Field service management software

The hectic nature of fieldwork can cause more than a misplaced coffee mug or a forgotten phone. There’s ongoing exposure to jumbled communication, overscheduling, and late or even missed appointments—any of which can result in unhappy customers, wasted time, and lost resources.

Field service software is ideal for mobile teams to stay on target and in contact with their desk-bound colleagues and supervisors. In this guide, we’ll dive into the details of field service management software, explore key features and benefits, and offer a glimpse into the top nine field service software platforms that can transform and strengthen your business.

More in this guide:

• What is field service management software?
• The 9 best field service management software platforms
• Features of field service software
• Benefits of field service software
• How to choose the right field service solution
• Frequently asked questions
• Integrate field service management software with Zendesk

Field service management (FSM) software helps companies monitor and control the activities and resources involved in conducting business in the field. It automates tasks like scheduling and dispatch, tracks service and repairs, processes job orders, and collects payment. Meanwhile, on-site technicians benefit from access to internal operations and real-time client updates.

Field service management solutions reduce the time-consuming and error-prone tedium of manual scheduling, dispatch, and communication. Managers and technicians can coordinate quickly and clearly to ensure their clients receive gold-standard service. By integrating with a modern help desk solution, FSM operations can take customer support to the next level.

We’ve rounded up the nine best platforms to consider for your field service management needs. Whether you’re a new startup with a small operation or an industry-leading enterprise company, field service software is a must-have solution for companies with remote workers.

1. Zuper

Zuper is an all-in-one platform for field service and remote workforce management. Its AI-based intelligent dispatching feature automatically assigns the right technician to the job site based on skill set and proximity. It also keeps clients in the loop every step of the way, from initial booking confirmations to after-service satisfaction surveys.

With Zuper’s comprehensive analytics and reporting, teams can receive real-time insights for data-driven decision-making. Support staff can view inventory levels and even the battery percentage of a technician’s mobile phone. When Zuper is integrated with a customer service solution like Zendesk, businesses can automatically create work orders from help tickets and share associated ticket notes.

Features:

• Real-time dashboards and reporting
• Customer SMS
• Field mobile app
• Scheduling and dispatching
• Work order management
• Inventory management
• Location intelligence

Pricing:

Contact Zuper

Free trial:

14 days

Learn about the Zuper integration for Zendesk.

2. Salesforce Field Service

Salesforce Field Service is an AI-powered service tracking software for managing mobile workers. The field mobile app lets technicians access appointment information, view schedules, and update data from their phones while on the move. Teams can also integrate Salesforce with Zendesk to sync sales and support data.

Salesforce Field Service’s Visual Remote Assistant add-on helps support personnel assist field technicians through live video streams. Additionally, Support personnel can forecast the impact of travel time and resource allocation to correct potential scheduling complications.

Features:

• Real-time dashboards and reporting
• Field mobile app
• Scheduling and dispatching
• Work order management
• Visual remote assistant
• Appointment forecasting

Pricing:

• Contractor: $50 per user/month or $20 per login
• Contractor Plus: $75 per user/month or $30 per login
• Dispatcher: $165 per user/month
• Technician: $165 per user/month
• Field Service Plus: Starts at $220 per user/month
  *Plans are billed annually.

Free trial:

Unavailable

Learn about the Salesforce integration for Zendesk.

3. Jobber

Jobber’s service software caters to the construction and home services industries. Customers can book appointments online, text with technicians, and receive automated appointment notifications and confirmations.

Jobber’s business dashboard provides an overview of the company’s current requests, quotes, jobs, and invoices. The software can also recommend which actions are needed to progress the workflow. Personnel can also track job details, work hours, and expenses within the dashboard.

Features:

• Customer SMS
• Field mobile app
• Scheduling and dispatching
• Work order management
• Automated notifications and confirmations
• Client hub

Pricing:

• Core: $49 per month
• Connect: $129 per month
• Grow: $249 per month
  *Plans are billed annually.

Free trial:

14 days

4. Service Fusion

Service Fusion field service software helps businesses manage customer communication and fleet operations. Businesses can create and share detailed job estimates for potential costs and services. If the customer accepts the terms, they can electronically sign the document, cutting down on physical paperwork.

Technicians can add notes to customer accounts, documenting customer preferences, requirements, and special instructions. When field personnel access this information before or during a service visit, they can tailor their approach to better meet customer expectations.

Features:

• Real-time dashboards and reporting
• Customer SMS
• Field mobile app
• Scheduling and dispatching
• Work order management
• eSign documents
• Estimate options

Pricing:

• Starter: $166 per month
• Plus: $251 per month
• Pro: $421 per month
  *Plans are billed annually.

Free trial:

Unavailable

5. ServiceTitan

ServiceTitan is another all-in-one, cloud-based software solution for residential and commercial field service businesses. Businesses can track costs in real time, manage crew schedules, furnish invoices, and maintain accurate accounting. Automated solutions for payroll and reporting save hours of repetitive billing and administrative tasks.

Teams in the field can operate in the mobile app, accessing inventory, service agreements, and job histories. Customers can also stay in the loop with mobile booking confirmations, appointment reminders, and tech bios.

Features:

• Real-time dashboards and reporting
• Customer SMS
• Field mobile app
• Scheduling and dispatching
• Work order management
• Client portal
• Call recording

Pricing:

Contact ServiceTitan

Free trial:

Unavailable

6. Intuit Field Service Management

Intuit Field Service Management software works for businesses of all sizes. Its work order management system allows businesses to create, assign, and track work orders. Field technicians can access detailed information about each task, including customer details, job requirements, and any necessary equipment or materials.

Intuit Field Service Management software also lets businesses track equipment service history to maintain a record of maintenance activities. Technicians can use the records to identify patterns, perform preventive maintenance, and enhance the longevity and reliability of the equipment. Additionally, the solution supports on-the-spot invoicing, enabling field technicians to generate and present invoices directly to customers upon completion of a job.

Features:

• Real-time dashboards and reporting
• Field mobile app
• Scheduling and dispatching
• Work order management
• Equipment service history
• On-the-spot invoicing

Pricing:

• 1–10 users: $35 per user/month
• 11–40 users: $31 per user/month
• 41–101 users: $28 per user/month

Free trial:

Unavailable

7. Simpro

Simpro is a cloud-based service software built for trade businesses like HVAC, plumbing, and fire protection. Its customers can use the software to estimate project costs and build quotes. Integrating Simpro with Zendesk allows users to share important customer information between the systems, including the work site, quotes, and ticket description.

Simpro also lets businesses set up recurring invoices and notifications for their customers. This feature automates the billing process for recurring services, such as maintenance contracts or subscription-based offerings. Businesses can configure the system to generate invoices at specified intervals and automatically notify customers, improving billing consistency and reducing administrative overhead.

Features:

• Real-time dashboards and reporting
• Scheduling and dispatching
• Work order management
• Project calculator
• Recurring invoices and notifications

Pricing:

Contact Simpro

Free trial:

Unavailable

Learn about the Simpro integration for Zendesk.

8. Skedulo

Skedulo’s mobile workforce management platform assists worker productivity with end-to-end workflows, data-driven insights, and a unified tech stack. Its Deskless Productivity Cloud can help businesses with a remote workforce simplify end-to-end management for workers with varying skills, certifications, locales, and availability.

The Skedulo scheduling feature uses intelligent automations to match job schedules to complex customer needs. Employees in the field have access to the mobile app with real-time updates and guidance, so they’re always informed of schedule changes. The Zendesk integration unifies a business’s tech stack and allows it to collect and share accurate data throughout the organization.

Features:

• Real-time dashboards and reporting
• Field mobile app
• Scheduling and dispatching
• Intelligent automations
• Push notifications

Pricing:

Contact Skedulo

Free trial:

Unavailable

Learn about the Skedulo integration for Zendesk.

9. Housecall Pro

Housecall Pro provides service software to—you guessed it—home service businesses. Dispatchers can monitor the real-time location of their field service technicians with GPS tracking so they can adjust routes and allocate resources appropriately. Dispatchers and field technicians can send customers automated appointment reminders, updates, and notifications via text messages.

Housecall Pro also offers a review generation feature that helps businesses build and manage their online reputation. After completing a service, the software can automatically send customers a request to leave a review. Businesses can then share reviews with future customers to help attract more work.

Features:

• Real-time dashboards and reporting
• Customer SMS
• Field mobile app
• Scheduling and dispatching
• Work order management
• GPS tracking
• Review generation

Pricing:

• Basic: $49 per month (1 user)
• Essentials: $129 per month (1-5 users)
• Max: Contact Housecall Pro (1-100+ users)
  *Plans are billed annually.

Free trial:

14 days

When selecting field service software, businesses should prioritize features that enhance efficiency, streamline operations, and improve overall service delivery.

Essential features include:

• Real-time dashboards and reporting: Businesses can monitor performance metrics, track field personnel, and make informed decisions. A comprehensive view of ongoing activities offers valuable insights into productivity, resource utilization, and overall efficiency.
• Customer short messaging service (SMS): Businesses can send customers timely updates, appointment reminders, and service notifications via the software’s business text messaging services.
• Field mobile app: Field technicians can access relevant information, work orders, and customer details from your service desk software on their mobile devices.
• Scheduling and dispatching: Dispatchers can update task assignments based on field agents’ skills, location, and availability. Sometimes, they may leverage automation to streamline scheduling processes.
• Work order management: Businesses can take a systematic approach to creating, assigning, and tracking tasks in an organized interface, reducing manual errors.

Together, these features empower businesses to manage field operations seamlessly, enhancing productivity and customer satisfaction.

Businesses benefit significantly from adopting field service software. Some areas where businesses see the greatest payoffs include:

• Improved customer experience (CX): Customers receive accurate updates on their appointment status.
• Heightened productivity: Request management systems efficiently assign field workers tasks based on their skills, location, and availability, minimizing idle time and travel inefficiencies
• Streamlined communication: Field technicians and dispatchers work from a centralized platform, sending and receiving real-time updates regarding service tickets, inventory, and strategy decisions.
• Simplified processes: Work order management gets streamlined through automated processes, from creating and assigning work orders to inventory management.

In the end, using FSM software contributes to a more organized, responsive, and customer-centric approach to field service operations.

Choosing the right field service solution is a critical decision that can significantly impact the efficiency and success of your operations. Consider the following your must-haves when selecting software to ensure you’re choosing a solution that can deliver on your expectations:

• Ensure it integrates with your customer service software: Compatibility between field service and customer service systems, such as help desk software, is essential for a cohesive workflow, allowing for the easy exchange of information and providing a unified view of customer interactions.
• Prioritize customizable settings: Different businesses have unique workflows, processes, and requirements. A customizable solution allows you to tailor settings to meet your needs.
• Test it with a free trial: A free trial provides a valuable hands-on experience, helping you make an informed decision based on practical insights into the software's performance and suitability for your field service operations.