6 Reasons to Switch FSM Software Platforms & Tips for a Smooth Transition

September 9, 2019

Reasons to Switch Software Platforms

1. Miscommunication

Do you notice that there are constant misunderstandings between the office staff and technicians in the field? If you have a management software in your business, but there aren’t any features to streamline the flow of information between different parts of your business, you might want to look into another platform.

2. Only parts of your workflow are covered

Does your current software only handle quoting and scheduling, and not your full workflow? Working on multiple software platforms, or working on both paper-based systems and software can be a big time-waster. It’s important that all key parts of your workflow are addressed in your current system.

3. Important information goes missing

If you often find that data, leads, or other important information are unaccounted for, your current software system may not be as beneficial as you think. Often, if a mobile app or software system is unintuitive, technicians and staff are less likely to record job details. A system that makes job recording easy and allows you to capture and save images and multiple files will help your business stay organised and better work as a team.

4. You can’t cater to your customers

At the end of the day, keeping customers and gaining new customers is what matters most! If your software system doesn’t help you provide a better experience for your customers, it isn’t really serving your business. A good software system should help you be more organised so you can better communicate with and manage your customer base.

5. Your software vendor is unsupportive

Does your current software vendor provide customer support tools and resources? If you run into a bug with your software or have trouble using a new feature but can’t get the support you need, it’s time to look for another software. Your software provider should give you on-demand training and vital support resources so that your software experience is the best it can be.

6. You spend more time on the software than in the field

A good field service management software should automate your tasks and save you time. If you find you are spending more time working with the software than work on your jobs, your current software might not be doing what you paid for. At Simpro, customers have cited a 20% increase in billable hours due to workflow automation saving time on manual processes.

Plan for migration, plan ahead new workflows, work with a consultant diagram

How to Make a Smooth Transition

1. Plan for data migration

When you’re switching software platforms, one of the biggest challenges is ensuring that all of your data gets transferred over to your new system. Before diving right in, organise your data, make sure it is all saved and backed-up, and make a plan for the actual transfer.

If you have tons of data that can’t be moved all at once, plan it out. Maybe take an hour a day for a week or two that is dedicated to data transfer.

2. Plan ahead for new workflows

You don’t want to jump into using a new system without first evaluating how your current workflows will be affected. Again, planning is key. Communicate with all staff who will be using the new software and make sure everyone is on board and aware of how the software will change (for the better!) how they currently operate. Communicating clearly during a change is vital as it can lessen the chance of confusion and help your staff feel confident about the changes at hand.

3. Work with a consultant

At Simpro, our experienced implementation consultants partner with you to integrate new software solutions. Having a partner help you transition in-person is one of the reasons our implementations are successful. Whether you are eyeing Simpro as your next software solution, or any other software provider, make sure to have a knowledgeable consultant or advisor to make the software switch as smooth as possible.