Choose the right system: 5 factors to consider when selecting field service management systems.

Get overview, insight and profit: How to strengthen your service business with a Field Service Management System for Microsoft Business Central and other professional ERP systems.

1. integration and compatibility

Ensure that the field service management software you select is compatible with your version of Microsoft Business Central and that the two systems can exchange data seamlessly.

Tight integration allows service organizations to share information about customers, work orders, and tasks in real time, enabling rapid decision-making. This may include updating work order status, assigning tasks to technicians , submitting service reports for billing purposes, and monitoring technician progress in real time.

In addition, tight integration helps eliminate errors and duplicate data, as all information is automatically synchronized between Microsoft Business Central and the selected field service management software with mobile solutions. It reduces the risk of manual input errors and ensures that the service company always has access to the most up-to-date information.

Finally, choose a system that requires no programming and is designed for daily use with your ERP system. Please also make sure that the selected Field Service Software can be integrated with other systems you use in your company to provide you with an integrated solution.

2. functionality

Choose field service software that has the features you need to support your service business. These can be functions for planning, time recording, inventory management and reporting, for example. It can also be documenting tasks in the form of pictures or filling out checklists. There is a tendency to integrate order management systems with fleet management solutions, which means that companies also get an overview of fleet and equipment in one system. For example, you can always see where the next employee for the task is, which saves fuel and makes planning easier.

3. development

Don’t just choose an order management system based on what you need here and now. Find a system that can grow with your business. In a future where customers want more self-service, order management systems and customer portals will need to be integrated into the same solution, while the Internet of Things will contribute to a greater focus on predictive service rather than reactive service.

4. user friendliness

Choose a system that is easy for both field service technicians and office personnel. For service technicians, the easier the field service app (Android, iOS, iPad, laptop, tablet) is to navigate and the clearer the information is operated, the clearer their daily routine becomes. In the office, it is also important that the system provides a quick overview of completed, ongoing and pending tasks. If it is intuitive and user-friendly, the implementation will be easy and painless.

5. support

Choose a system developed in collaboration with your ERP supplier, and make sure you and your staff have access to support and guidance. Not only on a daily basis, but also at launch and when new features are implemented, so you are absolutely sure to use the system in the most efficient way.