Cloud Software, Contractor Software, disruptive technology, Field Service Management, hosted infrastructure, Mobile Job Management Software, mobility software, Software as a Service, Software for Construction, Software for Contractors

Why software design should be driven by the people who use it

“People who designed this system, don’t actually use it” – It’s surprisingly (and a little disconcerting) just how often you hear people around you saying this about their business software when they are struggling to get their daily job done and their “specifically designed” system just isn’t playing ball!

At FIELDFIX we take a very different approach to software design because we strongly believe our customers shouldn’t have to put up with job management software that “more or less” does what they need it to.

From the very beginnings FIELDFIX product development has focussed on the practical needs of field crew, with the people who use the system driving software development. Even the green background of FIELDFIX job software field app was chosen for its practical benefit. After trialling it in action at the coalface the guys in the field gave GREEN the big thumbs up for being the most practical colour for visibility that worked in all weather conditions. When the hot sun was beating down on the devices, or the skies were on downpour mode, the green screen remained easy to view and allowed the guys to keep working smart in the field.

To reference the great Steve Jobs:

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”

The FIELDFIX team couldn’t agree more. With FIELDFIX mobile job management software, everything we do starts with the design. Get that right, and the rest will follow. And above all, listen to your customers’ needs because they are the ones who will be using your software!

cloud based system, Cloud Software, hosted infrastructure, Information Management, Software as a Service, software service providers

Keeping your data safe and secure with FIELDFIX

When it comes to data security, Angus Kidman really sums it up nicely, don’t you think?

“You’ve got all this business information, it’s living at least temporarily in your devices, it’s going up into the cloud… there’s all this information there that’s usually accessible. If you don’t have just good, basic security in place, there’s the real risk of financial loss, of business humiliation, just a whole range of problems.”

(Angus Kidman, Editor-in-Chief at Finder.com.au)

 

At FIELDFIX we are just as passionate about keeping your information safe as we are about capturing it!

All too often companies find themselves getting bogged down with reviewing the software and suitability of product for their business and overlook the importance of making sure their data is in safe hands. With over 20 years’ experience in software development and infrastructure management, keeping information safe for our customers’ remains our top priority. As Dave Hale, co-founder and technical guru of FIELDFIX says:

“When the system your business depends on shuts down it can cause all kinds of problems and unnecessary stress, not to mention the actual cost of downtime. That’s why at FIELDFIX our hosted infrastructure includes best of breed servers, redundancy, data recovery and data security.

So when it comes to choosing a software provider, don’t just think “does the software do what we need it to,” but also “can my business rely on this service provider ” because at the end of the day consistent reliability of IT services is crucial for any business.

That’s why our customers are confident to leave IT to us. We take care of the “geeky” stuff, leaving you to get on with doing business. Just the way it should be.

Job management made easy
Cloud Software, Contractor Software, disruptive technology, Field Service Management, hosted infrastructure, Mobile Job Management Software, mobility software, Software as a Service, Software for Construction, Software for Contractors

Why software design should be driven by the people who use it

“People who designed this system, don’t actually use it” – Just the other day whilst in the bank I heard this very line and it got me thinking just how often you hear people around you saying this about their business software when they are struggling to get their daily job done and their “specifically designed” system just isn’t playing ball!

At FIELDFIX we take a very different approach to software design because we strongly believe our customers shouldn’t have to put up with job management software that “more or less” does what they need it to.

From the very beginnings FIELDFIX product development has focussed on the practical needs of field crew, with the people who use the system driving software development. Even the green background of FIELDFIX job software field app was chosen for its practical benefit. After trialling it in action at the coalface the guys in the field gave GREEN the big thumbs up for being the most practical colour for visibility that worked in all weather conditions. When the hot sun was beating down on the devices, or the skies were on downpour mode, the green screen remained easy to view and allowed the guys to keep working smart in the field.

To reference the great Steve Jobs:

“Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.”

The FIELDFIX team couldn’t agree more. With FIELDFIX mobile job management software, everything we do starts with the design. Get that right, and the rest will follow. And above all, listen to your customers’ needs because they are the ones who will be using your software!

cloud based system, Cloud Software, Contractor Software, Field Service Management, hosted infrastructure, iPaas providers, Job Management Software, Software as a Service, Software for Contractors, software service providers, Testimonials

When it comes to software providers think “partners, not replacements”

In a recent article from CIO.com, Thor Olavsrud discussed the reasons why more and more businesses are turning over certain IT functions to managed service providers, allowing internal IT staff to focus their energies on strategic IT projects. With a collaborative working model and the focus being on “partners, not replacements” this practical approach certainly rings true with the FIELDFIX philosophy of “working smarter not harder” to get the job done.

These days, many software platforms try to be all things to everybody and end up being the jack of all trades and the master of none. At FIELDFIX we take a very different view. Our philosophy is built around utilising the best solution for each business requirement rather than a “take over the world” approach.

We like a practical, no-nonsense way of working and with over 20 years’ experience in the software industry, our customers know they can rely on us to deliver reliable job management software that does what they need it to do. Likewise, we enjoy working closely with our customers and always welcome their product innovation ideas, because we respect that our customers are the experts in their industry.

Working collaboratively and recognising the benefits that this brings definitely gets the thumbs up from the FIELDFIX team every time. After all, with clear communication and understanding about what the service provider’s roles and responsibilities are, what’s not to like about sound collaboration and like-minded companies working together to get the best result for both the business and its people.

Read more about us and the FIELDFIX way of doing business.

Cloud Software, Contractor Software, Field Service Management, hosted infrastructure, Job Management Software, Mobile Job Management Software

Why customer support really does count when implementing new job management software

With so many job management software solutions available in the market today, how do companies choose which one is best for their business? Of course, there are many important factors to consider from cost to “does it really do what I need it to” however, one important point that often gets overlooked is Customer Support. Here are a few reasons why this should rank high on your checklist, because although a lot of companies promise cheap software what you really need to be asking is “when it comes to support, do they have your back?”

Managing culture change

When companies decide to change from existing paper processes they need to feel supported every step of the way. After all, you aren’t just changing paper processes when implementing new software, you are often changing how people work, introducing a new culture. Especially for the guys in the field who, unlike office staff,  are often not experienced with using software to record and report on their daily activities at the coalface.

FIELDFIX job management software is delivered as a service. From the get go, you can expect hands-on customer support throughout from initial deployment right through to helping you make the most of FIELDFIX for years to come.

Furthermore, our thorough approach to implementation provides a low risk platform for managing the overall culture change required for mobile software implementation. FIELDFIX having come from the field understands this and has the toolsets and methodologies in place to assist organisations with getting to grips with this fundamental culture change within a business.

As Peter Cooper, FIELDFIX co-founder says:

“You can buy all sorts of software and leave it to the guys in the field to get to grips with it, but if they don’t buy into it, they’re not going to use it and then you’ve got nothing.”

We’ve got your back

Unlike many job apps, once you’re up and running our customer support doesn’t stop there. We understand that when you have a question, you need a quick response, and that automated “ticket” responses can not only be impersonal but very frustrating when you need an answer fast! That’s why when you call FIELDFIX support, you can be sure to get a reliable, personal response and we won’t keep you waiting.

Experience you can rely on

With over 20 year’s field service experience, we understand the practical needs of our customers. Rather than being a system designed in the office and pushed out to field crew to use, we started in the field and this gives us a unique perspective and understanding that many software companies cannot claim to have. Moreover, we know what works in the field through first-hand experience and we know what doesn’t work also.

So remember, introducing new software may be a serious business but it doesn’t have to be a stressful one. With the right level of customer support and experience, it can be both an enlightening and fun journey too!

 

cloud based system, Cloud Software, hosted infrastructure, Information Management, mobility software

Stop your business leaking cash with FIELDFIX Event Management mobility software

When you’re completing a job, it goes without saying that it’s important to make sure you get paid for the work you’ve done. More often than not, jobs can expand with unforeseen complexities. How do you track unplanned events without holding up the job’s progress? Whilst it’s not always possible to predict ad-hoc events, what’s important is making sure your field crew have the tools they need to report changes accurately and professionally, as it happens.

In keeping with our philosophy of working smarter not harder, FIELDFIX Event Management makes reporting unplanned events in the field quick and simple. Using smartphones and tablets, field crew take photos, enter descriptions; make sketches, even sketch on photos, it really is that simple! FIELDFIX then merges all photographic and text evidence into professional customer reports in seconds, making light work of reporting in the field from anywhere, any time.

Furthermore, FIELDFIX Event Management works seamlessly with FIELDFIX Job Management, automatically storing Event Reports to the corresponding job so that months or even years later you can easily access your job history with just a few clicks. Now that’s working smart!

Find out more about FIELDFIX Event Management, and stop your business leaking cash!

hosted infrastructure, Software as a Service, Testimonials

Meet Dave, the ‘technical guru’ of FIELDFIX or as we like to call him the ‘IT geek’!

Dave’s passion is new product development, and he just loves being put to the test to deliver dynamic development requests from our FIELDFIX team and customers. Off he disappears into his “little dark cave,” and doesn’t reappear until he’s cracked it! Is there anything Dave cannot do?

His core technical skills have been put to the test very successfully over the last 20 years in a number of senior technical and management roles both in NZ and overseas. These include Intel, AT & T, Nortel, General Motors, Reed Elsevier, Vector and Electrix.

Yet while Dave is the overall product architect for FIELDFIX and drives our specialised development team, he also backs our Software as a Service philosophy one hundred percent. Not only does he believe strongly about providing on-going support for our customers, he is also committed to providing smart software solutions that can integrate and support your existing business systems.

Dave brings to FIELDFIX enterprise grade IT infrastructure but with the heart and soul of a small growing business, and makes working smarter not harder, not only easy but fun too.

Nice one Dave. Keep calm and SUP on! (Because when Dave’s not busy designing innovative software….you’ll find him off paddle boardingJ)

Next week we’ll be introducing you to Adrian. But in the meantime, you can find out more at meet the team.

 

 

Two unlikely companies come together
hosted infrastructure, Integration, Software as a Service, Support, Training and Support

Reliability, Integration and Control, 3 key factors when choosing your cloud-software

A recent article on cloud computing and how to choose the right service partner for your business highlighted 3 key components to keep in mind during your search process: reliability, integration and control. We decided to take a closer look at what they had to say and share how FIELDFIX compares.

1. Reliability: “The consistent reliability of IT services is crucial for any business.”

We couldn’t agree more. When the system your business depends on shuts down it can cause all kinds of stress, not to mention the actual cost of downtime. That’s why at FIELDFIX our hosted infrastructure includes best of breed servers, redundancy, data recovery and data security.

Furthermore, FIELDFIX’s core design was founded on the philosophy that everything we do is to help our customers work smarter, not harder, so that they can stay ahead of the game. That’s why we made sure our smart software works offline. So if your field crew is out in a remote area without cellphone coverage FIELDFIX still works, capturing the information ready for sending when the crew is back in coverage. This means things aren’t going to be missed just because a job is exceptionally remote.

When it comes to providing a consistent, reliable service, our customers are confident to leave IT to us. We take care of the “geeky” stuff, leaving you to get on with doing business.

2. Integration:  “integration of cloud services can introduce a host of new support, billing and management complexities”

With over 20 years’ experience in software design and development we understand the importance of integrating new systems with your current business operations. FIELDFIX was built to integrate and integration continues to play a key role in our ongoing product development. We welcome the opportunity to work actively with your existing software suppliers to ensure all systems talk to each other, just the way you want it.

3. Control: “controlling and managing your new cloud services should not create an additional burden on your IT team”

At FIELDFIX we’re not just about the software. We understand that implementing new software is a cultural change for your business. It involves re-training your staff, changing and adapting your processes, and more importantly your team need to believe in it and want to use it, because if they don’t, you’ve got nothing!  When customers come on board with FIELDFIX we personalize our training programmes to suit your business needs. Our hands-on training and support make sure your guys are up and running in no time.

Whilst we certainly don’t presume to be the best at everything, we are confident that FIELDFIX is, without a doubt, a stable, robust, tried and proven software solution. Our customers can rest easy that when it comes to reliability, integration and control FIELDFIX ticks all the boxes.

Source: comparethecloud, 11 Aug 2015, Maximizing the value of the cloud Read more