Field Service Mobile Technology

Field service techs have the challenging job of not just knowing how to troubleshoot clogged pipes or where to put the refrigerant liquid, but also providing excellent customer service while the family pet is vying for attention. Adopting field service mobile technology can help alleviate challenges in the field.

Being a field technician can be tough work but demand for the industry is accelerating post-pandemic and is projected to grow by 11% and reach a value of $5.1 billion by 2025¹. That’s exciting news for field techs across the country. There are however, some headwinds to keep on your radar as you expand your operations and customer base.

Challenges field service techs can expect in 2023:

Lack of customer service history
Inefficient scheduling and dispatch
Lack of access to a knowledgebase
Lack of visibility to spare parts in inventory

Customer service history

54% of technicians say they lack information about a customer’s service history². Customer records can inform techs how a previous issue was resolved. As well as, give insight to what actions were taken, that could save time during troubleshooting.

Field service mobile technology enables digital work logs to a field service software like salesforce. Providing an iPad that’s connected to your FSM software for your techs can increase their productivity. That means quicker troubleshooting and faster turnaround time for service requests, which frees up technicians to help more customers.

We can help transition your business to the cloud with our iPad + MDM + Connectivity mobile combo without breaking the bank or adding unnecessary downtime to your operations.

Scheduling and dispatch

38% of field service companies pointed to having trouble with scheduling and dispatching their field techs². Agility is challenging for most companies, field service companies often deal with emergencies on the regular.

A system like an MDM (mobile device management software), can track your techs in real-time allowing for flexibility to alter work schedules and immediately dispatch a tech that’s just completed a job to an emergency. Moreover, MDMs can aid with tracking vehicles and optimizing routes for your techs to get to customers faster.

We offer multiple MDM software options that works with your existing technology suite at a low-cost with enterprise-grade support.

Knowledgebases

With a myriad of tutorials from popular products to obscure techniques for that only work in specific scenarios, YouTube is the largest field service knowledgebase. 52% of field techs say they have no access to service manuals and 48% have no access to a knowledge base². This highlights the disconnect between what a tech knows and what they’re expected to know.

Building an internal knowledge base can be difficult and expecting memorization can lead to inaccuracies. Providing your techs with mobile technology and business grade connectivity changes the way fieldwork is conducted. Getting access to manufacturer websites and downloading manuals has been a boon for HVAC techs. YouTube tutorials have aided plumbers in solving plumbing issues.

Adding the collective knowledge of mankind to your techs' arsenal begins with the right connections (pun intended). Flexible connectivity plans start with us, whether you’re looking to upgrade or mix and match service providers or manage your telecom expenses, we can help customize the right connectivity solution for your operations.

Parts and inventory

42% of techs say they get blindsided when a particular part or equipment² isn’t available in inventory which can derail their work and could turn away a customer especially if it’s an emergency.

Automation can efficiently manage inventory, and add a layers of transparency. Allowing your field techs to easily refer to a digital inventory while troubleshooting. Or if their lawnmower breaks down and need a replacement sent over. Additionally, automation can help identify specific hardware issues and can proactively check for available parts when the customer first reaches out for help.

Automating inventory with tools like smartphone scanners, and RFID tags, to ensure parts inventory is up-to-date for your field techs and they have what they need before they even get to the customer. Let's get started.

How eSquared Communication Consulting helps field service techs

eSquared empowers retail, construction, field service, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, and healthcare teams to achieve a competitive edge. We deliver tailored, end-to-end business mobile solutions that seamlessly connect people, assets, and data to help our customers make insightful business decisions that grow the bottom line.

Get award-winning 24/7 help desk support and telecommunication and internet solutions. Empower your techs with our strategic guidance and end-to-end solutions.

References:
¹^{Markets and Markets 2020}
²^{Click Software}

Construction safety with IoT

Keep workers safe at the job site

You’re a safety manager at a job site and you’re overseeing a range of risky activities. From cement mixing to large steel girders or prefabs flying above your head. How do you keep your team safe? Where do you start? We expect all construction workers to have a heightened sense of awareness but we don’t live in a perfect world. We can help make things safer.

1 in 5 deaths among U.S. workers is in the construction industry¹. From falls to improper use of ladders, to poorly assembled scaffolding, keeping workers safe at construction sites is serious business. IoT has made strides in safety at construction sites. Digitizing safety processes and tracking activities in real-time making it a lot easier to spot a flaw that could be fatal.

80% of construction professionals say mobile technology is a top priority⁴.

Let’s take a quick look at a simplified version of safety at a construction site. Dr. Swiss Cheese’s safety model.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_cheese_model

Digitize the safety process and log risks in real-time

Enforce compliance and safety across all contractors using e-logging with construction software like Ineight on mobile. Safety managers can manage any potential risks that could delay, cause an overrun, or prevent a fatality in real time. Add transparency, maintain accuracy, and effectively manage RFIs for contractors with digital tools and on-site mobile devices.

98% of engineering and construction companies surveyed by Ernst & Young agree that digital solutions are critical to the future viability of their company. Technology adoption can be a challenge for worksites with paper logging and memorization of safety protocols.

We can help transition paper logging and enhance worker safety awareness with our suite of ruggedized mobile devices designed for the modern construction site. Monitor, and anticipate gaps in safety at the work site and push real-time safety updates to workers.

Drones

A construction site is one of the most dangerous places to work and falls account for 34% of worker fatalities² due to unsteady platforms, hazardous conditions, and manual work. Drones are being tested to perform some of the more dangerous tasks at the job site. Moreso, fleets of drones with cameras are also being used for job site safety and workplace inspections. As this technology matures we expect more construction companies to adopt drone fleets in the near future.

As drone operators become more commonplace at the construction site, we can help expand visual screen real estate with iPads or slave multiple drones to a command and control iPad fleet hub. Fly drones remotely or take control of a drone at the job site to inspect a critical hard-to-reach structure.

Connect the job site

Global use of sensors was expected to reach $27 billion in 2022, up from $7.5 billion in 2016³ which includes construction sites. As the new generation enters the workforce, technologies such as fall sensors, asset protection sensors, cameras, or drones will become more prevalent. Growing the need to connect these new technologies to a central command and control system.

Remotely monitor future job sites, provide clients real-time updates, or track the status of prefabs at off-site locations. As project management and engineering processes move to the cloud, achieve greater efficiencies and less downtime with contractors by sharing digital schematics or immediately updating engineering plans in real-time with contractors.

Our Cradlepoint wireless network infrastructure solutions can help secure your connections at the worksite and inside vehicles, can connect IoT devices including drones, can scale as you build, and can run off LTE or 5G unlimited data so you can have connectivity before the telecom providers even arrive.

Wearable tech

In 2020, more than 130,000 construction workers missed days of work due to illness or injuries, decreasing productivity² in an already labor-scarce industry. Maximize the use of construction site sensors with wearables. Minimize potential worker injury and strategically place sensors across the job site to create a virtual safety barrier that can send triggers to worker wearables if they’re at risk of falling or collisions.

Go further with wearable tech to detect falls that alert emergency services immediately. Monitor worker health to prevent overexertion and track a worker in potential health distress. Wearables also add a layer of hands-free communication for workers and the rest of the construction team.

We can help keep workers safe with a suite of wearable devices that can be loaded with safety apps that connects to your network of safety sensors.

We hope this is a helpful reminder of just how important safety is in the construction industry and how taking it for granted can cost billions.

How eSquared Communication Consulting Serves the Construction Industry

Get award-winning 24/7 help desk support and telecommunication and internet solutions. Protect your workers with our strategic guidance and end-to-end solutions. When you think of safety, think eSquared. Let's chat.

References:
^{1 OSHA}
^{2 BLS}
^{3 Zion Market Research}
^{4 Truelook Construction Cameras}