The last few years have thrown some unexpected curveballs at heating, plumbing, and renewables businesses. The unpredictable economy has made many clients more selective with their investments. Shortages of labour and materials continue. As does the rising cost of them. At the same time, smart technology is more popular, which can impact the need to expand professional knowledge.
The big takeaway: Good service software puts your team in the best possible position. You’ll stay better organised, productive, and efficient. That’s more time to spend solving problems and delivering a five-star experience. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
In this post, we’ll take a look at how field service software can help heating, plumbing, water, and renewables businesses to thrive – starting with the key features to look out for.
Key features to look out for in service software 🔎
With the right tech, your entire team has exactly what they need the moment they pick up the phone or arrive on site. Your clients get a better experience and never have to repeat information. In short, it’s a win-win worth exploring.
But there are certain features to keep in mind as you’re evaluating different options, including:
- Smart scheduling and dispatching
- Mobile app
- Live tracking
- CRM and communication
- Quotation and invoicing
- Business intelligence
🔎You can take a look at BigChange’s platform for heating, plumbing, and renewables businesses now to see how we can support you with all these. Or keep reading for a deep dive into the key features of service software and all the benefits they bring.
Scheduling and dispatching
Imagine field service software as the ultimate wingman for your heating, plumbing, and renewables business. It helps you keep track of who's good at what, who's available when, and who's closest to the customer. It's like having your own personal assistant cutting out scheduling slip-ups and saving you a ton of time.
What's more, it finds the quickest routes for your engineers, helping them to zip from one job to the next, saving both time and fuel. And because it pairs the right jobs with the right engineers, your team can get things fixed up in no time.
The right tech also keeps your customers in the loop with automatic updates about appointments and changes. And to top it all off, it's a master organiser, teaming up with your other business tools like CRM, inventory, and billing. This keeps everything you need in one handy place.
Mobile app
After you’ve scheduled the right engineers to the right job, you then need to provide them with a mobile app to arm them with all the information on the go. You can think of mobile apps as the Swiss army knife for your field service business.
It's the go-to tool when engineers need instant updates and schedules, right there in their pocket. No more mix-ups or missed appointments. It's all about making the workday smoother and saving precious time, as well as helping you to comply with key sector regulations, like Gas Safety, Building Regulations, and the Health and Safety at Work Act.
And you know those tricky routes to job sites? The right app will suggest the quickest routes and allow you to keep tabs on your engineers (more on this next), making your life and the lives of your customers easier.
And it's not just about logistics. These apps also hold all your important documents and certificates. It's like having a library in your pocket, ready to help you get the job done right, compliantly, and faster. To top it all off, they help keep your customers in the loop with automatic updates and can even capture signatures for a swift wrap-up.
Live tracking
Field service software can also act like a personal GPS for your team. With live tracking, it's like having a bird's-eye view of your team and stock at all times. You can see where everyone and everything is and what they're up to.
But live tracking isn't just about keeping an eye on your team and stock, it's also a magic wand for your customer service. You can give your customers real-time updates, so they know exactly when to expect their engineer. No more waiting around all day for a service call. It's all about respecting your customers' time and keeping them happy.
Plus, with all the data you're collecting from live tracking, it's like you've got your own crystal ball for your business. You can see patterns and trends, helping you to make better decisions and improve your service.
CRM and communication
When field service software comes integrated with a good Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system, it's a win-win for businesses and customers. It's like having a super-powered contact list. Not only do you know who your customers are, but you also remember their past services, what they prefer, and who's the best engineer for their needs. It's all about making the service more personal and helpful.
This combo also helps everyone on the team to communicate more effectively. Whether it's the folks scheduling appointments, the engineers out in the field, or the sales and support teams, everyone's on the same page. For example, if an engineer spots a chance for an upgrade on a job, they can quickly ping the sales team. Or if a customer calls in with a problem, the support team can pull up their service history right away to get them sorted.
In a nutshell, it gives everyone the low down on each customer and gets different teams working seamlessly with each other. This helps everything run smoother, making both customers and your team happier.
Quotation and invoicing
When it comes to quoting and invoicing, the right platform has got your back, making sure that you can whip up quotes in no time at all. Instead of digging through piles of notes and emails, you simply check the software, and it'll help you calculate what to charge based on the job details.
This means you can get your quotes out faster and more accurately, which your customers will definitely appreciate. Then, when the job's all done and it's time to ask for the payment, the software steps in again.
It helps you create detailed, easy-to-understand invoices, based on the actual work done and the parts used. No more late-night number crunching or head-scratching over forgotten details. Plus, it's all tracked, so if a customer has a question about their invoice, you can answer it right away. That means less time on paperwork, and more time getting the job done the first time.
Business intelligence
Finally, the right solution takes all the data from your day-to-day operations and helps you to sift through it, looking for patterns and trends. It’s like having your own detective dedicated to figuring out what's working and what's not.
When the software uncovers something interesting – like a certain service taking longer than it should, or a particular engineer getting rave reviews – you can extract this insight. These insights can help you make smarter decisions. For example, if a specific part keeps breaking down, you might decide to stop using it. Or if a certain engineer is really great at a job, you might assign them more of that type of work. It's all about making the most of what's going well and fixing anything that's not.
In short, it turns heaps of data into useful insights that can help your business grow. It's like having a roadmap to success, helping you decide which way to turn at each crossroad.
Unleash the power of field service software
So, let's wrap it up. As we’ve seen, field service software is like your business's own superhero squad. It's a one-stop-shop for everything from scheduling, quotations, invoicing, live tracking, to business intelligence, and so much more. It's like the best multitasker you've ever met – keeping things running smoothly, making customers happy, and giving you a ton of useful insights along the way.
But remember, it's not just about making your life easier (even though it does that pretty well!). It's about giving your customers the kind of service that'll make them go "wow". From real-time updates to personalised service, it's all about putting a smile on their faces.
And the best part? You can get started right now.
Don't wait to give your business the boost it needs to thrive. It's time to let field service software take your business to new heights. So, get out there and give it a go. Your customers (and your team) will thank you. Talk to an expert now.
