5 Ways Mobile Field Service Solutions Can Rapidly Reduce Costs

This paper provides an overview of how automating field service using mobile software, wireless service and handheld PDA barcode scanners can rapidly reduce operating costs by up to 30%. The paper is focused on quantitative areas; however, there are a number of qualitative benefits which are outlined in the summary. Companies who are primarily manual in their current field data capture will find the most benefits.

Maintaining a competitive position in the service industries is increasingly difficult and requires a constant focus on growing sales, process improvements and controlling costs. A service company's ability to gain control of their "production" (service) environment is critical to controlling costs. Manufacturing companies are well known for focusing on cost controls. Manufacturers have their employees and equipment in a plant and can control the production. Service companies, on the other hand, have their employees out off the office in an uncontrolled and unmonitored environment

This white paper introduces the extension of a company's existing applications to their field force using wireless, handheld barcode scanners for field service operations. These scanners are fully functioning PDA's that have field service automation software that connects into the service company's work management system. These wireless PDA's replace paper and manual work order and invoice processes.