The HindSite Success Blog

5 Signs You’re Ready for Field Service Software

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:10:00 GMT

I’ve been selling field service software for more than a decade. In that time, I’ve seen it all. I’ve seen customers whose billing rule was “We give it to the owner and he decides what to charge.” I’ve had a customer stop using HindSite because HindSite doesn’t automatically time someone into a job when their GPS position is within 25 feet of the job site. I’ve listened to new customers who quit because HindSite won’t run on their 15-year-old Windows 98 computer.

At HindSite, our goal is to help every service business leverage the power of technology to improve their business – and be more profitable - by eliminating paperwork. As much as I hate to admit it, not everyone is ready for HindSite’s field service software. In fact, it pains me to admit it.

So how do you tell if you're ready to revolutionize your business with field service software? Here are five signs:

You're overburdened by paperwork

Does paper cover every inch of your desk? Are there post-it notes all over your computer monitor? Is chicken scratch not your native language?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, it may be time for HindSite to step in. HindSite will make your office, field, and everything in between completely paperless. HindSite contains everything from contact information to work orders to reminders for both field and office.

Everything is entered into the system so your field techs do not waste time writing out every piece of information about a job site and your office staff do not waste time deciphering chicken scratch. HindSite eliminates the majority of your paperwork, saving you time in areas you did not even realize you were losing time in.

You've got well-defined billing rules (or want to create well-defined billing rules)

Back to our previous example: If your billing rule is “The owner decides what to charge,” HindSite can’t help you. That’s not a rule, that’s a clusterf*ck. There’s no way to automate that or make it more efficient. In fact, your owner is going to have a hard time selling his business because he’s the process. If he gets eliminated, there is no process.

But if you have well-defined billing rules for your services and want to automate your invoicing so you can enact same-day billing, then you’re ready for HindSite.

You want to know what contracts are profitable.

If you own a lawn maintenance business and service customers with contracts, but don’t have any idea what your profit margin is, you’re not alone. Many service businesses that rely on contracts don’t. But if you want to learn what your profit margin is – so you can see which contracts are making you money and which aren’t – then you’re ready for HindSite’s lawn care software.

You want to grow your business

Has your business recently plateaued? Have you reached a point where you are no longer growing, but want to?

HindSite can help. HindSite helps companies save both time and money so you can work on your business instead of in it. Time is saved with the help of: mapping and routing features, elimination of double entry (both in office and the field), and seamless integration into your accounting program. With the time saved, you can add more jobs in a day. The time saved will allow you to schedule more work orders in a day, and even add on a new technician or purchase that new piece of equipment you have been wanting.

You're ready to enforce change

The biggest hurdle I’ve found in getting businesses to implement HindSite fully is the resistance to change. We’ve literally had a business say “We’ve got an office worker who’s been here 30 years and won’t change her paper process. She’s due to retire in two years, can you call us back then?” Or, we’ve had companies say “Our field techs don’t want to use a tablet in the field. So we’re done.”

Resistance will most likely occur in the office and/or in the field when HindSite is first implemented, and you need to be ready to combat it. Change is never an easy thing, but is needed for the company to grow and be successful. Just think if you never changed your underwear. It's not always fun to change, but it's for the best.

HindSite forces change in the fact that it promotes and pushes accountability. Customer history, time records, and work orders all work to make your business more efficient and your employees more accountable. Being accountable for all of your actions and having to change the process you use to complete daily tasks can be daunting and resistance is expected. The key is to communicate that this is the next level for your company and changes are needed and for the best.

Some businesses just aren’t ready to take their business to the next level. And that’s OK. But if you’ve identified with some items above, then it’s time to take the plunge and implement field service software to improve your business.

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As always, thanks for reading. Let us know at info@hindsitesoftware.com if you have any questions, and don't forget to check out our field service software!

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