What’s the best field service software for your organization?
We are a Microsoft partner that works with Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Field Service, so obviously, we believe that it’s the best. But let’s talk about WHY! During the software evaluation process, some organizations get hung up comparing minor field service features – or the way a process is managed. Don’t get bogged down in the details. Software features change over time. To make a good long-term technology investment, use the questions below to pick the best field service software for your organization. 1. Does this software fit in your IT environment? You want your field service software to “talk” to the other technology platforms in your IT environment. Because field service touches customer service, sales, accounting and quality control, you ideally want your field service software to share data with those other ERP / CRM / line of business systems. Dynamics 365 is an integrated ERP / CRM platform.
2. Is it easy to use and well supported? User adoption is the key to software success. If people must work around the system or must work harder to get their job done, they’ll put minimal effort into using the system. Don’t pick a solution to gather data for management – pick a solution that empowers field service workers and dispatchers. It helps when the solution is familiar and aligns with their normal workday activities.
The bottom line is that if users love it, they will use it – and that will benefit everyone! 3. Is the software vendor investing in continual improvements? The beauty of a SaaS (Software as a Service) solution is that new features get added to each new release of the software. You want to bet on the future of your software, not just look at the features it has today. Look at the software roadmap to ensure the software you’re evaluating is moving in the same direction as your company.
4. Can you grow and adapt without having to switch solutions? Business plans change, and processes evolve. If possible, you want your next implementation to be your last implementation. You also want to avoid expensive custom coding, and instead be able to configure the software in the way that you want. Find a solution that makes it easy to scale, adding users and functionality as your business grows.
5. Can you afford this software – now and in the future? Some software vendors give you a great deal for the first few years, then tack on extra costs and services over time. When you evaluate field service software, you want to look at the total cost of ownership over at least a 5-year span.
Only when you understand the big picture, can you tell if this will be the best field service software for you. Your field service software implementation partner matters, too! We’ve covered the important questions to ask about the field service software itself, but the partner you choose is almost equally important. Pick an implementation partner that is:
If you’d like to learn more about Dynamics 365 for Field Service or the services we offer, you can get started by contacting one of our specialists! Author: Brad Smith, Director, IoT & Analytics Other articles you might be interested in: |