Sales teams, technicians, and other employees in the field are the hardest to keep an eye on. They complete many transactions and job orders, making it hard for managers and supervisors to track data accurately.
Effective field force management and automation are critical parts of modern business operations. Current procedures and systems often change due to many factors and need to update to fit specific needs.
Having the right system in place allows businesses to work more efficiently and give employees a sense of security. Typically, this type of management includes both front- and back-end software to assist daily operations.
What is Field Force Management?
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Field sales agents interact with many people in different parts of logistics, from resellers to distributors and wholesalers. A few levels higher, companies interact with other companies specializing in things like fast-moving consumer goods and industrial materials.
The fast-moving nature of today’s business processes makes it hard to monitor. As a result, many business owners understand the importance of effective field force management.
If you manage an onsite technician business, you know how important it is to have management software Service for Your Business. This tool can help you keep track of your technicians, their schedules, and work orders.
Also known as field service management, it refers to managing both the workforce and resources outside company property. More specifically, it aims to address the many problems that field sales agents encounter:
- Delays – Time-consuming tasks like manual order processing and paperwork filing can reduce customer satisfaction
- Access and timeliness at point-of-sale – Sales staff must be present and accessible to complete a transaction.
- Business loss – Insufficient delivery, lack of clear communication, and missing records can result in loss of potential sales.
- Lack of standardization – Planning data, sales transactions, and applied discounts are difficult to track without standardization from utility field service software
- Lack of data – Secondary sales data should be available in real-time for management users to allow for better tracking and documentation
- Competition – Many companies regularly monitor brand awareness and assess the market competition to stay ahead
Everything You Need to Know About Field Force Automation
Automation is crucial in many business processes. They can speed up many repetitive tasks while keeping data available for access later. They also allow field employees and managers to coordinate better.
An effective field force automation solution helps field sales agents move faster between prospects and make successful sales.
When paired with systems like open source asset management software, it lets employees at all levels do their work quickly. You can also implement changes faster and more smoothly as demands and operations change. Here’s what you need to know about field force automation:
1. It Makes Everything More Efficient
At its core, field management is all about efficiency. Automation removes the repetitive tasks from field processes, like paperwork, reporting, and logging meeting updates. Here are a few ways it makes transactions faster and more convenient:
Minimizing Paperworks – Unsorted data is lost potential leads and sales. Automation prevents possible loss by keeping it organized and easily accessible for field sales reps and managers.
Automatic Lead Assignment – Tools like utility field service software can significantly reduce response time. Sales agents can receive relevant leads based on relevant criteria and proximity and turn prospects into sales faster.
Better Team Coordination – Automation software allows managers and supervisors to follow up on sales activities and assistance requests. Additionally, it will enable managers and salespeople to coordinate and close deals faster.
2. It Enables Businesses to Collect More Data
Many companies today rely on business intelligence through data analytics and reporting. Field force automation helps by allowing businesses to collect more data efficiently than traditional pen-and-paper methods.
With real-time data and open source asset management systems for immediate solutions, instant notifications on issues like stock outages or equipment failure give ample time for restocking or repairs and replacements.
3. Increases Customer Satisfaction
The goal of every business and every field service agent is customer satisfaction. Businesses can reduce repeat service calls when the data is readily available and synced in real time.
Field force automation solutions provide the means for this and more. It includes key features that allow accurate data reporting and faster response time while reducing delays and interruptions.
What Can a Utility Field Service Software Do for You?
Field service automation software is the key to tracking sales force activity and turning potential leads into successful sales. It includes many options and fundamental features that both enable and empower managers and salespeople, such as:
Arranging Digital Orders
Field service software allows employees to work on job orders faster by automating invoices and other time-consuming paperwork.
Sales representatives can place orders through mobile apps, which provide a smooth transition between product categories and after-sales support. They can also check order details to include additional products or services before confirming the sale.
Create an Online Catalog
One key feature of utility field service software is that sales agents can have a catalog they can access anytime.
An on-hand directory makes bookings and sales transactions smoother and eliminates the need for bringing samples. It also removes the need for printing large numbers of promotional materials and physical catalogs.
Another advantage of online catalogs is they can update in real-time, providing a dynamic experience for sales agents and customers. You can also update products, services, discounts, and promos to allow for more sales opportunities.
Smarter Sales
Managers can also use field service software’s integration feature to make more intelligent sales.
It’s a given that most software solutions already include some form of third-party app integration. The difference with field service software is its compatibility with different platforms, such as client relationship management (CRM) software.
This degree of compatibility gives employees access to more data for more successful sales. Additionally, it minimizes the number of apps they need to keep track of.
Track Sales Staff
Utility field service software can track sales staff to ensure on-site attendance and allow managers to view progress.
On top of streamlining tasks and live alerts for no-shows, it can send real-time notifications for all factors, ranging from real-time moves and non-retail activities to path planning and timestamps.
Additionally, the software can keep track of things like planning information, discount forms, and even offline sales orders.
