Platform Version 5.55.4 Released

Here at OnForce, our product development team works hard to deliver value to our buyers and pros through enhancements to our field service platform. But that value isn’t realized if you, our customers, aren’t kept up to date about new features and functionality available to you. This post is an effort to help you get more out of your OnForce experience by giving you the latest news on what’s going on with the product. We’ll continue to post notes here about each platform update we release.

Now on to the good stuff. Here’s a rundown of the latest improvements released with version 5.55.4 of the OnForce platform:

A cleaner, more useful work order payment approval interface

The most recent updates to our document management system enabled buyers and pros to keep track of multiple versions of a document — useful for work orders that include multiple trips to site, each requiring their own deliverables. We’ve now refreshed the look and feel of the work orders needing approval list to also display multiple document versions, as well as to allow inline editing of buyer custom fields during the approval process.

Get the work order details you’re looking for quickly and easily

Helping you find the information you’re looking for within a work order, easily and efficiently, is a critical function of the OnForce platform. To give your mouse’s scroll-wheel a break, we’ve added a quick navigation menu to the top of each work order. The navigation contains links to all the important sections of the work order, and remains fixed to the top of the browser window for easy access. You’ll save time on every work order you view by being able to quickly jump to the details you care about.

One-step creation and routing of work order bundles over the API

We’ve added a new method to our buyer API: WorkOrderBundleAndRouteByRuleset. Given a list of work order ID’s and a routing ruleset ID, this method allows a buyer to create and route a bundle of work orders in one step utilizing the filters of the specified routing rule. When this method is successfully called, the buyer is returned a list of ID’s for the pros whom were sent the work order bundle.

Instantly dismiss your work order alerts

The work order alerts list surfaces important events — such as appointment change requests and new reply-requested notes — to provide buyers and pros with a top-level overview of what’s happening on your work orders. We’ve made managing this list even more efficient by eliminating page refreshes after alerts are cleared.

New printer sub-category available: Plotters

Buyers needing to find qualified service pros to work on plotter equipment can now select the specific Plotter sub-category when creating work orders. Experienced service pros should add Plotter skills to their service profile to be eligible for this work.

Stay up-to-date with the latest OnForce product updates

The OnForce team works hard to bring you the tools you need to deliver world-class service using our powerful field service platform. In order to keep you informed about improvements to the product, we’ve added a Product News feed to the left sidebar in your PCC or BCC. Stay tuned to this feed to learn about new features you can leverage to improve your OnForce experience.

Reference: OnForce Inc

Technology Innovation in Field Service

New advancements in technology always amaze me. Promises of faster delivery from days to minutes, instant access to information and people, and the ability to get more done with far less effort -- become reality and effectively change how work gets done.

As technology continues to evolve, so does the field service delivery landscape. Smarter and faster tools like mobile solutions, for example, help to drive better processes that enhance your customer’s experience, and ultimately, your bottom line.

Current street buzz is on 3D technology. Is 3D technology the new wave that will hit the field service landscape? Quite possibly, according to Smart Van that highlights how 3D printers and scanners could very well be the next big thing.

Do you agree? Which of the latest technologies do you think will impact you and how you deliver field service today?

Posted By Diana Ermini, Director of Marketing, OnForce

Reference: OnForce Inc

Five Critical Skills That Can Help Service Technicians to Succeed In 2013 and Beyond

For most, a New Year brings the desire for change. It means re-evaluating your current situation, setting a goal, and then taking action. It’s a time that causes us to reflect on where we are and where we want to go. As a field services technician, what are your New Year professional goals? Where do you want to take your business in 2013 and beyond?

Whether you are a seasoned entrepreneur or are just getting started in your IT career, there are a number of soft skills (i.e., personality attributes) that I have often found with field services technicians who are successful.

As you embark into the New Year with specific business goals in mind, here are the top five soft skills that can help you stand out with customers and encourage repeat business:

Know your technology. With technology innovations coming out every day, it’s almost impossible to stay on top of it all. Regardless, do your best to be an expert in your particular area of interest. Is most of your work focused on mobile solutions? Make sure that you stay current with the latest trends and developments in the mobile space. The key is to complement your years of experience with the latest skills to help you navigate the latest IT terrain.

Set expectations. If a customer expects you to arrive at a specific time (and you have confirmed that you will) but then show up late, it’s not good. Of course, things happen that are out of our control (e.g., there’s an unexpected traffic jam, service event location details are inaccurate...etc...) but if the unexpected happens, then let your customer know as soon as possible. This will not only help prepare your customer accordingly, but also will demonstrate that you are proactively managing the situation.

Be a strong communicator. The ability to manage multiple service events and allocate resources, all while juggling a variety of customer requests requires strong communication skills. While it’s important to be able to effectively communicate what you want to say, it’s also about being a good listener, observer and being willing to ask questions.

Stay positive. No one likes to work with someone who views life with a “glass is half empty” mentality. Instead of focusing on what’s going on with the economy, direct your attention to where you see opportunities and go after them. Are networking skills in hot demand? Make sure you have them and indicate it in your service profile. Are you losing time between service events because you are getting bogged down with important, yet inefficient, administrative tasks? Use a mobile app to help you streamline processes so you can stay productive.

Love what you do. Life as a service technician involves dealing with a wide variety of tasks and challenges every day. It’s important to have the motivation and persistence to keep going even when things get complicated or when problems arise at a job site. If you don’t, customers can pick up on your lack of enthusiasm and choose not to work with you again. If you really care about your work and consistently strive to do your best, you are often called upon for repeat work.

Are these soft skills that you practice on a regular basis? Is there a skill that you would add to the list?

Posted by Diana Ermini, Director of Marketing, OnForce

Refrence : OnForce Inc