2020 and 2021 have come and gone. But its legacy lives on…
Impact of COVID-19 on the Global Field Service Management (FSM) Market
According to the Market Research Future (MRF) COVID-19 Analysis, more than 50% of the Global Workforce was Working from Home to avoid human contact and limit the spread of the Pandemic
Due to the increase in remote working, the Field Service Management Industry was facing significant setbacks in nurturing customer relationships, aligning various teams on the same schedule, and maintaining effective communication among Field Service Suppliers/Technicians and Admins, which became more complex.
Field Service Management was widely adopted by large enterprises owing to the existence of a large number of employees, extensive customer records, and a larger workforce. However, the temporary shutdown of manufacturing firms due to the lockdown was hindering the growth of the market. Once the lockdowns were lifted in many countries, companies restarted their operations with limited resources.
During the pandemic, many FSM Companies were investing in tools and techniques that ensure employee safety, as well as changed their Field Service Working Models. On the other hand, the massive production of PPE Kits, Masks, and Medicines, among other products in the Healthcare Sector, required Field Service Management, as larger Companies were facing challenges in assigning Work Orders. Large Companies were focusing on implementing Field Service Management Software to manage their business operations and processes.
The Oil Field Service Sector, which includes equipment manufacturers, drilling rig operators, and hydraulic fracturing crews, was hit the hardest by the economic downturn
Field Services are essential services, especially in highly regulated industries like Telecom and Utilities, as well as Oil & Gas, where Compliance and Safety Management are 24*7 tasks. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, operations in these industries were carried out with slightly compressed schedules in order to follow social distancing or to comply with the regulations set by local government and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) whenever possible.
According to Field Service Management experts, Companies that were the Early Adopters of Digital Transformation had the data of how much uptime the equipment has taken, and what capacity it is running at in the field. During the Pandemic, FSM Companies that have been slow to adopt Digital Field Service Management are now using Digital Technologies such as IoT andArtificial Intelligence.
North America dominates the FSM Market due to the presence of a large number of IT Behemoths
COVID-19 Challenges Faced In FSM
- Restricting on-site dispatches to property occupants serviced via car vs by air.
- On-site dispatches for the same location – no by air or overnight stay were allowed.
- Increased reliance on local third-party providers when local employees were not available.
- Restrictions based on the need to use Personal Protective Equipment as well as the availability of it.
- Important personnel or emergency repairs were only permitted, and preventive maintenance wasn’t permitted.
Clearly, operations were disrupted making it difficult for Field Service Organisations to meet their commitments. While there may be certain shortfalls, i4T Global recommends Real-Time Communication with your customers notifying them of potential service disruptions and providing clear instructions on how to escalate emergency needs.
Is the Omicron Variant Also A Threat To The FSM Sector?
Omicron, also known as B.1.1.529, is a new strain of the COVID-19 Virus that has been classified as a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organisation
Just as companies were about to bring employees back to the office, even on a part-time basis, the delta variant emerged and shattered those plans. And just when it appeared that the mutation was somewhat under control, omicron reared its head. This latest COVID-19 Variant — Omicron—has spawned new health and economic concerns, and it could have an impact on the Field Service Sector.
The emergence of the Omicron Variant of COVID-19 is once again forcing employers to reconsider the measures they are taking to protect employees, customers, suppliers, and distributors.
Google, Uber, & Ford, the 2nd largest automaker, have already postponed their return-to-work plans – and in the case of Google and Uber, it’s an indefinite postponement at this point. (Ford plans to try again in March.)
Meta (the former Facebook) is still planning to open its headquarters at the end of February, but employees were told earlier this month that their return could be delayed until June. Lyft is taking things a step further, opening the office in February but informing employees that they will not be required to return for the entire year.
The Omicron Variant of COVID-19 has dimmed hopes that the pandemic will soon fade away and once again has employers pondering how they can fulfil their difficult obligations to keep their workforce safe and to meet their business needs.
What lies ahead and how Digital Technology will impact the future
It is important to note that Field Service is a business that solely involves people, hence the safety of both the field technicians as well as property occupants must be given a priority. i4T Global suggests that you evaluate your customers by finding out which customers are in need of critical support and then Conduct a Risk Assessment of providing such a support. As previously stated, the use of PPE, social distancing, and safety must be taken into consideration.
With businesses trying their utmost to fully support their remote workers, it is most likely strightforward to address health and safety concerns and build further on your remote service capability. Each issue resolved remotely eliminates the need to expose your Field Service Suppliers & Engineers to the virus, allows for faster resolution, and the data collected will lead to more value-added opportunities in the future.
With no end in sight to the pandemic, the traditional fix to the Field Service Support Model is no longer feasible.
Increasing the number of connected products in your install base and using technology to facilitate safe support remotely done by qualified Field Service Supplies has ensured that Field Service Management will never go back to the way things were being done before the pandemic.
Being able to satisfy your customers and communicate with them in real-time while also keeping your Field Service Suppliers engaged is the best option. Let’s stay safe and keep the workflow going!
Field Service Management Software
Field Service Management Softwares allow businesses to automate and simplify their processes. If you are still running your Field Service business with spreadsheets, email, and phone calls then you really should consider upgrading your business operation processes to thrive in the market space.
Technology Systems & Software have created an immense amount of value across many facets of our life and the Field Service Management Software is one more of these value creation software. If you have adopted FSM Software into your company already, then you should consider the functionality of the software.
Is your company designed for the needs of the current business environment? Does your FSM Software give you the flexibility for growth that your business needs? You need to give more importance to improving your workflow and ways of communication between employees and customers.
Further reference: Challenges Faced By Property Managers When Communicating With The Landlords
i4T Global is here to disrupt the FSM Industry with an Innovative Platform for Authorised Service Agents, Field Service Suppliers, & Property Occupants with Transparency & Safety.
Summary
Key Takeaways
(A) We’re so excited to share with you, i4T Global is one of the major sponsors of the 13th Annual Field Service Management (FSM) 2022 Conference, that’s happening on 09 – 10 March, and we will be in person at Dockside Darling Harbour in Sydney, Australia!
At this Year’s Event, we will equip you with the Strategies & Best Practices you need to Deliver an Effective Field Service Culture to Increase Efficiency & ROI of the Field Service Workforce While Improving Your Business Processes Through Real-Time Data-Driven Solutions.
(B) You might also be interested in reading about;
- Post COVID-19: Challenges Faced in Property Maintenance in the UK
- ‘New Year – New Approach’ in relation to PropTech and Digital Transformation
- Post-COVID Opportunities and Challenges – Is your Trades Business Ready?
(C) To stay updated with Latest Trends, Marketing Strategies, and other FSM Resources,
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With our cutting-edge technology and in-depth knowledge of how the Field Service Management sector operates, the i4TGlobal Team loves to share industry insights to help streamline your business processes and generate new leads. We are driven by innovation and are passionate about delivering solutions that are transparent, compliant, efficient and safe for all stakeholders and across all touch points.
