The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way the world operates. In an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus, governments have shut down parts of the economy and implemented strict isolation orders. Despite these efforts, certain services and jobs are considered to be essential. That means these workers provide jobs that are critical to keeping society functioning. In addition to first responders and healthcare workers, essential workers also include electricians, plumbers, glass installers, general contractors, refrigeration contractors, and home heating and cooling technicians.In order to keep essential workers like field service technicians safe, it’s imperative that businesses use cloud enterprise resource planning (ERP) software and clear guidelines about how to safely interact with their customers.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Field Service Businesses
Businesses that employ field service technicians understand all too well how much COVID-19 has impacted their business. Where on-the-go field service technicians were once known for interacting with their customers, today, everyone has to be kept at a safe distance from one another. That can make doing their job much more difficult. If a refrigerator breaks down or the basement gets flooded, a field service technician needs to visit the home; however, working in isolation can make it difficult to communicate and do their jobs in a timely manner. Not only that, but field service workers that enter a home could be putting themselves in harm if someone in the home has had or carries the coronavirus or it’s on any of the surfaces in the home. After handling tools, field service technicians can’t leave them on any surfaces; they have to go back directly on the mat they brought along or in their toolbox.Even after a vaccine is delivered, safety measures will still need to be in place. That’s because not everyone will get vaccinated and COVID-19 will never truly be eradicated. It has, it seems forever impacted the way field service businesses conduct their operations.
How Managing Business Processes Digitally Can Help
For field service technicians, working remotely is part of the job. That’s not something that can change. What needs to change, though, is the way field service companies manage their business processes. More and more field service businesses are turning to mobile and digital technology to keep their remote workers safe. Using cloud-based technology, like ERP software, also minimizes the amount of time field service technicians spend completing their orders. Before COVID-19, field service workers would provide their customers with a handwritten work order. Today, everyone seems on board with digital work orders and receipts. In fact, not offering digital paperwork is a detriment.Using a cloud-based field service management app that connects the employee with the office makes it easy to deliver reports, send messages, book services, take care of any accounting, and manage inventory.Cloud-based remote work management software also opens up a whole new window on productivity too. It gives them instant access to diagnostic tools, manuals, and schematics. They can create work orders electronically, create e-receipts, and accept payment. Mobile field service ERP software helps employees finish their work more quickly and get to their next job as fast as possible. This is even more important during situations like COVID-19. Why? In the past, customers were given a four-hour service window. No one likes having to wait around for four hours wondering when a field service technician is going to show up. Especially in an era of social distancing and enhanced safety measures.With a cloud-based ERP workflow management app, businesses can provide a higher level of transparency, convenience, and personal safety. Customers know exactly when you’re going to show up. This gives them time to get their children or an elderly person out of the house while the field service technician is working. With the right cloud ERP software, a field service worker can get a real-time overview of their operation and manage their entire business.
How TFP Canada, Powered by Taskflow Pro, Can Streamline Field Service Work and Help Businesses Grow
COVID-19 has made the need for field service businesses to exceed their customers’ expectations more urgent than ever before. They can do that, and more, with TFP Canada, powered by Taskflow Pro. Even during the best of times, managing a team of field service technicians can be a logistical nightmare. That’s because there are so many moving parts, which, until the digital age, had to be logged, monitored, and controlled manually. Thanks to TFP Canada, powered by Taskflow Pro, those days are in the past. Taskflow Pro for remote work solves field management issues by providing businesses with an electronic workflow that can be used anywhere—from a computer, tablet, or any mobile device. This results in a faster, more efficient, and effect workforce, improved customer experience, and higher customer retention.A field service business solution like Taskflow Pro is easy to install and use and was developed specifically with small- and medium-sized businesses in mind. And it is perfect for the field service industry, allowing remotely deployed workers to provide live data and communications from the field immediately back to the office. Using the best technologies for web and mobile, Taskflow Pro helps businesses automate and streamline their organizations complex business operations. In fact, Taskflow Pro is the only workflow management program a small business needs to run their entire organization.With Taskflow Pro, businesses can book services and schedule teams, manage inventory and assets, invoice customers, accept payments, review financials, and manage employees. On-the-go employees can create estimates and work orders electronically, monitor inventory from anywhere, produce real-time dashboards for an overview of the entire operations, and manage their entire business.Because Taskflow Pro is cloud-based, there is no need to buy expensive hardware, pay for unnecessary upkeep or internal IT systems, or buy costly service plans to build and maintain the system.Taskflow Pro is a complete office management system that lets you put your business on autopilot, anywhere, and everywhere. It allows you to do what you do best—that’s grow your business.To learn more about TFP Canada and how our cloud-based enterprise resource software can help automate your business and reduce costs, contact us at (647) 612-3300 or by email at [email protected].
