Field Service IT News Roundup For VARs — July 21, 2014
By Amy Taylor, contributing writer
Field Service is taking on a whole lot of cost savings initiatives this week as demand is up and resources remain steady. Implementing the right strategy for field service management continues to make headlines as efforts are being made to increase available data and conserve company resources.
Field Workforce Needs To Establish Mobility Strategies
BizTech makes the claim that field workers need mobile devices suited to the particular job and work environment. Mobile devices need network access, a host of mobile applications, mobile device management (MDM), mobile application management (MAM), and field service management suites. IT departments can work with field service operation leaders to review workflows to identify field and office inefficiencies to streamline workflow.
GPS Tracking Can Save 100 Gallons of Gas Every Month
TribLIVE reports on a success story as the Murrysville sanitary authority employs GPS technology to monitor their fleet. The GPS tracking program is saving the Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority more than 100 gallons of gas every month. The GPS units were installed in 6 of the 10 trucks and provide tracking for the location and idle times.
Managing Change In The Field Service Industry
Business2Community reports on the important challenges a company undergoes when implementing change in field service, including leadership support, engaging the workforce, and having the right strategies in place. Measurement is crucial to change within the industry, and Performance Management Analytics (PMA) is simplifying measurements so that field service leaders can access and analyze data efficiently.
Trucking Capacity On The Rise
Fleet Owner said that industry experts are predicting the availability of truck capacity for both the TL and LTL sectors to remain extremely tight and volatile for the foreseeable future. Moving forward, truck tonnage is expected to increase 3.7 percent between 2014 and 2015, with rail freight up 1.9 percent and intermodal up 4.1 percent over the same time frame.
Android OS Makes Significant Strides On Mobile Field Service Market
Business Solutions Magazine reports that competition is building as Android phones battle for the mobile field service market. The mobile device gained 62 percent of the overall market share in 2013, with the biggest advantage being the sheer number of devices that can use the operating system, along with the low price point.
Field Service IT Talking Points
Mobile Enterprise addresses the elephant in the room as companies outgrow their current applications and discuss a “New App Tool Addresses Buy or Build.”
Safety is a top concern and now companies are “Going the extra mile for the safest drivers,” reports Fleet Owner.