IOT DELIVERS REAL BUSINESS BENEFITS
FOR FIELD SERVICE OPERATIONS
Field service is being transformed thanks to the latest technological developments including machine
learning and the Internet of Things (IoT)
The ability to remotely monitor
equipment and transmit data
back to the business in real-time has
previously only been available to
larger corporates with deep pockets.
The reality is all businesses can also
benefit from an agile operational
environment and it doesn’t need to
cost the earth.
We take a look at the key benefits IoT
brings to field service operations.
Trigger automated actions
IoT connected assets are monitored
for anomalies, and error messages can
trigger alerts and create work orders.
There doesn’t need to be any human
interaction in this process which reduces
the impact it can have on limited
resources. If a part fails, the correct parts
can be ordered and then the job can be
assigned to the suitably qualified and
located engineer for the job.
Increased first-time fix rate
Repeat service visits are costly,
especially for smaller businesses with
limited resources. IoT can help to
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provide more efficient and cost-effective
service delivery. Accurate reports on the
behaviour of connected assets help to
reduce unnecessary visits but when a
problem arises, the right person with the
correct parts can solve the problem on
the first visit.
Predictive maintenance to provide
better service
Moving to a predictive maintenance
model, where equipment can notify
us when they are operating outside of
normal parameters or predict when
failure is imminent, can hugely benefit
businesses. By only sending an engineer
to site when required can reduce costs
and administration as well as improve
equipment uptime and customer
satisfaction.
What are the practical applications for
IoT in smaller field service businesses?
When looking to implement an IoT
solution, it’s important to evaluate all
options. It’s not only about cost, but
the full end-to-end solution. Consider
whether new equipment is required
or whether the technology works
with existing installations. One of our
customers did exactly that when they
looked at how they could use IoT in their
business.
The business in question is an installer
and maintainer of specialist plant
equipment found in the plant rooms of
many prestigious commercial buildings.
They were seeking a solution that
could deliver live operational data on
the performance of their equipment to
support their ongoing maintenance and
servicing activities and even help create
new revenue-generating services.
Having persevered with another IoT
system for close to two years and getting
nowhere, they implemented simPRO IoT
and had it up and running in a very short
space of time.
The simPRO plug and play sensors
can be retrofitted to existing equipment
quickly and easily, along with the easy
connection of existing sensors in place
on the equipment. These sensors
communicate with the gateway to the
simPRO platform through thick plant
room walls that other approaches were
struggling with.
The sensors are used to monitor key
areas of system performance such
as energy usage, water levels (using
pressure sensors) and water flow (via
pulse meters). Thanks to real-time
updates through the cloud, the provider
can be instantly alerted of these metrics,
along with faults on the local equipment
console.
This has allowed them to improve
the operational performance of their
equipment and add value to the
customer by reducing costs, increasing
asset uptime and facility performance.
They are able to “sweat the asset” and
get more out of the equipment long
term. Moving away from reactive and
prescriptive pre-planned work, towards
cost-effective proactive management
of the equipment, has had a positive
impact on their bottom line. Lowering
the cost of operations has enabled them
to use resources more efficiently which
ultimately benefits the customer.
By integrating the core simPRO
solution, which combines
comprehensive asset and job
management, with the IoT enabled
live window into asset/equipment
operational performance, simPRO
delivers an end-to-end solution. Small
businesses can benefit from this onestop
shop approach where all hardware
and software are provided, installed,
configured and supported by the one
vendor.
The simPRO solution allows smaller
service providers to punch above their
weight, and bring innovative new
services into their portfolio to bring a
tangible source of differentiation.
With the real-world practicalities of
simPRO IoT increasing in usage by small
to medium enterprises, the onus falls on
the field service industry to embrace it
for the wide array of benefits previously
unattainable for these businesses.
If you’d like to find out more about
simPRO’s IoT solution visit simpro.
co.uk or contact sales@simpro.co.uk
or call 0800 622 6376.
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