With almost everything available online today, people have started taking advantage. People order food, purchase groceries, buy electronics goods, and do business transactions online. Hence, businesses have various employees on the field to cater to public demand. It becomes imperative for business organizations to supervise their employee activities and coordinate with them. Other responsibilities include tracking delivery vehicles, scheduling work for field staff, dispatching technicians for installations and repair, and integrate with inventory management and other back-office solutions. A Field Service Management software solution should be ideal for helping companies to reduce costs while boosting the efficiency levels.
We shall look at the best open-source and Field Service Management software free solutions. However, we shall understand the concept of field service management software before proceeding further in the matter.
Table of Contents
What to look for in a field service management software?
Apart from handling employee responsibilities, the Field Service Management software can help businesses to access customer data, manage orders, and plan the routes conveniently. It is an ideal software to have for companies handling installation and repairs of equipment. Nowadays, you have field service mobile apps handling these jobs.
Check out for free trials
Registering for a free trial offer is a good idea. It helps you to understand the subtler aspects of the software. You can learn its key features and compare with others. The free trial period gives you enough leeway to check out whether the product can boost your business or not.
Opt for the ones with high SmartScore rankings
In the initial stages, it makes sense to sign up for the Field Service Management software that has the best SmartScore rankings and customer satisfaction ratings. Some of them include Jobber, HouseCall Pro, GeoOp, and Wintac.
Opt for user-friendly software
A user-friendly software solution becomes popular. The Field Service Management software does not need to have extremely high levels of security. Hence, it is better to opt for one that is easy to operate.
Free software is available
It is convenient to work with free field management software for small business they do not come with any complications. Secondly, these free software solutions save you a lot of time, as well.
Should be compatible on all devices
Nowadays, you get mobile apps to manage your field management responsibilities. It is useful because of obvious reasons. You can use the software from virtually anywhere.
Types of Field Service Management Software
The most popular types of field service management software solutions are as follows.
- Standalone Solutions – Such software is ideal for fleet management, despatching, and field workforce optimization
- End-to-End Suites – These software solutions include all the essential features.
- Field Mobility Solutions – Business enterprises and small/medium-sized companies that focus on a particular industry benefit the most from using this type of Field service management software.
Features of Field Service Management Software
- Project Management – Managing a project from start to finish is essential. The ideal Field service management software should ensure successful completion of the projects once you start them.
- Send customer reminders – The field service management software takes care of employee visits. However, it should also remind customers to be available to avail the services of the employee at the time of the visit. Voice-generated customer appointment reminders can help under such circumstances.
- Returns Management – With the increase in online purchases, the instances of online returns are also multiplying. Hence, returns management should be an essential part of field service management software.
- Analysis of failure – This feature helps you to analyze the failures and take remedial action wherever necessary.
- Forecasting/Reporting – Reporting and forecasting help the user to gain insightful inputs that can go on to assist the business.
- Partner and Contract Management – This function helps to manage your partners and project contracts comfortably.
- Inventory Management – Maintaining inventory is crucial to the successful running of any business. This feature ensures that the company maintains adequate inventory to take care of any exigency.
- Route Planning – Customer service is of paramount importance. A route planning feature helps in locating the customer online and planning the fastest route to reach them.
- Dispatching – This feature helps the business to send the right person for the job at the appropriate time. It also helps to maintain punctuality.
- Resource scheduling – This function helps to optimize your resources properly.
- SLA Compliance tracking – All businesses need complying with SLA policies. This feature enables strict compliance of the same.
- Order Management – The order management module is critical in the field service management software. It helps to manage and execute orders successfully.
- Trouble ticket raising – This feature helps customers to raise tickets to report problems. It also helps the business to dispatch service personnel to attend to the job on time.
- Mobile support – It enables the field force manager to remain in touch with the field staff through compatible mobile apps.
Advantages of the Best Field Service Management Software
Enhance customer satisfaction
The customer gets an opportunity to select a convenient time for the appointment. The field staff can also provide the right information about their arrival and time taken for carrying out the job. The field service software also helps the team to place indents for spare parts and tools that they might require.
Minimize the cost of inventory
The field service management software can evaluate old files and forecast the parts that are most likely to fail and need replacement. It enables the business to manage its inventory better by maintaining adequate stock.
Minimize scheduling costs
In an industry, call scheduling can be an expensive affair. Secondly, it can be a challenge to schedule appointments at short intervals. The ideal field service management software can manage such problems with ease, as they minimize travel times through efficient route planning.
Reduce fuel costs
Route planning enables the service personnel to reach the customer location in the shortest possible time, thereby saving fuel costs.
Latest Trends in the Field Service Management Software
- SaaS – Nowadays, you have field service management software open source software as a service because of the easy availability of cloud-based products and services. These packages are available at affordable monthly subscriptions.
- Web-based interface – Web-based systems can help the managers and representatives to interact freely with the field staff. Customers also have the benefit of fixing up their appointments at their convenience.
- Mobile apps – Everywhere, you have mobile apps to make things easy. Similarly, field service management mobile apps make it convenient for the business as well as customers.
Here are some of the best free and open source field service management software solutions available today.
| Field Service Management Software | Real-time updates | Service Reports |
Free Trial Available |
|
mHelpDesk |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
HouseCall Pro |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
Jobber |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
Service Fusion |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
SnapSuite |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
Salesforce Field Service Lightning |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
ProntoForms |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
Freshdesk |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
GeoOp |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
|
Wrike |
Yes | Yes | Yes |
1. mHelpDesk
This field service management software helps customers to automate everything including customer management, quoting, dispatching, and billing, invoicing and reporting. Apart from the online mode, this software solution comes with an offline mode, as well. Thus, technicians can continue using the app even in the absence of an internet connection.
It is cloud-based software that is accessible on almost all mobile devices. The best aspect of this software is that it is customizable and integrates with any company website.
2. HouseCall Pro
HouseCall Pro is a cloud-based software app that helps service professionals to automate their workflows. This software is highly preferred by services that cater to cleaning, plumbing, HVAC, and electrical fittings and installations. This software does most of its things online such as dispatching, processing payments, issuing receipts and invoices, and others.
Customers can use the HouseCall Pro mobile app to book the services. It works with iOS and Android devices.
3. Jobber
Jobber is an ideal field service and landscaping solutions for small and mid-sized businesses/ It offers automated services like scheduling, invoicing, delivering quotes, and so on. Users can update their jobs in real-time by providing information on the progress and completion. It is possible setting up a recurring contract with this software solution. Built-in payment apps like PayPal make it a convenient software solution for all.
4. Service Fusion
Service Fusion is cloud-based field service management software that caters to industries of all sizes. It offers services like GPS fleet tracking, credit card processing, and mobile applications. Some of its key features include customer management dispatching, inventory management, time tracking, reporting, payroll, and invoicing.
5. SnapSuite
SnapSuite is akin to an all-in-one solution that allows field service companies to manage projects, dispatch technicians, and do other activities with a single click. This software is an ideal one for the construction and skilled trade industries. This solution enables business entities to reduce their dependence on paperwork, thereby increasing overall efficiency.
Conclusion
Field service management software makes it easy for businesses providing professional services such as technicians, installation experts, plumbers, electricians, and others engaged in similar activity. It helps them track customer requests and manage the workforce with ease by introducing automated processes. The use of such software solution is helpful to increase the overall efficiency of the business.
