2025's emerging strategic field services business priority
For the first time in the history of Gartner’s surveys of CEOs and senior executives, CEOs placed environmental sustainability at 8th place in their top 10 strategic business priorities. Sustainability emerged as a competitive advantage for CEOs, being equally important as brand trust, according to the respondents. Gartner predicts that by 2025, measuring carbon footprint will be an emerging technology with early adoption.
As we move towards a more technologically advanced future, the question remains: how can we accomplish this objective? In the pursuit of sustainability, technology has a crucial role to play, and field service management (FSM) software is no exception.
IoT Sensors and Predictive Maintenance
Implementing FSM software that incorporates both IoT sensors and predictive maintenance can contribute to carbon footprint sustainability. These features enable organizations to monitor equipment performance in real-time. By detecting issues before they become significant problems, the software can reduce the frequency of service visits, minimizing the carbon emissions associated with transportation and the environmental impact of equipment breakdowns. This approach can also help organizations optimize their equipment usage, resulting in reduced energy consumption and carbon emissions over time.
Business Impact
IoT sensors and predictive maintenance reduce the costs associated with emergency repairs and unplanned downtime. However, the benefits don’t just stop at cost savings. By preventing those issues from happening in the first place, your technicians can spend more time on valuable tasks and less time putting out fires. Additionally, IoT sensors and predictive maintenance reduce the need for unnecessary maintenance and extend the life of your equipment. This means minimizing the need for replacements and more money in your pocket.
Smart Scheduling and Optimization
Field service providers can reduce the carbon footprint associated with travel by optimizing the routes taken by technicians. By using FSM software to identify and plan the most efficient routes, service providers can minimize the distance traveled by technicians and ultimately reduce carbon emissions.
Business Impact
By optimizing field service routes, a company can save on fuel costs, reduce vehicle wear and tear, and minimize the need for overtime pay. Technicians can reach their destinations faster and complete more tasks in less time, leading to increased productivity and higher levels of customer satisfaction and retention. Lastly, optimizing routes can actually lead to more business opportunities. By completing more tasks in less time, a company can increase its revenue potential and take on more service requests.
Real-time Tracking and Reporting
Besides optimizing the most efficient routes and providing remote assistance, FSM real-time tracking and reporting software also enables digital record-keeping. Reducing the need for paper-based documentation means reducing the associated carbon emissions of manufacturing, transporting, and disposing of paper.
Business Impact
Real-time data on field operations enables companies to monitor performance, identify issues, and make data-driven decisions. It’s like having a bird’s-eye view of your entire organization’s operations. This can help management stay on top of key performance indicators and make informed decisions to improve the business.
Conclusion
Advancements in technology are helping us let go of the perceived notion that the costs of implementing sustainability initiatives would outweigh the benefits. As noted above, there is increasing evidence that sustainability practices can lead to cost savings over the short and long term, as well as improved customer satisfaction and brand reputation.
By adopting sustainable practices, service providers can differentiate themselves from competitors and appeal to environmentally conscious customers. In addition to the increasing regulatory requirements related to carbon emissions, service providers that adopt sustainable practices may be better positioned to comply with regulations and avoid penalties in the future.
At Fieldcode, we are committed to incorporating these key advancements into our services and continuing to innovate in the field of Field Service Management. We have developed a climate-positive vision that is strongly based on our Olivine Project research, aimed at upscaling technologies with a significant impact on CO2 reduction. We are proud to be at the forefront of this movement and we encourage other businesses to join us in making a positive impact.