What is digital operations management, and who needs it?
Digital operations management is the digital management of a company's tasks, resources, and finances, from planning to invoicing, all consolidated into a single system rather than scattered across spreadsheets, scraps of paper, and separate IT systems. The concept typically encompasses task and project management, time tracking, quality assurance, and invoicing. It's most commonly used by companies where employees perform tasks on-site at the customer's location or at various locations, rather than from a fixed desk in an office.
What exactly is digital operations management?
In practice, digital operations management means that the entire process, from the moment a task is created until it is completed, documented, and invoiced, takes place within a single system. This includes, among other things, planning of tasks and employees, task management of individual cases and orders, time tracking directly from the field, quality assurance and documentation of the work performed, and finally invoicing, which is linked directly to the task. A unified platform enables management to monitor operations in real time, rather than having to gather information from multiple sources after the job is completed.
Digital operations management, task management, and field service management, what's the difference?
The three concepts overlap but cover different levels. Digital operations management is the broad, overarching term for how a company manages its entire operations digitally. Task management is the part that involves creating, assigning, and following up on individual tasks and orders. Field service management is the term for the software category designed specifically for companies with employees in the field. In practice, a platform such as Microbizz covers all three levels, because operations management for a company with field staff naturally requires both task management and field service functionality.
Who needs digital operations management?
Digital operations management typically provides the most value to companies that have many concurrent tasks, employees who work on-site at customer locations, and a need to document the work performed for customers, regulatory authorities, or their own management.
Industries where digital operations management typically makes sense
- Contractors and tradespeople who need to coordinate multiple projects, crews, and equipment across construction sites
- Service companies with technicians who perform tasks at various customer locations
- Utility companies in the water, heating, and fiber sectors, with tasks spread across a large geographic area
- Facility management companies that need to keep track of tasks and quality across many properties
Signs that operations are still managed too manually
Some typical signs are common across all industries:
- Tasks and appointments are tracked in spreadsheets, calendars, or on paper, rather than in a single centralized location
- It takes multiple phone calls to find out how far along a task is
- Invoicing is delayed while waiting for paper slips or field notes to be returned to the office
Frequently asked questions about digital operations management
How does a company get started with digital operations management?
Most companies start by digitizing the most time-consuming parts of their operations, typically task management and time tracking, and then gradually expand by adding more modules as their needs grow.
How much does digital operations management cost?
It depends on which features and how many users the company needs. Contact Microbizz for a specific quote.
Can digital operations management be customized for our industry and workflows?
Yes. A flexible platform can be adapted to the company's specific fields, workflows, and modules without requiring a programmer, so the solution aligns with how the company actually operates.
What software is used for digital operations management?
Companies typically use a task and order management platform that brings all the necessary modules together in one place. Microbizz is an example of such a platform, built specifically for companies with field employees.
