Sitting in endless traffic is more than just a nuisance for your drivers, inefficient transport and planning can have long-term impacts on your business. That's why you need a service dispatch software tool that can help you manage, streamline, and automate your field service operations, plan better routes and help communicate with customers.
Tradify is your all-in-one job management app. You can try it FREE for 14 days!
Low on time? Skip ahead!
Running a service business can be full-on between managing your workers, schedule, subcontractors, jobs and marketing and the day-to-day demands of your trade. Service dispatch software is any software that allows businesses to track, manage and organise business operations for field workers.
These programs allow you to create and manage your team's schedules, communicate with them and customers, manage individual sites, and generate reports. It can be an invaluable tool for streamlining operations, particularly with multiple people performing on-site services, by tracking their location and status. By tracking all your digital work orders, you can ensure you capture the important details and can access them, even when on the move.
Service dispatch software is a tool that links your office team, field personnel, and clients using a cloud-based system accessible from any device.
Here's a typical workflow of how this software functions:
A customer contacts you through your website, phone, email, or other channels and makes a service request (e.g. fixing a plumbing issue, wiring new electronics, installing a new HVAC unit, or doing some landscaping).
The software generates a work order containing essential details like the client's information, job location, contact number, type of service needed, priority level, and any special notes.
You can then allocate this work order to an appropriate technician based on their availability, skill set, location, or other factors. The technician receives this work order on their mobile app.
The field worker accepts the job and uses the app's GPS and route optimisation tools to navigate the best route to the client's site.
Both you and the client have the option to stay informed with real-time updates on the technician's whereabouts and estimated arrival time.
After completing the task, the technician updates the job status in the app, adding any relevant notes or photographs of the completed work.
An invoice is then created by the software and forwarded to the client via email or SMS, with options for both online and offline payment.
Finally, the software compiles reports and analytics from the collected work order data.
With so many options for service dispatch software providers, we’ve reviewed the top options and rated their features.
Tradify is a job management software specifically designed for trades and service businesses. Tradify helps trade businesses and contractors manage their inquiries, quotes, job scheduling, tracking, invoicing, and payments.
Some of Tradify's key features include:
Tradify is FREE for your first 14 days! There are also no extra fees for account setup, training, or customer service. Sign up and create an unlimited number of jobs, invoices, quotes, and estimates. Extra charges apply for features like SMS reminders & Instant Website.
A dedicated route planning tool, Route4Me boasts the world's fastest and most used dynamic route optimisation software, specifically designed to support growing vehicle fleets.
Route4Me features include:
Route4Me offers multiple packages, starting at $199/mo for standard route management and going up to $349/mo for Route Optimisation Plus.
FieldEdge supports expanding businesses to optimise their fleets through detailed tracking; including individual technicians' performance scores, customer management and automated invoicing systems.
FieldEdge offers three pricing tiers, tailored for each individual business.
If your business is starting out, or you're looking for the cheapest way to support your business, there are a few free options for management via Google’s tools. While these features are available for free as a single user, they do limit a business's ability to reliably scale.
Google offers free features such as:
While Google Workspace itself is not specifically designed as service dispatch software, the suite of free tools provides a decent foundation for solo operators. However, with the average long-term cost savings from using dedicated service dispatch software, many businesses will make the switch.
Field service dispatch software is an integral tool for reliable business growth as it improves;
Not all service dispatch software offerings are created equal. To find the best one for your business, you should take a few things into consideration.
The service dispatch software you choose should be easy to use for both your office staff and field workers. It should have a user-friendly interface, intuitive navigation, and clear instructions. It should also be compatible with your existing devices, such as computers, tablets, or smartphones.
Your service dispatch software should also be customisable to fit your business needs and preferences. It should allow you to create and modify templates & themes for work orders, schedules, invoices, reports, and other documents according to your business requirements or brand goals.
Service dispatch software should be able to handle an increasing number of users, jobs, customers, and data without compromising its performance, reliability, or affordability.
Choose service dispatch software that works well with other business tools you use, like accounting, customer management, and email marketing software.
Service dispatch software is essential for all businesses that require real-time job tracking and optimisation, and dispatch scheduling for drivers, service workers, tradesmen, or technicians.
It’s also ideal for automating customer notifications and other important business operations in the field service industry. They can become integral tools to help you improve efficiency, productivity, and customer satisfaction.
In other words, it's suitable for any service business that provides on-site services to customers, such as:
If you run a business in the trades & services industry, using dispatch management software can help to manage your field service operations more efficiently and effectively.
See for yourself with a 14-day free trial of Tradify. You won't regret it!