Mobile Workforce Checklist

There are more than 3 billion people who regularly use smartphones, and the number continues to grow. The increasing popularity of smartphones—demonstrated by 25% growth in users from 2016-2019—means that companies need to be mobile-first when it comes to both their employees and their customers.

Many smart companies are working hard to keep up with the mobile work movement by investing heavily in mobile-friendly, cloud-based workforce management solutions. But with so many options on the market, how do you choose the right one for your deskless workers?

Access Printable Checklist

Optimization for Deskless Workers

• Is mobile-first, and works seamlessly with all your devices.
  To keep up with the pace of change, you need a solution that fits seamlessly with how your mobile employees conduct business. Look for a mobile workforce solution that is purpose-built for mobile work, not retroactively adapted to the changing environment. A solution that works with any mobile device—not a specific brand or operating system—is better positioned to meet your needs right now and in the future.
• Has real-time tracking capabilities.
  Real-time tracking is a feature that separates the best workforce tools from the rest. Look for workforce management tools that allow you to see when workers accept, travel to, check-in, start, and finish each job. This real-time visibility helps managers understand how and where everyone is working, and it gives the back office tools to provide status updates when needed.
• Helps mobile workers capture data from the field.
  In the past, a remote worker would come back to the office at the end of the day to drop off a huge pile of paperwork for the back office to sort through. As the field service industry gets more crowded, customers want faster service and issue resolution. This requires streamlined, mobile-first data collection, not manual pen-and-paper processes.
• Gives mobile workers access to important information.
  The better prepared your mobile workers are, the more value they can deliver to your customers. If your workforce management system is disconnected from your customer database, you will be missing out on important opportunities to increase customer satisfaction. As you look at workforce management solutions, prioritize the ones that put customer data and job logistics front and center for your mobile workforce. Information about job logistics helps your mobile workers arrive at the site better prepared or even make adjustments to personalize their service. Seeing the customer history will help workers understand the customer’s situation without having to ask them to repeat details.
• Can set precise appointment times based on location and availability.
  When most people think of field service or the mobile workforce, they too often think of sitting around and waiting for the cable guy for hours at a time. Technology has moved far beyond the four-hour “estimated service window”—so why rely on a workforce management system that can’t be more precise.