4 minutes read
Scaling operations with field management software: a practical example for highways
Oliver Revolta, Researcher & Copywriter
It’s easy to stick with familiar software – even if it’s falling short. But over time, compromises in your digital management solution can hold your business back.
So – if you have a bespoke system either creaking under the weight of a lack of updates or high maintenance costs – or if your current digital solution isn’t meeting all your hopes, wishes, and requirements – then read on.
How to know if it’s the right time to change your field management software?
Depending on your current field-operations solution, the following issues might seem familiar:
If you have a bespoke system
Custom built software should provide features tailored specifically to your workflow. But industries faced with evolving regulations and rising compliance standards demand flexibility – and that means a constant rollout of expensive software updates. Elsewhere, really hitting the mark when it comes to important details – like digital defect reports, automations, dynamic training matrixes, working time directive, geo-tagged timesheets, enforced HSE tasks, and so on – is hugely complicated – and similarly costly. In isolation, developing custom software from scratch can be a mammoth and unforgiving task.
If you use a combination of programs and spreadsheets
Many businesses progress fine by using a variety of resources for different parts of their workflow, whether that’s document control, managing plant, logging qualifications, and producing and processing forms. Yet fragmented, siloed systems can be extremely limiting.
Opportunities and efficiencies are missed when the scheduler isn’t connected to asset management, or when form submissions don’t trigger automations and notifications to whoever needs to see them.
For example, ideally a submitted defect report would automatically change the status of a vehicle from in-service to out-of-service in the smart scheduler – and then trigger a notification to managers so repairs can begin immediately. Software designed to the specific needs of highways companies will naturally include these kinds of features and triggers – while also providing essentials like guaranteed data security.
If you already utilise field management software, but you’re unhappy with your choice
Some operations-management solutions can look good on the surface yet still be lacking. Maybe the development team is too small, or they don’t deeply understand your industry. As a result, they likely won’t be capable of providing ongoing support and updates that align with your evolving needs over an extended time period.
Using ‘the right’ field management software for scaling your operations
As you’ll see below and from our case studies, Re-flow Field Management provides a digital operations solution that’s already making a huge difference to companies across highways.
And having helped plenty of businesses transition from software that wasn’t quite working, we know how to mitigate for potential issues and make the change as easy as possible.
Here are some common concerns and their solutions:
- Uncertainty of outcomes: Our project managers and experienced support team map out the entire onboarding process and set clear milestones, enabling companies to visualise what they need to do and plan accordingly. Clarity builds confidence.
- Disruption of operations: Professional services and support teams bring disruption to a minimum, allowing your workflow to carry on as usual while the digital solution slots into place at incremental stages.
- Fear of migrating data: Re-flow’s dedicated team handle data migration for you, making the process smooth and straightforward.
- Learning Curve: Re-flow is an intuitive and streamlined system by design. Operatives use a simple but powerful phone app that requires minimal training. Re-flow’s support team help admin users get up to speed via personal development days, learning tools, and on-site training.
After the completion and submission of the very first form, we knew we had hit the jackpot with Re-flow … now dynamic complicated risk assessments are completed on every job, every time. The reports look so professional. When forwarding them on to our clients, we regularly receive compliments on how they appear.
And what does Re-flow offer?
The software brings together your entire field management workflow into a single digital solution boosted by automations and enforced compliance features. Using Re-flow allows for data insights that remove guesswork and give you absolute confidence in your decisions.
Re-flow has a dedicated 60-person team improving the software to industry needs – adding feature updates regularly, like the dynamic training matrix and working time directive alerts.
Since QMS started with Re-flow, they’ve noted:
- A 50% reduction in lost time due to the consolidation of office and field operations into one platform and the streamlining of scheduling, asset and job management, and reporting.
- A 75% increase in auditability due to automatic record keeping, visibility of sites through data KPIs, and instant cloud form uploads that eliminate delays in obtaining completed work sheets.
- A 100% improvement in compliance and communication thanks to intuitive software and an easy adaptation process for the older generation of workers.
Discover how highways clients are managing operations with Re-flow field management.
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