Artificial Intelligence or AI as it is commonly referred to—is the intelligence demonstrated by machines. The advancement in technology within the last twenty years has been vast, and devices can now mimic human learning. As a result, AI can be found in many industries and used for different purposes. For example, Google, yes, the search engine most of us use daily, is powered by AI. Although you may not realize it, you interact with AI a lot more than you may think, and it makes life easier. In addition, AI can problem-solve, which is why the field services are taking advantage of it and bettering operational results.
Glazing, HVAC, plumbing and many other companies that dispatch workers to off-site locations to complete a job tend to face similar challenges on day-to-day operations. Some of these challenges include miscommunication with dispatch and scheduling, time-consuming manual processes, like paper-based checklists and forms, delay of information sharing between the field force and back office. These issues cause a plethora of other problems, such as invoicing errors and mismanaged resources. Field services can use field management service software to combat these challenges. Usually, companies are hesitant to introduce new processes, as senior, more experienced employees are not digital natives. Nonetheless, they are changes that must be made. Employees will soon realize software can be easy to use, much more efficient, and you do not risk falling behind your competition.
Situations can instantly change in the field, leaving office employees in the dark. If managers and technicians don’t have the right communication tools and situational awareness, business suffers as customer experience takes a toll. Therefore, when the unexpected happens, every employee needs access to real-time information. Field service technology aims to enable collaboration and coordination along every step of the workflow. On the other hand, AI seeks to predict the problem and solve it before it even arises; with the help of AI, you avoid making dispatching mistakes by always sending the right person based on history, skills, and route. The flow of information is also much faster and easier to access. Hence, reducing the time and effort it would typically take manually. Overall, AI increases job completion rate, customer satisfaction and decreases the chances of errors.
Making strategic decisions for your organization can be done with AI. Analytics and data collected are used to generate insightful reports used to make informed decisions—for example, a report outlining which employees generated the most revenue. Furthermore, optimized route planning and predictive maintenance are also ways AI can help. For instance, optimized route planning saves technicians time in traffic delays while automatically communicating route changes to the entire team. Predictive maintenance demonstrates to the customer you care, and in return, you are creating more business.
As field services search for operational efficiency, companies are embracing digital tools. Say goodbye to paperwork, excel sheets and file cabinets. The automation of the work order lifecycle from estimates to invoicing is seamless with the right tools. Ultimately, it is the sharing of information in real-time that takes a team from average to extraordinary. AI drives efficiencies and powers productivity with knowledge management tools and data analytics. Whether you are an electrical, HVAC or plumbing company, AI will likely impact your industry.
YourRadar is a field service solution that will improve internal processes and lower operating costs. For more information, please email info@kdi.ca or call 1-800-661-1755. For a free demo, visit https://www.yourradar.net/learn-more/.
Related Articles:
https://customerthink.com/the-artificial-intelligence-field-service-revolution/
https://www.fieldcircle.com/top-field-service-management-challenges/
https://techsee.me/resources/ebooks/ai-in-field-service-a-new-frontier/
