Technicians and subcontractors are the last line of defense against a technical problem, even in today’s world where you can do almost everything remotely using technology. Any field-related service naturally has a fleet of field technicians that are supposed to pay a visit to the customer whenever an issue is reported. While this may seem straightforward and easy enough for any business to coordinate, it’s not always that simple. The problem is that around half the field service businesses of today are still using manual methods to schedule and dispatch technicians. This is where dispatch software comes into play, leveling the landscape to streamline dispatches while making them extremely efficient in both time and cost. We’ll be exploring how to dispatch software works and how you can make the most out of it.
How does Dispatch Software Work?
Dispatch software is simply a digital solution that improves the efficiency of managing the technicians on the field. Management here includes pre-selecting, guiding them to sites, reassigning them after a task is done, and tracking their route. The manual mode of operation is entirely dependent on written addresses, emails, calendars, and other tools. These tools leave a huge room for error, whether it’s from the technician’s side or the dispatcher’s. The time and effort it takes to assign a technician and reassign them if needed through manual methods are simply too great to let it slide. The whole department becomes vulnerable to a stop to a halt if the technician is forced to jump through hoops to complete their work.
Dispatch software takes all these problems and provides them with digital solutions that streamline the entire process, from client reports to reassignments. Individuals who are responsible for dispatching technicians will get to utilize computers to have an eye on the entire workforce, giving them a conclusive look at the available technicians, jobs, and locations. Having such visibility makes it easier for both the technician and dispatcher to provide their services. Interestingly, software filters can categorize technicians according to their skillset is an advantage that can be used for far more efficient routing.
Quick Response
A lot of services that require technicians can turn into emergencies in worst-case scenarios. The last thing you need is to have your dispatchers and law enforcement officers drowning in paperwork and not being able to swiftly coordinate to reach an emergency. As mentioned on this site, dispatch software can help law enforcement become informed about previous encounters with suspects, potentially saving their lives in certain cases. When something goes wrong, it’s always better to minimize those chances by removing unnecessary checkpoints, which is best done through dispatch software. Having a feed of real-time data that you get from your drivers and technicians will help you coordinate a solution to a critical or urgent problem.
Transportation Management
When there are a lot of dispatches going on simultaneously, the process can get quite hectic without software. Dispatch management digital solutions ensure that the transportation process is accurately monitored, giving you more control of every step of transportation. From tracking locations of jobs with GPS to guiding your drivers to the site area, you’ll be able to efficiently communicate with your technicians to provide consistent services.
Automation
Automation is the name of the game in a time where everyone expects nothing but high-quality and quick solutions. Automated scheduling is going to be one of your strongest allies that you gain from dispatch software. You can allow the system to automatically assign and reassign technicians to jobs, taking into consideration their skillset, nearness from the location, and other important factors. Once scheduling has been taken care of, you’ll be able to focus on the more important matters of the business, not to mention that you won’t be wasting your dispatcher’s time, saving yourself time and money.
Mobile Access
Technicians will definitely enjoy being able to look up the location of the service, date of repair, and many other important service-specific information on their mobile phones. With dispatch software, communication becomes much more efficient as the mobile becomes the central hub of contact. Your dispatchers will be able to quickly relay information to agents whenever they need it, in addition to giving techs the ability to report back any findings that could cause a disruption in the schedule. Even the clients can use the app to directly communicate with dispatchers and get themselves assigned in a matter of minutes.
Dispatch software is essential to any business or organization operation that relies on scheduled calls, field responses, and similar services. The manual dispatch management process is no longer a safe or efficient way to handle service calls or emergencies. The more you optimize the dispatch process, the more you’ll stand out from competitors and serve your clients better.