How Improved Field Data Collection Drives Operational Efficiency

Most organizations with a field service component already understand the significance of leveraging data from the field. But they also know that capturing, storing, and analyzing that data is sometimes a huge hurdle, both for field workers and for the back-office employees who are tasked with syncing it back to a central system. 

Fortunately, there are some tried-and-true practices for ensuring success. Improving your field data collection is an attainable goal once you understand what might be holding you back and how the right tools and processes can help you to course-correct.

What Is Field Data Collection? 

Field data collection is the process of capturing key information while interacting with customers or conducting work in the field. It’s an essential part of understanding and improving field service operations, as field data provides transparency into customer experience, growth opportunities, employee performance, productivity, and more. 

From customer preferences, feedback, and signatures to job details, site photos, and more, tracking and using the right data is essential for any organization that relies on employees in the field to carry out services. Healthcare providers, independent contractors, frontline workers (like protective service workers), sales employees, and nonprofit volunteers, can all greatly benefit from field data. Thus, it’s essential that the field data collection process—and the tools they use to support that process—are as seamless as possible.