ERP for Field Services

We will define your needs and wants as well as how you would ideally use new automated solutions across your entire Company.

We will guide you through selecting the best-fit, most cost-effective business applications and implementation partners to best automate and streamline the estimating, quoting, sales order, work order, job creation, invoicing, customer support, dispatch, scheduling, time entry, inventory management and expense management processes.

After finalizing your ERP software and services contracts, EAG stays with you to oversee your service firm's implementation until they successfully go live.  We will oversee integrations, data migration, change management, budgets, design and configuration, walkthroughs, training, testing, go-live cutover and will provide executive and project sponsor support throughout the duration of your project.

• Legacy systems require manual intervention which can cause unnecessary challenges or miss out on important efficiencies that could assist workers and customers.
• Lack of integration between legacy ERP and field operations.
• More time is spent capturing, preparing  and manipulating data then analyzing it for insights or planning better execution.
• Lack of real-time per project analytics, reporting and roll up by area.
• Lack of visibility into exact data management needs to understand workforce, projects, budgets, etc.

• Inability to capture and access detailed customer, job documentation, job history (i.e., customer data, field notes, job site, and safety information, etc.)
• Unable to schedule and dispatch field workers – need intelligent, flexible scheduling and dispatching capabilities to efficiently manage field workers.
• Invoices for projects and payroll must be imported into the system creating duplicate work.
• Disconnected communication between back-office workers and customers. Need direct and contextual communications that help field workers remain productive, or help the organization and customer base remain informed.

Our rapidly-growing mid-market clients are already very busy with their day jobs and do not have time to become ERP experts.  Though your key people still have to devote some time to an ERP initiative, hiring an ERP consultant frees them up to focus on the important ERP decisions while keeping the focus on their day job.

The more complex your business, the more likely for difficulty when selecting and implementing software.  ERP Advisors Group will help you uncover your true needs and will only vet the most viable options for your size, requirements, resources, and strategy.

We will create your requirements document and demonstration script with industry-standard best practices in mind while retaining what is unique to your company, leaving out the manual workarounds.

Many clients hire us when they suspect there will be a business case for new software, especially in a manufacturing company on legacy applications.  ERP Advisors Group helps stakeholders buy into what is best for the company by getting their input at multiple stages including the Needs Analysis, Selection, and Implementation.

A frequent complaint we hear from prospects who tried to select software on their own is feeling confused about the software's capabilities.  We have vendors show your requirements during their product demonstrations.  This ensures you feel confident about selecting the best products to meet your needs.

We negotiate tens of millions of dollars of deals every year for our clients.  We provide contract reviews on all terms and conditions, including software, services, and every agreement embedded throughout the contract. Our clients receive price protection for many years to come on their purchases. While we don't guarantee it in writing, we normally save our fees on this step alone. Check out our Guide to Contract Negotiations.

Field service companies rely the most on connectivity. Dispatchers need to be able to communicate with workers in the field, and field workers need access to the system in real-time.

The ERP must have robust scheduling and dispatching capabilities to accommodate field operations. Dispatchers should be able to quickly assign jobs based on a resource’s skill, location, and availability, without having to manually sort and decipher the information. From there, ease of use becomes increasingly important to “drag-and-drop” assignments, then notify workers with automated reminders. Throughout the job, field workers may also need to receive real-time updates regarding location, schedule, or status changes.

A field service-oriented ERP provides mobility to companies utilizing the platform. Mobile access to the system is essential for pulling up customer information, reviewing work orders, managing inventory through purchase orders and tracking, and any other relevant data. Customer communication is also key, allowing workers to connect with clients through SMS, email, or even in-application. Beyond that, mobile accessibility should be available offline to ensure work can be done, even when there is no internet access.

These are just some of the core features field service companies rely on.

If you are in the market for a Field Service Management solution, you know how vast the options are. Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to FSM. Requirements, preferences, users, and your current ERP platform can all shape your needs within an FSM solution.

Your ERP vendor may have a field service module ready to connect with your ERP. Or maybe you are starting from scratch. Either way, you will need to understand your needs and what you would like from your UI to get the best solution for your business. And reach out to an independent advisor if you need any help!

When you have very specialized needs, it may feel like you need a very specialized solution. However, this is not always the case. Sometimes, a third-party or “best-of-breed” solution is the right path for your business, while other times, your ERP vendor may have embedded functionality or a Field Service Management (FSM) module you can add to your technology stack.

Every project should be handled on a case-by-case basis. If you are already on a modern ERP and are happy with the platform, why not evaluate their field service solutions? A native application means simpler integrations and a more seamless user experience, especially if field service is not the core of what you do. Alternatively, your business may be too complex to rely on a more generic solution, requiring you to venture out into the best-of-breed market. Either way, we encourage you to be open to what the market has to offer and make informed decisions based on your needs. If you need help, schedule a free consultation.