. Ensure optimal use of equipment, reduce maintenance costs and extend the lifespan of assets.
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Monitor stock levels, manage orders, and track inventory turnover to ensure parts are always available, minimizing delays and costs.
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Mobile capabilities enable real-time access to job details and customer info, boosting team response time, communication, productivity and service quality.
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See key insights into your operations, identify trends and analyze performance metrics. Pinpoint areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions that optimize operations and drive growth.
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Analyze job locations and traffic patterns to create efficient routes. Smart routing reduces travel time, cuts fuel expenses and helps technicians complete more jobs daily.
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Organize appointments and service calls systematically. Most scheduling tools also have mobile alerts and notifications.
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Track performance, availability and assignments. This requirement also supports resource allocation.
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Improve visibility into your job status, enhance accountability and ultimately create a better workflow. Track orders throughout their lifecycle, ensuring no detail gets overlooked.
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Key takeaways:
- Identify your FSM software system needs and must-have key features.
- Find out what makes each field service management software feature essential.
- Learn the first steps and tips to finding the right field service management software.
FSM Software Features Checklist
We’ve onboarded over 100,000 users into our software selection platform. This has given us a wealth of insights into their usage patterns based on industry, company size and user persona. By leveraging this data, we’ve identified key requirements you should consider to minimize the risk of selecting the wrong software.
Our goal is to empower you to benefit from the collective experience of your peers who’ve embarked on the same journey before you.
When searching for a platform, here are the most important field service management software requirements to look for:
1. Billing & Invoicing
An all-inclusive billing module generates batch, custom, recurring and automated invoices, then delivers them straight to your customers’ email. Automation is a lifesaver in field service operations, especially considering that 61% of invoicing delays are caused by easily avoidable mistakes (like incorrect job descriptions or typos).
Another challenge technicians face is late invoice payments that lead to larger cash flow issues. Over 80% of businesses cite it as a primary issue.
An invoice without a follow-up is like an invitation without an RSVP; without confirmation, you’re unsure of when (or if) the payment will arrive.
Billing and Invoicing helps by:
- Automating reminders and follow-up messages.
- Generating clear invoices.
- Providing real-time communication tools for customers.
- Processing payments through built-in or third-party payment gateways.
Plus, most FSM solutions come with pre-built, customizable templates that save time, ensure consistency and reduce errors like incorrect line items or miscalculations. These templates are also brandable and allow you to set pricing for specific services and assets.
For even more robust billing capabilities, most FSM systems offer third-party integration. Connect your preferred applications to monitor and handle card payments using chip and contactless methods. Enhance your financial management by integrating accounting software with various field service management systems.
No one likes unexpected costs or hidden fees. Field service software helps avoid this by providing accurate, real-time quotes on-site, so customers know exactly what they’re paying for before any work begins. Clear, itemized invoices make the billing process transparent.
- Automated Invoice Follow-Ups
- Automated Invoicing
- Automate Recurring Invoices
- Batch Invoicing
- Email Invoices to Customers
- Invoice Templates
- Invoice Tracking
- Payment Processing
2. Customer Management
Being tech-savvy is important, but it’s only part of the equation. What really builds trust and long-term relationships with customers are exceptional customer experiences.
It takes 40 positive reviews to make up for just one bad one, proving how important it is to go the extra mile.
One of the biggest frustrations customers face is waiting around for service that doesn’t show up on time. Field service software helps with real-time scheduling and dispatching, route optimization and schedules based on both location and technician availability.
Automated reminders and real-time text updates keep customers informed, and providing accurate technician ETAs can help manage their expectations (improving the service delivery window).
Customers want to know what’s going on every step of the way. With a customer portal, they can track service progress in real time. Most service software offers this kind of self-service portal, where customers can schedule, reschedule, or cancel appointments, view their service history, check technician info, manage contracts and warranties and even make payments—all online.
No one likes having to call back for the same issue. To avoid repeat appointments, a well-maintained customer database helps track important information like contact details, work history, photos and videos. Technicians also benefit from integrated troubleshooting guides, which help them fix problems the first time around.
Example:
3D Systems struggled with the increasing demand for faster service and reducing unexpected downtime. They also needed a better way to predict future issues and avoid repeat service visits (while getting the most out of their equipment uptime).
The Solutions:
- ServiceMax: For tracking the installed base, work order management and reporting.
- Aquant (AI Tool): For predictive and diagnostic capabilities.
- Iot-Enabled Products: To gather real-time data on equipment performance.
- AI-Driven Tools: To predict service needs and identify issues before customers are impacted.
The Results:
- 62% reduction in parts usage.
- 39% decrease in repeat service visits.
- Improved first-time fix (FTF) rates and mean time to repair (MTTR).
- 500 assets enabled with IoT.
- Increased Net Promoter Score (NPS) from 22 to 70.
- More accurate and rapid service responses helped maintain higher equipment uptime.
Lastly, a great aspect of this module is collecting customer feedback to make improvements and even reach back out to previous customers to smooth over previous negative experiences.
With over 60% of customers saying they’ve switched providers after a negative customer service experience, the importance of this feature is undeniable.
- Add Attachments in Customer Profile
- Appointment Reminder Texts and Email
- Capture Customer Feedback
- Chatbots and Virtual Agents
- Customer Contact Center
- Customer Information
- Customer Self-Service Portal
- Self-Service Appointment Scheduling
- Share Estimated Time of Arrival to Customer
Get our Field Service Management Software Requirements Template.
3. Dispatching
Insufficient dispatching in field service management is like a dancer with two left feet, you’re bound to stumble. Dispatching focuses on streamlining communication and resolving issues, bringing order to operations like a master choreographer.
Field service management software’s dispatching capabilities optimize work order assignments by considering variables like technician location, availability, workload and skillset.
Some systems use an online helpdesk to automatically convert customer phone calls into work orders, then individually or batch-assign them to field technicians.
Using multiple views provides a holistic view of your field operations. It identifies the best technician for a new job, like:
- Daily, weekly or monthly calendars for technicians and scheduled jobs.
- Digital maps with real-time data to show current technician locations.
- Gantt charts with color-coded entries designating job and worker status.
- Resource utilization views for even assignment allocation across your workforce.
Automated dispatch is a revolutionary development for field technicians and managers.
Josh Smith recently expanded on this topic, having personally installed systems for multiple clients.
Here are some key takeaways:
- Automated dispatch reduced planning time by 75%, cutting daily planning from three to four hours to 15 to 30 minutes.
- Intelligent route optimization reduced miles driven by 20% and cut fuel expenses by 10 to 30%.
- Automated scheduling helped increase on-time deliveries by 25%.
- Assign Work Orders Through Score-Based, Intelligent Resource Recommendations
- Automated Work Order Assignment
- Batch Job Assigning
- Calendar View
- Color-Coded Views of Job Status or Workers
- Gantt Chart View
- Map View
- Resource Utilization View
4. Equipment & Asset Management
Missing parts and equipment failure take a toll on service quality and technician performance. According to Salesforce, asset uptime is considered the most important KPI by 71% of manufacturers.
That’s where equipment and asset management comes in, providing systematic organization, tracking and maintenance of equipment in field service operations, ensuring optimal usage and guaranteeing healthy service life.
Example:
AlarmQuest faced difficulties tracking equipment and parts used during service jobs. There was no easy way to monitor resource usage across multiple jobs, and manual reporting frequently caused errors.
Solution: simPRO
Results:
- Tracked time and materials directly in for accurate data.
- Logged time and materials in real-time, reducing errors and improving accuracy.
- Received real-time updates to ensure proper tracking of tools and parts.
- Gained full visibility into resource usage, minimizing mistakes and optimizing efficiency.
There have been great advancements like AI, IoT, and GPS to support asset tracking, as well as predictive maintenance. These innovations improve asset uptime and extend their longevity.
By tracking each piece of equipment with serial numbers, model numbers, and warranty expiration dates, you can gather real-time data from IoT-enabled equipment. This provides alerts for significant product changes and automates preventive maintenance checks.
This module can also:
- Improve Response Times: By tracking the service history of parts based on a customer’s location, technicians can quickly access up-to-date information on equipment conditions. This helps reduce the time spent diagnosing problems and improves response times, ensuring faster service delivery.
- Prevent Theft: With accurate tracking of parts and assets, businesses can monitor their inventory and assets more effectively. This minimizes the risk of theft by ensuring all equipment and parts are accounted for and tracked in real time.
- Identify Upselling Opportunities: By understanding the service history and condition of equipment, technicians can identify potential upselling opportunities (e.g., for parts replacements, upgrades or additional services) during service visits. This helps increase revenue while providing more value to the customer.
- Manage Product Recalls: Tracking and managing product recalls directly within the service management solution ensures that technicians can quickly locate and address affected assets. This helps prevent delays in recall actions and ensures timely replacements or removals, reducing the risk of compliance issues and customer dissatisfaction.
- Simplify Warranty and Claims Management: Centralized management of warranties, service terms and part claims helps resolve disputes more efficiently. By keeping detailed records, the solution ensures accurate claim validation and approval, reducing the administrative burden and improving claim turnaround times.
- Equipment Tracking
- Identify Up-sell Opportunities in the Field
- Real-time Product Information from IoT-enabled Devices
- Recall Management
- Schedule Preventative Maintenance
- Track Service History
- Warranty and Claims Management
Get our Field Service Management Software Requirements Template.
5. Inventory Management
Between replacement parts and rented equipment, having a system to track every asset from start to finish is essential in field service operations. Inventory costs typically make up 25% to 35% of a business’s budget. Proper inventory management prevents revenue losses, enhances warehouse operations and eliminates stock issues.
Comprehensive inventory visibility is pivotal because it directly impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of technicians in the field, customer satisfaction, and the quality of service delivery.
Most systems use serial numbers, lot numbers or barcodes to track inventory in real time. This allows visibility into the status and location of each item, from multiple warehouses to trunk stock.
The solution automatically routes maintenance requests to the appropriate repair depot(s) based on skills and staff availability. This proactive approach improves turnaround time and customer satisfaction.
Reverse logistics capabilities track and manage the supply chain from the end consumer to the distributor or supplier. It lets you track incoming assets as they move through the process and optimize routes.
Purchase management streamlines and documents your purchasing process and handles requisitions, purchase orders, receipts and invoices to save money, time and resources.
More advanced systems forecast demand based on what items were popular in the past and automatically create purchase orders to replenish inventory.
Low-stock alerts on invoices and accounting software integrations can enhance your inventory management.
- Depot Repair
- Inventory Tracking
- Manage Trunk Stock
- Multi-warehouse Inventory Movement
- Purchase Management
- Receive Automatic Notifications for Location-specific Low Inventory
- Reverse Logistics
- Track Inventory Replenishments
6. Mobile Capabilities
Your field service technicians are constantly on the move, with staff and assets spread worldwide. Supporting your mobile workforce and capabilities is a key part of your field service management checklist.
Mobile access has two possibilities: web-based and native applications. You can use web-based solutions through a browser and download native applications on your device. There are pros and cons for both, so consult your team to decide which option works best for everyone.
Field technicians use mobile devices to instantly update the back office with assignment details, work status, job notes, audio recordings and site media. They also access work orders, manage inventory and receive automated alerts for schedule changes without returning to dispatch or making calls.
Mobile capabilities also help by:
- Providing exact labor and parts pricing.
- Receiving customer signatures and payments directly on your phone.
- Capturing photos/videos.
- Sending detailed service reports.
- Enhancing transparency and building customer trust throughout the service process.
- Offering real-time updates on job progress, completion times and any issues.
- Giving instant access to past service records for a more personalized experience.
- Automating follow-up notifications for future maintenance or service needs.
With Over 62% of field service businesses taking a BYOP (bring your own device) approach and using their phones to get the job done, it’s clear that mobile tools are essential.
- Automated Mobile Alerts
- Capture Images in Mobile
- Capture Signatures in Mobile
- Mobile Forms
- Native Mobile Application
- Offline Capability for Mobile App
- Provide Pricing of Labor, Parts and Products in the Field Through Mobile
- Send Work Orders to Field Staff in Mobile
- Track and Manage Inventory From Mobile
- Track the Locations of Each Part in Mobile
- Update Job Status in Mobile
Get our Field Service Management Software Requirements Template.
7. Reporting & Dashboards
Keeping a competitive edge means more than just understanding graphs or averages. There’s a new buzzword: data literacy. Data literacy is the ability to understand and use data to make informed decisions.
Gartner explains:
A data-literate worker can interpret data to draw meaningful insights for a specific process or problem. They can also communicate these findings to others by translating the information into terms their audience can relate to.
83% of Chief Data & Analytics Officers (CDAOs) are implementing or planning data literacy programs in the next year.
Data is vital to all business sizes. Accessing, collating, analyzing data and gathering visual and actionable insights helps improve your operations. Field service management solutions have digital dashboards and multiple reporting options to address this concern.
Preconfigured dashboards provide a digital interface for a quick overview of current and historical business data, including technician location, inventory levels, schedules, job statuses and real-time KPIs for business trends. Customize dashboards to meet your specific business needs.
According to A Comprehensive Guide to Field Service Metrics & Key Performance Indicators:
“Field service KPIs are critical indicators of how well field service operations are being performed. Popular KPIs include service efficiency, customer satisfaction and downtime and provide insight into how well field service teams contribute to company objectives. These KPIs demonstrate how satisfied customers are before, during and after service.
Customer satisfaction KPIs include the customer retention rate and how likely they will recommend your service to others (commonly referred to as Net Promoter Score). These KPIs are generally produced by gathering and analyzing customer feedback and comparing the results to industry benchmarks or the competition’s numbers.”
Pre-built and completely customizable templates generate reports for key information like invoices, service histories, inventory and performance. View and export reports in your preferred format to pinpoint actionable insights, improve operations and boost revenues.
- Built-in Dashboard
- Customizable Dashboards
- Customizable Reports
- Inventory Reports
- Invoice Reports
- Pre-built Reports
- Real-time KPIs
- Scheduled Delivery of Reports
- Service Reports
8. Routing
Efficient routing is critical for maximizing productivity, saving time and ensuring cost-effectiveness. Every moment your technicians spend in traffic is a missed opportunity for revenue. So, it’s essential to invest resources that get your technicians to the right place as quickly as possible.
Utilizing GPS location and real-time data, routing features automatically or manually generate optimized routes for your technicians. These routes minimize travel time, reduce fuel consumption, and empower your field staff to handle more jobs per day.
Looking into the future of field service management, advanced systems use predictive technology to learn your employees’ granular habits, such as task completion times or parking durations. This data predicts your technician’s movements at any point during the day and builds the best routes to the job location.
Plan routes manually with digital maps and drag-and-drop, adding new jobs and parts pickups instantly. The system updates the route and arrival time estimates automatically.
Geofencing tools set an area around a location, like a customer’s home or storage depot. When parts or technicians enter or exit these areas, the solution automatically sends notifications, updating ETAs for managers and customers.
This feature also helps scale during periods of high demand. By automating route planning and optimization, businesses can handle more tasks without overburdening resources.
Example:
SOS Meals on Wheels was already delivering between 28,000 to 30,000 meals per month to home bound seniors when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. With an increase in demand, they added 1,500 new clients in nine months. This meant scaling from 52 to 100 delivery routes per day. They turned to route optimization software to support this surge.
Solution: RouteSavvy
Results:
- Automated planning delivery routes.
- Generated more efficient routes that reduced mileage and saved fuel costs.
- Saved time adding new clients (from taking three to four days to 48 hours).
- Adjust Map Settings or Configurations
- AI-Based Routing Engine
- Geofencing
- Multi-Route Comparison Visualization
- Real-time Traffic
- Route Customization or Manual Routing
- Route Planning and Optimization
Get our Field Service Management Software Requirements Template.
9. Scheduling
Without scheduling, tasks would overlap, appointments wouldn’t exist and your team would be waiting around for instructions. It would be chaos. Scheduling provides critical organization that prevents frustrated customers, wasted time and low productivity.
Assigning technicians demands a careful balance of skill, experience, job complexity, location proximity and job priority.
Some systems provide a drag-and-drop interface to make manual assignment and rescheduling easy and leverage AI capabilities to recommend or automatically schedule job assignments, considering various factors and any target-based KPIs.
Consider opting for a system with a real-time map interface to track technicians and assets. Choose one that can efficiently assign multiple field employees to larger tasks. Placing the right tech with the right job improves first-time fix rates and increases customer satisfaction.
In Empowering Field Technicians For Exceptional Customer Interactions, Zuper CEO Anand Subbaraj writes:
Specifically, in field service, the quality of your customer service hinges on the experience that your field technicians provide. Unlike other industries, it is individual. Your employees are responsible for executing the service and fielding customer queries in real time.
The Technology & Services Industry Association (TSIA) identified support scheduling optimization and scheduling/dispatch as two of 14 important capabilities to improve on across the industry. Therefore, I recommend building buffers into your workflow and emphasizing technological solutions to ensure that scheduling is efficient and reliable so your organization can maintain a positive reputation among your customers.
Example:
Baxi (a large manufacturer) needed a way to handle more service calls as their business grew. They wanted to schedule jobs better and get more jobs wrapped up every day.
The Solution: ServicePower
The Results:
- Automated job assignments for technicians.
- Matched technicians to each job based on their skills and location.
- Updated schedules in real time.
- 50% increase in jobs completed daily.
- 15% boost in customer satisfaction.
- AI-Enabled Scheduling Optimization
- Appointment Booking
- Automatic Scheduling
- Drag-and-Drop Scheduler
- Manual Scheduling
- Re-schedule Customer Appointments
- Target-based Scheduling
10. Technician & Contractor Management
Providing the best service starts with having the best tools. Technician management features offer resources for diagnosing field issues. Mobile service apps provide job inspection checklists, part sourcing and technical information like equipment manuals, product history and repair notes for field techs.
Some tools enable building knowledge sources, providing field technicians with a treasure trove of valuable information to help them complete an assignment independently.
Online portals let field staff members, contractors and subcontractors review service request details, view assigned tasks, update statuses and complete timesheets. Contractors and subcontractors can accept or decline job opportunities directly on the portal.
The system provides automated notifications for project start times to technicians in the field and tracks their locations in real time, helping you monitor and document SLA compliance. Also, field staff attach notes, photos, videos and audio recordings to work orders to prove SLA compliance.
Track field workers’ performance by analyzing all the metrics to determine first-time fix rate, SLA violations, assignment prioritization and job completion times compared to estimated times. With this information at your fingertips, easily identify your top performers and specific areas of improvement for each field staff to get the most out of your workforce.
Prioritizing safety and compliance is key in field service management. FSM provider Service Power explains:
Field service technicians are exposed to numerous potential hazards while working in the field. For instance, malfunctioning equipment can pose serious danger if it is not handled appropriately, putting both customers and technicians at risk of potential harm. Likewise, following proper safety precautions are essential for keeping technicians and customers safe from serious injury.
For monitoring and managing techs, one example I’ve tried is the Zuper demo. It has a leaderboard showing who’s completed the most jobs (and the total number in general). This can be handy for employee performance and accountability.
- Contractor or Subcontractor Portal
- Job Checklist
- Knowledge Management
- Performance Management
- Record Audio and Video
- Request and Order Parts
- SLA Compliance
- Site Inspection Checklists
- Take Notes and Photos
- Technician Portal
- Time Tracking
- Track the Real-Time Location of the In-Field Agents or Technicians
11. Work Order Management
When you’re shopping for field service software, work order management is a must because it keeps tasks organized. It helps streamline everything from assignment to job completion. It’s like a blueprint that transforms jumbled parts into a well-oiled machine.
Build templates inside the solution to create work orders automatically or manually. Save time creating new work orders by using information from previous projects, like change orders and incident reports.
For ongoing projects that require follow-ups, incorporate recurring work orders automatically into the schedule by inputting the frequency of visits or adding specific dates.
Work Order Management helps:
- Set approval processes for work orders:
- Automatically generated or field staff-requested work orders require approval.
- Technicians can reject unnecessary or redundant work orders and request more information before approval.
- Track real-time status of work orders:
- Field staff provide updates on work orders in real time.
- Keep customers informed by emailing work orders and updates directly from the system.
- Manage client work orders:
- When clients leave or switch providers, delete their work orders, including notes, attachments, and scheduled appointments.
- If a client returns, easily “undelete” work orders to restore all associated information.
- Archived or deleted work orders, along with attachments and notes, remain accessible in files and folders.
Example:
Schneider Electric, an energy management and automation company, operates in over 100 countries with 150,000 employees. They faced several challenges after merging 27 brands.
They needed to manage a complicated mix of customers, products and assets. The company also didn’t track service opportunities well and wanted to move from just fixing problems to growing its business. At the same time, they needed to ensure their customer experience was the same around the world.
Solution: ServiceMax
Results:
- Integrated with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle) for service contract and work order management.
- Provided field service technicians with mobile functionality, including offline access.
- Reduced paper-based processes by 70%.
- Improved first-time fix rates by 3%.
- Increase in positive customer feedback via social media.
I tested out the Jobber free trial, and I thought the main dashboard was well organized; right at the top, you can see your requests, quotes, jobs and invoices. There are also additional options under each category for an extra level of detail; like with invoices, it breaks down into the ones that are drafts or past due.
Under that, there’s a section for to-dos and your appointments for today. It felt like they made it easy for beginners to keep track of their work.
- Approve or Reject Work Orders
- Bulk Edit Work Orders
- Create Work Orders
- Delete Work Orders
- Email Work Orders to Customer
- Managing Recurring Work Orders
- Work Order Status Updates
- Work Order Templates
Purchasing Considerations
Here are questions to ask yourself before committing to an FSM solution.
- Customization and Scalability
- Integration Options
- strong>Mobile Accessibility
- Mobile Accessibility
- Reporting and Analytics Tools
- Security Measures
Next, ask your team key questions to guide the creation of your field service checklist and facilitate proactive planning.
How much am I willing to spend?
Establishing a budget is like having a roadmap, helping you pick FSM software that meets your wants and needs without breaking the bank. Alternatively, check our free pricing guide for reference.
How many users and jobs will my system need to handle?
System pricing often depends on monthly user and job volumes, so it’s important to consider scalability when evaluating platforms. Choose a system that can adapt to changing demands and industry trends, offering flexibility to scale up or down as needed while staying within budget. This ensures cost-effectiveness as your business grows and evolves.
What security measures are in place to safeguard sensitive customer and business data, especially when accessing and transmitting information in the field?
Understanding a system’s security features helps ensure compliance with regulations and safeguards your data. Taking security measures prevents breaches and unauthorized access, protecting your legal standing and operational productivity.
Does this vendor have experience in my industry?
It’s crucial to choose a vendor with a proven track record in your industry. Their experience with similar businesses means they understand common challenges and can provide more tailored, effective solutions.
Which deployment method is best for my company?
According to The Business Research Company, cloud-based field service management systems continue to gain popularity in an industry that will reach a global market value of $7.84 billion by 2028. Cloud-based systems utilize internet connectivity and mobile devices to provide tools, resources, and real-time updates to back-office and field staff.
If privacy is a concern, some buyers might prefer on-premise solutions for better data security and compliance. These systems are stored directly on your company’s premises, offering more control over security, but they might come with trade-offs in terms of certain features.
What kind of training and support options are available during the implementation and ongoing use of the field service management software?
Training helps users get the most out of the software and avoid disruptions, while ongoing support ensures quick issue resolution and minimal downtime. Focusing on these factors helps businesses maximize their FSM software investment, boost user adoption and improve long-term field service operations.
What’s the platform’s return on investment?
When businesses invest in new software, like cloud-based solutions, they want to know if it’s worth the money. One common way to measure this is by calculating your return on investment (ROI).
It shows how the software can improve efficiency, reduce errors, save time and cut operational costs, ultimately leading to better profitability. ROI also helps businesses understand the long-term value, such as increased productivity, reduced staffing needs, and improved customer satisfaction, making it easier to justify the investment and guide future decisions.
Get our Field Service Management Software Requirements Template.
Tips for a Smooth Transition
Follow the steps below to help you make an informed decision before and after selecting FSM software:
Define Your Requirements
Before evaluating any platforms, clearly outline your business requirements and objectives.
Identify the specific needs of your field service operations, like scheduling, dispatching, inventory management, mobile capabilities, reporting and customer communication.
Consider factors like the size of your workforce, the nature of your services and any industry-specific compliance requirements. Also, factor in the amount of training you’re able to provide employees and ensure the platform is intuitive and easy for field technicians to use, reducing the learning curve.
Involve Key Stakeholders Early
Involve your technicians, dispatchers, customer service teams, and other relevant stakeholders in the decision-making and planning process. They will be the primary users of the software, so their feedback on features, ease of use, and potential pain points is invaluable.
Clean Up Your Data
Ensure that you allocate enough time and resources to migrate historical data such as customer information, work orders, service history, and inventory data. Before migration, clean up your existing data to eliminate duplicates, outdated information and inaccuracies.
Be Flexible
Actively monitor its usage to identify any bottlenecks or challenges that arise. Keep an eye on productivity, response times, and customer satisfaction, and be ready to make adjustments. Schedule regular check-ins with your team to gather feedback and address concerns. Some changes or tweaks may be necessary to fine-tune workflows and maximize the benefits of the new software.
Research and Shortlist
Conduct thorough research to identify FSM software options in the market. Explore reviews, case studies, and testimonials from similar businesses. Next, create your shortlist of potential solutions.
Pay attention to key features, user interface, scalability, and integration capabilities. Consider both cloud-based and on-premise solutions and assess their compatibility with your existing systems.
Demo and Trial
Schedule live demos with the selected FSM software providers. During the demos, focus on how well the software addresses your specific requirements. Evaluate the user interface for ease of use and assess the software’s ability to handle your workflow.
Additionally, inquire about customization options, training and support services, and scalability. Request a trial or pilot period to allow your team to test the software in a real-world setting.
Ensure Compatibility
Evaluate the software’s ability to integrate seamlessly with your existing systems, such as CRM, ERP, and accounting software.
It’s important to check if the FSM software supports industry-standard integrations and APIs to flow smoothly across platforms.
As SelectHub’s Principal Research Analyst, Jaisri Narasimman, explains:
Look for ways to increase efficiency through integration, whether via native connectors, custom API integrations, or middleware solutions.
Compatibility avoids data silos and supports a smooth flow of information across your organization. Also, assess the software’s mobile capabilities, as field service often requires access to real-time data while on the go.
Evaluate Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
When evaluating software, think about the total cost, including licensing, setup, training and ongoing support. Compare pricing options like subscriptions or one-time fees to find what works best for your budget.
Get our Field Service Management Software Requirements Template.
FAQ
Follow these steps:
- Identify your needs: Define the features and functionalities you require.
- Research vendors: Look for software providers that align with your needs.
- Read reviews: Check customer feedback and ratings for insights on performance and support.
- Request demos: Get hands-on experience with the software to see if it fits your operations.
- Compare key factors: Evaluate pricing, support options, scalability, and customer satisfaction to make an informed decision.
The time it takes to implement FSM software can vary depending on factors like the complexity of your requirements, the number of users and the level of customization needed. On average:
- Small to mid-sized businesses: May complete the implementation in one to three months.
- Large enterprises or organizations with complex needs: May require four to six months or longer for full deployment.
Factors such as vendor expertise, internal readiness, and system complexity can affect your timeline.
Some ways AI can help include:
- Predictive Maintenance: AI algorithms can analyze equipment data to predict failures before they happen, reducing downtime and costly repairs.
- Smart Scheduling: AI-powered systems can optimize technician routes, balancing factors like location, skillset, traffic and job urgency to improve scheduling efficiency.
- Automated Customer Support: Chatbots and virtual assistants can handle routine customer inquiries, freeing up human agents for more complex tasks.
- Real-time Data: AI can process real-time data from the field (e.g., equipment status, technician performance) and offer insights or recommendations to improve service delivery.
While AI offers substantial benefits, there are some challenges to consider when implementing it in FSM software:
- Data Quality: AI relies on accurate, high-quality data to deliver meaningful insights. Poor data collection practices or outdated systems can hinder AI’s effectiveness.
- Integration: AI features often require integration with existing systems and databases. Ensuring that all your tools work together seamlessly can be complex.
- Employee Training: Employees need training to work alongside AI tools. This may involve a shift in workflow or adopting new ways of thinking about problem-solving and decision-making.
- Improves Productivity
- Automates workflows and standardizes processes
- Optimizes scheduling and resource allocation
- Real-time tracking for job status and resource management
- Enhances communication between field teams, back office, and customers
- Enhances Customer Satisfaction
- Faster service delivery and higher first-time fix rates.
- Real-time updates and appointment tracking.
- Predictive maintenance to prevent issues.
- Builds trust and transparency with customers.
- Reduces Expenses
- Optimizes task assignment to minimize travel and fuel costs.
- Prevents overstocking and stockouts through inventory management.
- Improves resource allocation and reduces operational inefficiencies.
- Increases Safety and Compliance
- Tracks technician certifications and training.
- Standardizes safety protocols and workflows.
- Real-time compliance monitoring and reporting.
- Provides Remote Access and Connectivity
- Technicians can access job details, estimates, and quotes remotel.y
- Real-time communication between field staff and back office.
- Mobile apps for on-site invoicing, payments, and feedback collection.
These features streamline operations, improve service quality, reduce costs, and increase safety, leading to more efficient field service management.
Get our Field Service Management Software Requirements Template.
Next Steps
Manually going through the motions can leave you stuck on square one. Improving your daily operations with the best field service management system is a strategic move.
Working outside a conventional office means there’s always some element of surprise, from an appointment running late or service add-on. Knowing the best field service management software requirements helps line up all your must-have features, ultimately making it easier to manage the unexpected.
To simplify your search and check off everything you need for success, the best first step is outlining your requirements.
Looking for further support during your quest for the best? Check out our requirements template to pick and prioritize which requirements you need.
Which FSM software requirement is at the top of your list? Let us know in the comments below!