We've identified the silent assassins of field service efficiency:
- Low staff utilisation
- Stock loss
- Paper-based processes
Let's explore how NetSuite's Field Service Management solution equips you with the tools to conquer them:
1. Stop leaking profitability: The power of truly intelligent scheduling
You spend hours wrestling with convoluted spreadsheets, trying to build a puzzle of technician schedules, locations, and suburb traffic patterns. It's a time-consuming nightmare, often leading to inefficient routes, frustrated technicians stuck in traffic, and ultimately, unhappy customers.
That means lost revenue from billable hours eaten away by travel time. You’re probably also facing constant calls from technicians caught in unexpected delays. Then there’s the unneeded stress of having to constantly reshuffle schedules due to last-minute service requests.
But what if you could ditch the spreadsheets forever? NetSuite's Field Service Management solution introduces a brand new drag-and-drop scheduling interface. All you have to do is drag and drop jobs to different time slots and technicians, giving you a clear visual dashboard of your entire schedule in minutes.
NetSuite also integrates real-time GPS data to make sure technicians avoid unnecessarily long trips or general congestion. Skill-based matching automatically assigns jobs based on technician expertise, removing wasted time on mismatched service calls. The result is effortless route creation, maximised billable hours, and a happier, more productive team.
2. Eliminate inventory leakage: Taking back control
You’ve seen it a million times — a technician arrives on-site for a critical repair, only to realise that a crucial part is missing. Stock shortages like this not only delay service but also frustrate customers and damage your reputation. There's also the constant worry about inventory leakage, where parts somehow disappear without a trace.
This sort of constant uncertainty can take a big toll on your business. It leads to wasted time searching for missing parts, back-and-forth trips to the warehouse, and ultimately, lost revenue from delayed repairs.
Here's where NetSuite steps in as your inventory management champ. NetSuite's Field Service Management solution offers a suite of features designed to give you complete control over your inventory:
- Mobile barcode scanning: Feel free to ditch the pen and paper, because technicians can use a mobile app to scan barcodes on parts used during a job. This updates inventory levels in real-time, making sure your system always reflects the actual stock on hand. Imagine technicians scanning a replaced tap fitting and having the update shown instantly — no need for manual adjustments later.
- Automated reordering: Never get caught shorthanded again. Set minimum inventory thresholds for critical parts, and when stock dips below a set level, the system automatically purchases the right order, so that you have the right parts on hand to avoid delays and keep your technicians working.
- Inventory reporting & analytics: Stop guessing about inventory usage. NetSuite offers in-depth insights into usage trends. Identify parts that are used often or have a high risk of shrinkage, which allows you to optimise stock levels and minimise the risk of "leakage", saving you money and preventing service disruptions.
At the end of the day, NetSuite's inventory management features mean reduced stockouts, minimised shrinkage, and improved cash flow. Your technicians will always have the parts they need to get the job done right, the first time.
3. Ditch the dead (paper) weight: Get technician efficiency with a mobile app
Field service technicians are the backbone of your business, but traditional workflows will almost always bog them down. There’s no need for technicians to waste time searching for customer information in binders, struggling with terrible handwriting, or facing delays because of data entry mistakes on paper forms. These letdowns not only affect their productivity but can also lead to errors that affect customer satisfaction.
NetSuite's Field Service Management solution throws out the paper chase with a purpose-built, easy-to-use mobile app:
- Digital job sheets at your fingertips: Biff the bulky binders — NetSuite delivers digital job sheets through a mobile app, so technicians can arrive on-site with all the information they need. Job details, customer history, service manuals, and even knowledge base articles — all on their phones or tablets. There’s no more pre-job scrambling, because technicians have the right information to get the job done quickly and accurately.
- Picture-perfect documentation: Capture the job story accurately and quickly by letting technicians take photos or videos of completed work or damaged equipment to be uploaded directly to the job sheet. This not only streamlines comms with dispatch and back-office teams but also delivers valuable documentation for future reference, remote troubleshooting, and warranty claims.
- Streamlined approvals with electronic signatures: Finally, say goodbye to printed forms and chasing signatures. NetSuite lets technicians capture customer signatures electronically on the job sheet using the mobile app. This saves time, reduces paperwork, and gives your customers a truly professional experience.
In a nutshell, NetSuite's mobile app transforms the way your technicians work. Imagine the boost in productivity with real-time information readily available, reduced errors due to manual data entry, and technicians trusted to document their work efficiently and communicate seamlessly with the rest of your team. The result? A happier, more productive workforce and a more professional experience for your customers.