Improving Technician Efficiency: Best Practices and Tools for Success

In field service, being efficient is super important. It's not just a big word people use. Are you the person who fixes stuff? Or are you the boss? Either way, working better helps a lot.

When you work better, your customers are happier. You get more stuff done. You can even make more money.

Let's look at some good ways to help technicians do better. We'll also check out some helpful tools.

But first, let's talk about what "technician efficiency" means. It's pretty simple.

It's about getting a lot done without getting too tired. 

Good technicians:

• Finish jobs fast
• Don't mess up much
• Use their time well
• Use their tools well

When we talk about "working better," we mean doing more without getting super tired. It's not just a big word. It's how you stay the best in this fast job.

Working smarter helps everyone. It means:

• Customers are happier
• More work gets done
• You might as well make more money

We'll look at good ways to work better and some helpful tools.

Maximizing Technician Efficiency: Key Insights

1. Make work orders easier

One of the first things to do is make work orders simpler. Instead of dealing with lots of paper or messy computer stuff, make sure work orders are clear and easy to find. For example, having one place where workers can see and manage their tasks cuts down on time wasted on office work.

Here's a story: I remember when my client’s team changed from paper work orders to a computer system. They spent way less time looking for and updating work orders. The workers liked how clear everything was and how fast they could find info. This helped them finish jobs quicker.

2. Teach and train your workers

No matter how good your tech is, nothing beats skilled workers. Regular CMMS training keeps your team up to date on new ways to do things and new tools. Plus, it makes them feel more confident and work better. 

For example, you could have training sessions on new machines or technology to help your workers learn faster and do their jobs better.

3. Plan the best routes

Time spent driving around can eat into how much work gets done. Using tools that plan the best routes can help workers spend less time traveling and use less gas. There are lots of apps and computer programs that can figure out the best ways to go based on traffic right now.

Here's another story: A few years back, we started using an app to plan the best routes. The results were awesome. Our workers spent less time on the road and more time working, which meant they could do more service calls each day.

4. Give workers the right tools

Having the right tools is super important for working well. This means not just having the newest equipment, but also making sure all tools including maintenance management tools work well and are easy to get. Portable tools and mobile CMMS apps can help workers finish tasks faster and better. 

Now, let's talk about some tools that can help workers do better:

1. Mobile Field Service Management (FSM) Software

Source

FSM software can really change the game for field workers. These tools let workers track jobs in real time, see work orders on their phones, and talk to the office right away. With FSM software, workers can get updates, see customer info, and record their work while they're out.

Quick mention: Field Promax has a really good FSM solution that puts together lots of features, like tracking jobs in real time and using it on mobile phones. It's made to make workers' jobs smoother and help them work better overall.

2. Systems to manage inventory

Keeping track of tools and parts is really important to avoid delays. An inventory management software helps make sure workers have the parts and tools they need for their jobs. Inventory management can cut down on having to go back to places and reduce time when nothing's getting done.

3. Augmented Reality (AR) Tools

AR tools are getting more popular in field service work. They show workers virtual pictures of equipment, diagrams, and instructions, which can be super helpful for fixing problems and making repairs. This tech can really cut down on the time needed for tricky tasks and help workers do a better job.

Looking to the future in Technician efficiency

Looking ahead, the field service world is going to use more advanced tech that will help workers do even better. According to recent trends, using AI and machine learning will help predict when things need fixing, letting workers deal with problems before they get big. Also, improvements in IoT (Internet of Things) will help different devices and systems work together better, giving real-time info that can help make better choices.

Some interesting numbers: Research shows that companies using AI-driven preventive maintenance solutions can have 70% less downtime and 25% more worker productivity. Similarly, using IoT is expected to make operations 55 - 70% more efficient in the next five years. 

Wrapping it up

Making workers more efficient is something you have to keep working on. It involves using good practices and the right tools. By making work orders simpler, training your team, planning better routes, and giving your team the best tools, you can really improve how much work gets done. As the industry changes with new tech, staying ahead of the game will help you keep an edge over others and keep your work running smoothly.

So, here's to working smarter, not harder, and making every worker's day a little bit easier and a lot more productive!