Dealing with the Overload: How Field Technicians Can Tackle Too Many Apps and Improve Efficiency

The digital age has brought a plethora of mobile applications to streamline and optimize various aspects of our lives. Field technicians, in particular, have benefited greatly from this surge in technology. They now have access to apps for product manuals, service software, search engines, and much more, all at their fingertips. However, this abundance of apps can also lead to a slowdown in their work efficiency as they juggle between multiple tools to complete their service jobs. In this article, we will explore how field technicians can manage and minimize the impact of having too many apps on their phones and conclude with a solution that consolidates these resources into a single, easy-to-use service software.

Technicians Have An App Overload Problem

App overload refers to the situation where an individual has too many applications installed on their smartphone or other devices, leading to a cluttered and disorganized digital environment. This excess of apps can cause confusion, inefficiency, and decreased productivity, as users spend more time navigating between multiple tools and interfaces to accomplish their tasks. Field technicians often use a multitude of apps to complete their daily tasks. This includes dedicated apps for product manuals, service software, Google searches, and more. While each app serves a specific purpose, the need to switch between them can slow technicians down, negatively impacting their productivity. Moreover, keeping track of multiple apps and staying up-to-date with the latest versions can be time-consuming and cumbersome.

Techs Have To Prioritize & Organize Too Many Apps

To overcome the app overload problem, field technicians must first prioritize and organize the apps they use regularly. They can group apps based on their functions, such as manuals, service software, capture tools and more. And have you ever tried to create folders and groups of app on a phone? It’s not easy (even for teenagers). After organizing the apps, then they can quickly access the apps they need for a particular task without having to scroll through a cluttered app list.

For example, a technician in March of 2023 came to provide a quote for expanding the electrical capabilities of a residential job. The job required adding two 20-watt circuits and running external conduit around the house and into the garage on the other side. The assessment only took 10-15 minutes. Providing a quote took another 30 minutes. Why? The technician would need a more extended ladder and an additional trailer. The tech had to log into multiple systems to check trailer availability, costs, and procurement details. He then had to log that information into another app for the quoting and then a third piece of software for cost calculation. De-centralized applications caused a 45-minute estimate vs. a 15-minute one. Yes, this is a real story.

Making Use of Default Phone Features

Field technicians can also leverage the default features on their smartphones to minimize the reliance on multiple apps. For example, the built-in search feature on most smartphones allows users to search for information without needing to open a separate app like Google. Similarly, they can use the native note-taking app to jot down information or create checklists instead of using dedicated third-party apps.

Embracing App Integration

Many popular apps offer integration with other tools, enabling field technicians to access multiple services from within a single app. Technicians should take advantage of these integrations to streamline their workflow and minimize the need for switching between apps. For instance, some service software apps allow users to access product manuals or troubleshooting guides directly from within the app, reducing the need for separate manual apps.

Integrated Field Service Software

Take a peak at video demos showcasing the features of FieldConnect: our fully integrated field service software suite that integrates your ERP, price book, real-time job quotes, and more so that every technician only needs to use one app on commercial or residential job sites.

Training and Adaptability

Field technicians should be open to learning new skills and adapting to new technologies, but using 100 apps on one job is too much. Other methods include providing additional training sessions for techs (including webinars or workshops). This helps to familiarize themselves with the latest apps and their features while minimizing wasteful time. Also help your technicians to identify redundant apps and replace them with more efficient alternatives (or an all-in-one service software), thus reducing the number of apps they need to use.

Creating a better experience for technicians

While the tips mentioned above can help field technicians manage the problem of too many apps, the ultimate solution lies in the use of an all-in-one service software. FieldConnect brings together all the essential features required for a field technician’s job, including file libraries, work order tracking, search functionality, GPS routing, and more. By integrating everything into a single, easy-to-use interface, technicians can focus on their tasks without the distraction and inefficiency caused by juggling multiple apps.

This consolidated approach not only saves time but also reduces the learning curve associated with adopting new tools; ultimately benefiting both the technicians and the businesses they serve.