Handling field service task may become daunting if not appropriately managed. Luckily, you can look after your field service tasks with the help of field service management software. The field service tasks involve coordination with different departments within the organization, back-office employees, and external vendors.
If you want to provide appropriate service to the end-user, then your communication with each channel has to be perfect. Among various tasks, you have to deal with many other activities like scheduling, tracking, invoicing, and dispatching. A small mistake can cause a significant loss to the service provider.
If you are associated with small companies that hold limited staff, then handling field service tasks become more difficult. But no need to worry! You can foster the process by relying on field service management software.
In this article, you can catch the in-depth details of field service management software.
What is field service management?
The field service management is a system that helps in managing end-to-end activities and coordinate field operations by employing a mobile workforce. It incorporates setting up service orders, sending off agents, tracking vehicle locations along with job status.
The field service management software helps you in streamlining the field service tasks efficiently.
What is field service management software?
Businesses use field service management software to manage and track service performance outside the office. The organizations can handle and communicate with field employees and resources through field service management software.
Studies indicate that from USD 2.8 billion in 2019, the global field service management market can reach USD 5.9 billion by 2024.
Features of Field Service Management software
Why is it critical to invest in field service management software?
Field service management software is required due to the following reasons –
What are the emerging trends of field service management software?
The emerging trends of field service management software are as follows-
Who employs field service management software?
Anyone who is working in the field services makes use of field service management software. Few examples are as listed below;
In the market, you can get lots of FSM tools, but only a few are free or open-source. If you are looking for top-quality free and open-source field service management software, then you have landed on the apt place.
Let’s explore the same in a more detailed manner. But before that, have a quick look at the comparison chart of free and open-source field service management software.
Comparison Chart of Free and Open-Source Field Service Management Software
Free and open-source field service management software
1 Fergus
Fergus caters the businesses in plumbing, electrical contracting, and HVAC(Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning). This user-friendly cloud-based field service, and job management solution is meant for small and midsize companies.
The users get a real-time summary of field service activities through the status board. It includes activities like in-progress tasks, pricing, scheduling, costing, and pending tasks. The users can create requests and price quotes based on the requirements due to job management feature.
It helps in managing the costs of running a trades business, helps in keeping jobs on track, and finds profitability. This free, open-source field service management software is smart for growing service businesses.
(Source: Fergus)
Key features:
- Billing and Invoicing
- Scheduling and timesheets
- Contact Management
- Job management
- Purchase order management
- Status board and reporting
- Back costing
- Quoting & Estimating
- Email and text messages to the staff & customers
- Push notifications
If you are looking for a full-service tool, then Housecall Pro will help you in running your entire business on Smartphone or complimentary web portal. This free field service management software is apt for service professionals that automate their business processes.
This software serves cleaning, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC. It is designed for easy scheduling and provides reliable customer support.
In favor of digital automation, this app allows companies to give up paperwork. Through the mobile app, Facebook, Yelp, and personal websites; the customers can book services.
Both on Android and iOS devices, you can access this mobile app. The solution is currently made available across the USA and Canada.
(Source: Housecall Pro)
Key Features
- Job scheduling
- Customer Database
- Invoicing and payment processing
- Technician dispatch
- Postcard Marketing and Email Remarketing
- Messaging and communication
- Online booking
- Contact database
- Electronic Signature
- Contract Management
- Automated receipts and invoices
- In-team and customer chat
- Employee time tracking
ServiceMax software is the free and open-source field service management tool that will optimize your operations in the field service industry. This software schedule and dispatch qualified technicians.
This app serves as the perfect field scheduling solution for small and medium-sized growing companies. For equipment manufacturers and service providers, ServiceMax works as a leading provider of Field Service Management Software.
ServiceMax drives hundreds of industry leaders. Across the globe, more than 400 companies have turned to this app to carry out their field service tasks. This software optimizes end-to-end field service operations that include workforce optimization, advanced scheduling and dispatch, and social collaboration that helps in delivering flawless field service.
(Source: ServiceMax)
Key features:
- Scheduling and Dispatch
- Customer accounts and contacts
- Work Order Management
- Mobile field service management
- Metrics, Reporting, and Dashboards
- Inventory Management
- Contact Database
- Contract Management
- Service History tracking
- Electronic Signature
- Online Time Clock
4 Loc8 (free)
Loc8 provides free field service management solutions to all tradesmen and small service businesses that can become more competitive with this app. This user-friendly and intuitive platform allows its users to create/ send quotes and manage their jobs along with their teams.
In the field and record cash payments, the users can directly take credit card payments. Users can directly generate invoices right from their mobile by making use of smart Xero and QuickBooks integrations. This app is appropriate for an unlimited number of users. For companies, this app serves as the maintenance management solution.
Automatically, this software creates task-based work orders for the assets based on the location and required maintenance frequency.
Free field service management software for small business allows its users to be proactive. The users can automate their operations by creating condition and event-based rules.
(Source: Loc8)
Key Features:
- Job Management
- Quoting and Invoicing
- Calendar and Mapping
- Pre-Built Reports
- Knowledge Base
- Live Chat
- Active Asset Management
- Custom Quotes
- Appointment Scheduling Module
5 ServiceTrade (free)
ServiceTrade is the free field service management software for commercial service contractors. This app streamlines the operations and delivers a customer experience that helps in growing service revenue.
It delivers remarkable customer service to the companies that make the business more valuable. This web and mobile field service management application serve the companies in the air duct, pressure washing, medical equipment, fire protection, commercial food equipment, and HVAC and construction sector. With real-time status, job history, online reviews, and media sharing this cloud-based, centralized solution provides customer engagement.
This app manages work orders and schedules planned and emergency services that help in streamlining the service operations for single or multiple offices. To eliminate data entry, this app integrates with most accounting platforms. Beyond the service appointment, it attracts new prospects and extends customer relationships that facilitate business growth.
(Source: ServiceTrade)
Key features:
- Quoting & Dispatching
- Online engagement
- Billing & Invoicing
- Inventory management
- Electronic signature
- Online time clock
- Mobile access
- Payment Collection in the field
- Routing and scheduling
- Work Order Management
- Media-rich online quotes
- Quotes/Estimates
- Service History Tracking
6 Tasker
Tasker is the free field service management software that allows you to transform field service. It is a flexible tool that can manage tasks, processes, and employees effectively. In real-time, this app connects your office employees with your field service representatives.
This software is made for businesses with a mobile workforce. It powers your business performance by assigning tasks to your mobile workforce. This transparent SaaS solution provides multiple work reports that help in analyzing performance, measuring ROI, and rewarding best employees. With the help of digitized processes, the employees can do well in their daily jobs. In real-time, this app connects service managers, field workers, and customers.
(Source: Tasker)
Key features:
- Contact Database
- Real-time field service assessment
- Route planning and navigation
- Real-time new job alerts and task revision
- Digitized all the documents
- Client satisfaction evaluation and digital signatures
- Time and location tracking
- Real-time inventory monitoring
- Full integration with other management systems
Apart from the free and open-source field service management software that is mentioned above, you can also explore the Delta Sales App, Miracle Service, ServiceM8, Trinetra iWay, mHelpDesk.
Nowadays RazosSync is getting popular. Let’s move ahead to gain insights into this prevalent software.
RazorSync streamlines your business by managing your workers and processing payments from a job site or office. It helps in reducing wasted time and flawlessly updates the records of the customers.
With this cloud-based field management software, the users experience third party integrations, employee tracking, service call management, job scheduling, and routing. The user can optimize their on-site operations due to its ease of use.
For mobile phone, tablet, and computer; this app works as powerful and simple service management software. It holds many features to simplify business operations and is meant for small-to-medium service businesses.
Businesses like plumbing, electric, pest control, lawn care, customer hardware repair or IT, HVAC, cleaning services, and all kinds of service businesses make use of this renowned software to gain efficiency. The users of this app report higher billings and revenue, along with customer satisfaction.
(Source: RazorSync)
Key features:
- Job scheduling and tracking
- Invoicing & billing
- Work order processing
- Integration with QuickBooks accounting software
- Job-site invoicing
- Self-service customer portal
- Inventory management
- Fieldworker management & GPS tracking
- Service dispatch
- Customer Management
Summing Up
As the industries like security system and medical devices enterprises, IT and communications services companies are growing, the demand for field service management software is also increasing. It is prevalent among field service companies as they help in minimizing the scheduling cost and boost customer satisfaction.
Your business will become more agile and efficient by making use of FSM software. You can enjoy coordination on-field operations by mobile devices due to FSM systems. With higher profitability, your organizations can optimize field service operations.
If you make use of Open-source field service management system in your field service industry, then you can avail lots of benefits. You can automate various tasks like schedule service orders, create invoices, dispatch agents, and identify job status.
With ease and efficiency, the companies can manage their on-field personnel by making use of free and open-source FSM software. Through AI and ML-enabled applications, the field service providers can improve their on-site efficiencies that result in operational productivity.
I hope that the list of top-notch free and open-source field service management tools mentioned above have made you acquainted with key features of the same. If you have experienced any of this software, then feel free to share your valuable views on the same.
In case you want to explore more renowned field service management software, then you can find more FSM software with their ratings and reviews at GoodFirms.
