Processing countless data streams across your organization is only made possible by your mobile devices, which are at the center of field service operations. They enable communication, insights, and decision-making.But what if your device fails at a critical moment? The following outcomes are possible:
- Loss of employee productivity
- Damaged perceived brand value
- Revenue loss for mission-critical equipment
- Compliance issues
1. Accessibility and Geography
When choosing the appropriate type of equipment, maintenance and servicing locations (access) is one of the most important factors.Service and maintenance teams need a device that keeps them connected to back-office employees, CMMS software and system in all situations at service operations locations, such as mining, oil and gas, solar and wind power units, not just for the sake of collaboration but also for their own safety. If your maintenance sites have challenging terrain, consider tough field service tablets with IP68 requirements, which are resistant to dust, dirt, sand, shock, and submersion in water up to a maximum depth of 1.5m for 30 minutes. The high processing speed and battery life of tablets with such a grade enable speedy data access and reliable communication.However, Robert Hurt, General Manager, EMEA of Janam, claims that being tough alone is insufficient in a real-world field service situation. True toughness goes beyond IP classifications and strict testing to make sure it can endure repeated drops, tumbles, and shocks across a wide temperature range. According to him, the device is important if it “optimally performs well beyond the life expectancy of a consumer-grade device.” The performance of your repair and maintenance crew must be elevated by a device that provides secure and dependable connectivity.
2. Functionality
A field service tablets’ functional features must make it simple for your specialists to finish their important work. For instance, your field service technician may perform the following duties on a regular basis:- Use of calendar to view schedules.
- Track location through online maps.
- Check job details or perform inspections or audits using the app.
- Upload, download, view, add, and edit documents/files.
- Manage time logs, update visit-in and visit-out.
- Capture customer signoffs, if required.
- Proper display size
- Adequate camera lens
- High battery capacity
- Fast charging
- Smooth and well-guarded touch
- Decent RAM for easy and uninterrupted use
- A minimum of 16GB memory for photo and video uploads, if needed
3. Durability
A mobile device is the last thing a field service technician wants to be concerned about while providing service.Make sure the technology you choose for your field service crew is sturdy enough to handle challenging working circumstances in the field, yet sleek and lightweight to not place an additional strain on them. For them to use the device easily, you must secondly give them the necessary accessories. For instance:- A mobile holder for cars to track the location
- Mobile holsters to carry mobile devices with ease
- Dust protective cover
- Waterproof phone case if operations involve exposure to water
4. Depreciation
It goes without saying that the budget of the company will influence many of your purchasing choices. To calculate the total cost of ownership, you must also consider the problems the product currently answers as well as its value over time.The cost of ownership could go up, for instance, if the gadget has a short lifespan and repair is difficult to access.Additionally, the device may prove to be an expensive choice in terms of the team’s efficiency and performance if the field service teams quickly experience issues with it due to quality problems or the low functional capability prevents them from fully utilizing critical software applications.This blog’s goal is not to persuade you to purchase an expensive item, but rather to thoroughly examine the gadget from a long-term standpoint, taking into account factors like the viability of training, maintenance, update, and repair.5. Appearances
Because even the smallest issues customers encounter could have an adverse long-term effect on them. When personnel struggle with a mobile device during maintenance or there are problems with the device during e-sign off, that one “negative” could end up being your business’s unwelcome trademark. Additionally, we are fundamentally visual beings. We take what we perceive as true.When a consumer observes a field service specialist working rapidly with an excellent gadget, quickly processing the information, producing reports or preparing invoices on the spot, it provides them with a positive impression, which raises their confidence in the business and increases the perceived brand value.
