Field Service Software or Traditional FM System: Which Gives More?
Field service software gives facility management companies mobile access and task completion directly in the field, route planning across many daily addresses, and an invoicing basis that updates as work is completed, which a traditional FM system typically isn't built for. A traditional FM system is usually strong at keeping track of buildings, tenants, and maintenance schedules, but it's often built to be operated from the office, not by employees carrying out tasks at the customer's location every day.
What's the difference between field service software and a traditional FM system?
What a traditional FM system is typically built for
A classic FM system typically centers on registering buildings, leases, assets, and maintenance schedules, and on handling requests from tenants or customers. It's often administered by an operations department from the office, and tasks for technicians in the field are, in many cases, an added function rather than the core of the system.
What field service software is built for
Field service software starts from the employees in the field. That means task management, planning, and documentation are built to happen directly from the task, no matter how many different addresses or properties are involved.
What field service software gives you that a traditional FM system typically can't
Mobile access and task completion directly from the field
Technicians can see, update, and close tasks from the mobile app, even without network coverage, instead of having to go back to the office or call in to get or hand off tasks.
Route planning across many daily addresses
With many properties and addresses in a single day, route planning can put visits in the order that requires the least driving, something a building-focused FM system is rarely built to solve.
An invoicing basis that follows the work performed in real time
Time and materials logged directly on the task are automatically linked to the invoicing basis, instead of having to be pulled together manually from several systems after the work is done.
Quality assurance and documentation from the task itself
Photos, checklists, and deviations can be logged directly on the task in quality assurance, so the documentation follows the specific work, not just the building or property as a whole.
Frequently asked questions about field service software and FM systems
Do we need to choose one system or the other?
Not necessarily. Many facility management companies use field service software to manage tasks, planning, and documentation in the field, while an existing building or asset register is still used for the property data itself. See integrations for how the two can be connected.
Can't a traditional FM system just add a mobile app?
Some can, but the mobile feature is often an addition to a system that's fundamentally built around building data, not fieldwork. That typically means fewer options for route planning, offline use, and a direct link to invoicing than in a system built for fieldwork from the ground up.
When does it make sense to switch to field service software?
When most of the work is actually carried out by employees at the customer's location or across multiple properties, and the current system requires manual follow-up to keep track of tasks, time, and invoicing.
Is field service software only relevant for facility management?
No. It's used widely by companies with field-based employees, including contractors and tradespeople, service companies, and utility companies, but the need for mobility and field documentation is especially pronounced in facility management, because tasks are spread across so many addresses.
