Field Service Companies - How do I increase Revenue?
Are you a field service company with a mobile work force? Ever wondered how you could enhance your service revenue? Here is ONE simple way you could do so: By using a Field Service Management Software.
Business mainly engages field service systems for the sole purpose of improving efficiency and boosting service revenues.
Field Service system is simply a cloud-based service system that combines hardware with an internet service. This supports businesses in locating workers whereabouts, managing workers scheduling and work activities as well as integrating inventories and other back-office operations systems and more. Applicable to businesses that essentially provide installations, repairs and maintenance services, and basically businesses that dispatches employees in a similar process.
Some interesting facts you may not know of Field Service systems and how they had benefitted businesses:
27% of businesses are currently using some type of systems
88% of them prefers a cloud-based system
Businesses see a 38.6% average increase in sales after 6-months of using Field Services systems
With top requested features being: Scheduling, Work Order Management, Time Tracking & Dispatching.
Better efficiency in your business processes and functions helps brings about greater effectiveness – therefore boosting your field service revenues.
If you are a field service provider - check out here how we can help you use the latest technology and increase your business!
You may have heard of the term big data being thrown around a few times in the media. What exactly is big data? Big data is a broad term for data sets so large or complex that traditional data processing applications are inadequate (Wikipedia). The amount of information we put online every day is astonishing. Coupled with the other billions of people using the Internet every day, that number would grow exponentially in no time.
Challenges involving big data include data analysis, storage, transfer and information privacy. However, accuracy in big data may lead to better decision making, allowing management to make informed decisions which can result in greater operational efficiency, lower risk and cost.
Below are a few interesting facts on big data:
1. Big data revenue has quadrupled in the last three years and shows no sign of slowing down
Revenue from big data grew from $7.3b in 2011 to $28.5b in 2014 and is estimated to increase to $50.1b in 2017.
2. Hardware costs are decreasing at an exponential rate as software and services make up an increasing large part of big data revenue
These fall in prices has been attributed to an estimated 27% reduction in bandwidth costs, 33% reduction in computing costs and 38% reduction in storage costs.
3. Professional services will explode in popularity as more and more businesses get into the big game data
With big data expected to grow to $17.2b in 2017, it’s only a matter of time before businesses adapt and provide professional services to organize and analyze them.
If you are a home service provider - check out here how we can use the latest technologies, like Big Data to help you find leads and increase your business!
As the world shifts towards an on demand economy, commercial behavior around the world is revolutionizing to meet consumer’s desire for convenience. This rise in economic activity from technological companies to fulfill consumer demand is changing the organizational approach to daily processes and operations.
One such change is the increased adoption of field service management. Field service management refers to a cloud-based or hosted system which combines hardware and internet service to support companies in locating vehicles, manage worker activity, schedule and dispatch work and ideally integrate with inventory, billing, accounting and other back-office systems. (Wikipedia)
Field service management is applicable to companies with a mobile workforce. Examples of some industries are:
- Telecommunication
Installation and running of phone cables
- Engineering
Preventive maintenance and break fix
- Utilities
Investigate and fix suspected leaks
This automation of processes allow businesses to quickly adjust and adapt, maximizing visibility and productivity into operations. Some of the changes include:
- Allowing technicians to view field service data through a smart device
Updates technician of client history and service required increasing productivity
- Track technician to obtain real time information of when a job is started and completed
Able to dispatch closest technician to a higher priority job and complete more jobs in a day
- Input of records from technicians on site is immediate and updated with the office’s data
Allows work to get done faster and keeps the business in the loop
- Capture data and customer signatures from the field
Home office can issue the bill faster without having to wait for paper work
By automating and simplifying processes to save valuable time, efficiency and productivity of your companies is improved allowing huge potential for cost savings and increased revenue. We just might be looking at a gem here.
If you are a field service provider - check out here how we can help you use the latest technology and increase your business!
How to align your social media marketing strategy?
In a digital world today, social media has changed the way people interact with one another, as well as how businesses reached out to consumers. Yet, how much do we know of the influence social media has? Are we aware of how to use social media effectively?
Here’s 6 social media statistics worth noting and what these means to your marketing strategy.
1. Facebook wall posts NOT answered by Brands: 95%
Have a designated team in charge of responding to various inquiries and concerns that were brought up by the public and consumers regarding the brand. This will helps organization to better reach out to consumers.
2. Social Media driven purchases from Pinterest: 40%
Including prices on your social media channels are likely to drive purchases from consumer. (Pinterest’s pins that include prices in them performed better by 36%)
3. An average user spend on Facebook: 20 Minutes per visit
It is said that the a facebook post has a half-life of 18hours. If you want your target audience to notice you, it is advise to post once or twice per day on facebook.
4. Content is the most important feature in a social media channel: 13% of Consumer feels so
13% of consumers follows a brands on social channel because of their content. You should utilize and leverage on your expertise knowledge and write about what you know on your social channel – Translating your social media channel into a highly valuable content asset.
5. Twitter: 32 Billion search queries per month
Practice target listening: To know what are the needs and wants of your target audience in order to better reach out to them.
6. Never been searched for before on Google Searches: 20% each day
Find out what are the main content and keyword ideas that are relevant to you, and include them into your social media channels. This could help channel traffic into your social media site when others search for these keywords or content – Higher traffic translate to greater awareness of products or brands.
If you are a home service provider - check out here how we can help you use the latest technology to find leads and increase your business!
Ways to be productive from the comfort of your home
1. Early bird gets the worm
Waking up early and starting work earlier allows you to be more productive and happier, leading to better results. Find out more information from our previous post!
2. Make pretend
Get fully ready for the day and pretend you’re actually going to work or you might find yourself back in bed
3. Partition your day
Are mornings in office usually used to clear emails? Use the same schedule at home. While you will probably get tasks done faster at home than at work, this structure will help to keep you productive and focused.
4. Yours personally
Have a place where you go to specifically for work. It could be a certain library, table, cafe – some place that’s consistently your ‘work space’ to help you get into the right frame of mind.
5. Accountability
Make it a habit for your team to share your individual assignments for the day. On days where you’re working from home, there will be a tendency to slightly over commit to what you’ve promised. This helps to keep you honest, hence even if you get the urge to rest, you resist doing so as you’ve already committed a certain amount of work to your team.
6. Work when you’re in the zone
Based on your preference, choose to do your work at a time and place where you’re most productive. Also, listening to some music can help you to concentrate and be more efficient as well.
7. Plan ahead
If you’re planning on working from home, ensure to get work that requires you to be office done first. If your scheduled meeting with a coworker is best done in person, make sure that it is done beforehand. Plan out your week in advance to optimize the environments you’ll be in.
What tips do you have for being productive while working from home? Share with us in the comments section below!
If you are a home service provider - check out here how we can help you find leads and increase your business!
The modern buyer is changing and starting to rely on social media for input on information about products and services. To keep up with this trend, sales reps need to adjust accordingly and meet buyers online to build a relationship and subsequently convert them into customers. Below are some reasons why social selling is crucial.
1. Referrals matter
84% of B2B decision makers begin their buying process with a referral – (Sales Benchmark Index)
Referrals play and integral role in generating sales with 65% of new businesses coming directly from referrals and with referred customers spending an average of 13% more than regular customers – (New York Times)
2. Discover new audiences
90% of an employee’s social audience is new to the brand – (DELL Study)
3. Close more deals
40% of salespeople have close 2-5 deals per year as a result of social selling – (Cisco Employee Social Media Study)
4. Helps you to outperform the competition
73% of salespeople using social selling as part of their sales process outperformed their sales peers and exceeded their quota 23% more often – (Tribilio)
5. Increases revenue
12% increase in brand advocacy generates a two times increase in revenue growth – (Bain & Company)
6. Increase productivity
Engaged employees are twice as productive and are responsible for up to 80% customer satisfaction – (Engaging for Success, David Mac Leod and Nita Clarke)
7. Attract top talent
Socially engaged companies for 58% more likely to attract top talent – (Cisco Employee Social Media Study)
Is your company starting towards to turn towards social selling as well? Let us know in the comments section below if you have anything else to add.
If you are a home service provider - check out here how we can use social selling to help you find leads and increase your business!
Many of us, myself included, are in the habit of staying up late and sleeping in the following day. However, there are hundreds of blog referencing studies that scream getting up early is the right thing to do!
Have you read these posts but still struggle to get up early like me? Being an early bird is hard but studies show that the benefits outweigh the struggle.
Here’s why
Early birds are more productive
Did you know mornings are the best time of the day for your brain? According to LifeHacker, it turns out that mornings are when our brain are most active and we can reach max productivity. Also, if you identify your most difficult task and tackle it in the morning, you’re more likely to get it done.
Early birds dominate the office
Laura Vanderkam, author of What The Most Successful People Do For Breakfast, studied dozens of people and found evidence of early risers being flat out better at their jobs and experiencing the most career success.
Early birds are happier
While there are some theories stating that night owls have more fun, a multitude of studies say that early birds are in fact happier. According to Psychology Today, a study found that early birds are generally happier as they are able to get more work done in a given day as compared to their night owl counterparts.
We’ve also learned that being happier results in one being more productive. According to a study from the Social Market Foundation and the University of Warwick’s Centre for Competitive Advantage in the Global Economy, happy employees were on average, 12% more productive than less-happy employees.
With these advantages in mind, making the case for becoming an early bird is easy but to actually do so would be a more difficult task. Remembering that forming a habit takes an average of 66 days with actions speaking louder than words, let’s make it our personal challenge to set our alarm an hour earlier for the next two months. Rearranging your waking schedule will likely improve your day-to-day tasks in a multitude of ways. At the end of the day, the early bird gets the worm!
Let us know your progress and feel free to ask any questions in the comment section below!
The safest and most effective pest-control methods often have more to do with persistence and resourcefulness, than chemicals, money, and technology. While technology has changed almost everything we do in our lives, from ordering food to hailing cabs, the good ‘ol gardeners still rely on methods dating over 50 years ago. And, there is a good reason for that – there is no silver bullet or wand that will make those pesky pests disappear. These old time tested methods will sure help you keep those pesky pests in check –
1. Laying the foundation – Healthy Soil
Did you know that about 80% of insect damage can easily be prevented by healthy soil? It is the number one ingredient for enabling healthy plants and allowing them to better resist pests. Easily available soil testing kits, found in your neighbourhood nurseries can be used to regularly test for pH level, as well as checking on those essential nutrients and organic material. Tracking these levels will tell you what you need to change.
2. Know thy enemy
It is a fact that a single square metre of soil can be home to thousands of insects. Most of these are harmless and some are even friends to your plants. Unfortunately, the ones that are not can do significant damage – the prime culprits amongst these fall into two categories – insects that chew such as caterpillars and certain kind of worms and beetles, as well as sucking insects such as leafhoppers. Monitor which of these culprits call your garden home and you will be better off.
3. Do the switcharoo
It is a fact that pests tend to reproduce where they eat – so if they feed on a plant and you plant the same thing in the same location, the family will thrive! Do yourself a favour – and switch plants around in your gardent – make it harder for the pests to find food, and you will automatically cut down their proliferation.
4. Go easy with that can
Yes, the easiest thing to do is to buy that can of chemicals and spray it all around – DON’T! It is simple logic really – what is harmful to anything living is equally harmful to you – directly or indirectly. You might end up killing some of those pests, but the collateral damage you end up with is your friendly insects and the very soil nutrients your garden needs! Water mixed with insecticidal soap is a good alternative – as they are made from organic fatty acids, while at the same time – safe and effective in getting those pesky insects.
Share with us other effective pest control tips you use in the comments section below!
If you are a gardener/landscaper or any other home service provider - check out here how to find leads and increase your business!
Things you never knew about Cloud Computing and Field Service
So you have heard of how everyone is moving to the cloud, and traditional software on DVD’s is dead! Well, let me paint the picture for you - in the context of field service management as well. Did you know -
1. 26% of field service management solutions are Cloud based
2. 66% have become more open to the use of Cloud in business
3. 69% of those currently using an on premise field service management solution will consider the Cloud when they next upgrade
4. 49% believe the Cloud is the future of enterprise computing
5. 3% believe we should keep everything on premise as there is too much risk in the Cloud
6. 100% of those using a Cloud based field service management system would recommend it over an on premise equivalent
7. 57% think field service mobile apps should be Cloud based
8. 29% of Cloud solutions were implemented within the last year
Thinking of upgrading to a Cloud based system? Still having doubts? Get in touch and we can help, check out here how we can help you use the latest technology and increase your business!
5 tips to make your air conditioner (AC) last longer before the next servicing
Everyone can benefit from simple tips which should be followed for the regular maintenance of your air-conditioning. The importance of regular maintenance, cannot be overstressed as it could potentially save you hundred’s of dollars in repair or replacements if it gets to that! Before explaining how you can achieve this, let us first look at the functions of different components in your air conditioner.
AC filter – keep system components like the blower and evaporator coil clean.
Compressor – compresses low pressure, low volume gas converting it into the high pressure, temperature and gas needed for the AC. It also removes vapor from the evaporator to maintain a low boiling point
Evaporator coil – absorbs heat from the air passing through system to provide cold air throughout the space
Air duct – used to deliver and remove air to ensure acceptable air quality and thermal comfort
Refrigerant – liquid in the evaporator to help to absorb heat and supply cool air inside the house
Now that you have understood the important components, here are tips to help maintain your AC.
1. The AC filter should be change monthly. If not the air would be dirty and filled with pollutants. This increases both the repair and maintenance cost.
2. Make sure to clean the compressor regularly to get refreshing and cool air. Oil specially designed for ACs can also be used to maintain your AC.
3. Replace your old evaporator coil to improve the air flow and circulation in your home
4. Air ducts should be cleaned regularly to remove dust collected so keep the area cool and pleasant
5. If ice blocks the tube and no cold air comes of the AC filter, the AC refrigerant is low and needs to be adjusted or replaced.
If you are an air-conditioning service provider - check out here how we can help you use the latest technology and increase your business!
It’s always interesting to know what the future holds for us, and ultimately how they impact us.
Some general trends that we have seen or might see in the near future:
Wearable Devices – Influencing the method in which services are being delivered, deployed and assigned. Bringing services closer than we would expect.
Mobility – Field workers (i.e Technicians) are now assisted with better support system. They have access to real-time information and user-based apps, enabling them to be more efficient and effective.
Emergence of ‘Tech-Savvy’ worker – Workers are enriched with technological knowledge, and are up-to-date with today’s technology. They now use personal technological devices in their workplace.
The increase in expansion of the Internet of Things (IoT) will see an expansion in collaboration in various industries, especially that of the Field Service. Definitely, the field service industry will continue to provide excellent services to consumers.
Have these trends happened? Do let us know your thoughts!
If you are a field service provider - check out here how we can help you use the latest technology and increase your business!
12 things you need to know about the Internet of THINGS (IoT)
Internet of things (IoT), is the network of physical objects or “things” embedded with software, sensors, electronics and network connectivity, which enables these objects to collect and exchange data (ITU,2015). IoT allows objects to be sensed and controlled remotely using existing network infrastructure, creating opportunities for more direct integration between the physical and computer-based systems resulting in improved accuracy, efficiency and economic benefit (The Supply Chain: Changing at the speed of Technology, 2015).
With a better understanding of IOT, here are 12 other facts which you should know
1. 96% of senior business leaders plan to use IoT in the next 3 years
– Wired
2. 30% of c-level execs believe IoT will unlock new revenue from existing products/services
– The Economist
3. 94% of businesses have already seen a return on their investment in IoT
- CMO.com
4. IoT will have the biggest impact in customer service and support
- The economist
5. The IoT will lead to a 25% reduction in asset maintenance cost and 35% reduction in downtime
- U.S department of energy
6. $970 will be saved per year per fleet vehicle
- Cisco
7. 38% of businesses believe IoT will have a major impact over the next 3 years
- The economist
8. $41 trillion will be spent over the next 20 years for infrastructure upgrades
- Intel
9. IoT could all $10-15 trillion to the global GDP
- GE
10. Because of IoT, there will be 22x more data traffic by 2020
- Freescale
11. 0.06% of things that could be connected actually were in 2014
- Baseline Magazine
12. 40% of all data generated by 2020 will come from connected sensors
- Frost & Sullivan
Were any of the statistics totally unexpected? Let us know in the comment section below!
If you are a field service provider - check out here how we can help you use the latest technology and increase your business!
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