Field service management (FSM) tools are software solutions that assist with many of the workflows involved in overseeing and completing technical work in the field. As companies across industries like HVAC, roofing, plumbing, and electrical increasingly look to FSM software to streamline and automate their operations, the field service management tool market is expected to grow to $7.16 billion by 2028. Companies that don’t invest in FSM software will fall behind in productivity and profitability, but selecting the right field service management tools is challenging. This guide provides a list of key features to look for, highlights the characteristics that make the best FSM tools stand out, and offers a comparison of the top options.
Key Features of Field Service Management Tools
FSM comprises many different workflows and responsibilities. Field service management tools help to streamline or even automate these tasks to make FSM more efficient.
| Capabilities of Field Service Management Tools | |
| Work Order Management | Create, assign, track, and complete work orders |
| Dispatching | Dispatch technicians based on skillset, location, and other factors |
| Inventory Management | Track and manage inventory in the warehouse and in the field |
| Asset Management | Monitor customer assets and perform preventative maintenance |
| Invoicing | Generate, send, and follow up on invoices |
| Contract Management | Create, edit, sign, and securely store contracts while meeting service-level agreements |
| Payments | Accept credit, debit, or e-check/ACH payments online and in person |
| Estimates | Create custom estimates and get approval from customers |
| Project Management | Plan long-term projects, monitor their progress, and track their profitability |
| Reporting and Analytics | Create reports and visualizations to gain insights into performance, productivity, and profitability |
| Scheduling | Assign jobs and appointments to technicians while avoiding conflicts |
| Timesheet Management | Track technician work hours, locations, overtime, and project details |
Characteristics of the Best Field Service Management Tools
Not all FSM tools have a comprehensive feature set providing all the capabilities described above, so it’s important to compare options before choosing a solution. In addition to those features, the best field service management tools also provide:
Mobile Capabilities
Field technicians need access to their tools on the go, so an intuitive FSM mobile app can significantly streamline operations. The best FSM tools offer mobile capabilities like instant estimates that customers can approve on the spot, access to critical job details, optimized route planning with GPS tracking, automated job notifications, and the ability to chat with the home office.
No-Code Configurability
Field service management tools shouldn’t be one-size-fits-all, but at the same time, service companies may not have the IT resources to customize the software’s code. The best FSM platforms offer no-code configurability, so teams can customize workflows to best suit their needs without technical expertise.
Intuitive Automation
One of the benefits of FSM software is that it enables companies to automate their most tedious and time-consuming workflows. The best field service management tools provide automation that streamlines tasks like preventative maintenance, dispatching, work order creation, and technician scheduling without a complicated setup process.
Seamless Integrations
Field service management is only one facet of the business, and it needs to integrate with other areas like accounting, HR, customer service, and IT. Plus, some companies have existing FSM tooling that they want to continue using while expanding their capabilities with a centralized platform. For these reasons, the best field service management tools will support seamless integrations with a wide variety of other software providers to enable a holistic, highly efficient experience.
Comparing the Best Field Service Management Tools
| FSM Software | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Zuper |
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| Housecall Pro |
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| Jobber |
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| Service Fusion |
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| Connecteam |
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Zuper offers the most comprehensive field service management platform to help streamline your operations, enhance productivity, and boost profitability. Zuper is highly configurable, so even the least technical users can tailor its features to the unique needs of the business and use automation to eliminate tedious workflows. Its powerful mobile app delivers the most critical capabilities to technicians in the field, and its 60+ integrations ensure a seamless experience. Schedule a demo to see Zuper’s field service management tools in action.
