Why Fully Managed SaaS Field Service Management Software Makes Sense
Field service businesses depend on technology every day. Scheduling jobs, managing technicians, tracking equipment, monitoring inventory and communicating with customers all require reliable systems.
But using powerful business software should not mean becoming an IT company.
That is one of the key advantages of cloud-based Software as a Service (SaaS). With a fully managed SaaS platform such as AI Field Management (AI-FM), businesses can use modern field service management software while the underlying technology is managed for them.
Instead of investing time and resources into servers, databases, networking, security, software maintenance and ongoing development, a service business can focus on what it does best: serving customers and managing its field operations.
What Is SaaS Field Service Management Software?
SaaS field service management software is delivered through the cloud rather than requiring a business to build and maintain its own software infrastructure.
Users access the platform through web and mobile applications while the SaaS provider manages the technology required to operate and continually improve the system.
For field service companies, this can eliminate much of the technical work traditionally associated with business software.
Instead of managing servers, databases, software installations and updates internally, businesses can focus on what the software is designed to improve: their field operations.
Learn more about AI-FM’s field service management software.
AI-FM Manages the Technology Behind the Platform
AI-FM is a fully managed cloud-based SaaS platform.
Our team manages the technology behind the system, including:
- Servers and cloud infrastructure
- Databases
- Networking
- Platform security
- Front-end and back-end software
- Software maintenance
- System updates
- Ongoing feature development
- Web and mobile application improvements
- Integration maintenance
- Platform monitoring and availability
Customers receive the benefits of this work without having to manage the underlying technology themselves.
When AI-FM releases improvements or new functionality, those changes can be made available through the platform without every customer having to undertake a traditional software upgrade project.
Your Team Focuses on Field Operations
For most service businesses, internal technology management is not a core business function.
An HVAC company wants to install and maintain HVAC systems. A construction company wants to manage projects and crews. A solar company wants to complete installations. A property maintenance company wants to efficiently service its customers.
Their teams should not need to spend their time maintaining the technology behind their field service management system.
With AI-FM, businesses can concentrate on:
- Scheduling and dispatching jobs
- Managing employees and contractors
- Tracking work orders
- Managing customers
- Monitoring equipment and assets
- Controlling inventory
- Tracking field teams with GPS
- Managing mobile field operations
- Improving operational visibility
AI-FM manages the software platform supporting those activities.
Why SaaS Instead of Buying or Developing Your Own Software?
Businesses evaluating field service management software sometimes consider purchasing traditional software outright or developing their own system.
Those approaches can provide greater ownership or customization, but they can also create significant ongoing responsibilities.
The true cost of software is not limited to its initial purchase or development.
A business that owns or develops its own field management system may also need to manage:
- Software developers and technical support
- Servers and cloud infrastructure
- Databases and backups
- Networking and system availability
- Security and ongoing monitoring
- Web application development
- iOS and Android application development
- Operating system and API changes
- Bug fixes and software maintenance
- Third-party integrations
- Testing and deployment
- New feature development
What initially appears to be a one-time software investment can therefore become an ongoing technology operation.
Building Your Own Software Takes More Than Developers
Developing a field service management platform internally can sound attractive because the system can be designed around a company’s exact requirements.
The challenge is that development does not end when the first version launches.
Mobile operating systems change. APIs change. Security requirements evolve. Bugs need to be fixed. Databases need to be maintained. Infrastructure must remain available. Users request improvements. New functionality needs to be designed, developed, tested and deployed.
Businesses also need to retain the technical knowledge required to understand and maintain what has been built.
A company that develops its own system effectively takes responsibility for becoming both a field service business and a software company.
For most service businesses, software development and infrastructure management are not their core expertise.
Buying Software Outright Does Not Eliminate Ongoing Costs
Traditional purchased software can create the impression that once the license has been paid for, the software is effectively free.
But ownership and operation are two different things.
Depending on the software, businesses may still face costs associated with:
- Hosting
- Maintenance
- Technical support
- Security
- Upgrades
- Integrations
- Mobile applications
- Compatibility changes
- Future development
There is also an opportunity cost.
Money and management time spent maintaining internal technology cannot be invested in technicians, equipment, customers, marketing and growing the business.
SaaS Spreads the Technology Investment Across Many Customers
A SaaS model works differently.
Instead of one company independently funding the development and maintenance of an entire field management technology stack, the SaaS provider develops and operates a platform that can support many customers.
Individual businesses can therefore benefit from ongoing development, infrastructure, maintenance and new features without individually funding the entire technology operation.
With AI-FM, customers pay a predictable subscription while AI-FM continues to maintain and develop the platform.
Continuous Updates and New Features
Traditional software often required businesses to purchase new versions, schedule upgrades or perform installations before receiving improvements.
A SaaS model changes that relationship.
AI-FM continually develops and improves its platform, with updates, improvements and new features delivered as part of the service.
Customers can benefit from ongoing development without having to manage individual software versions or maintain their own application infrastructure.
The platform can continue evolving as field service businesses, mobile operating systems and technology requirements change.
One Platform Across Web and Mobile
Modern field operations rarely happen from one office or one computer.
Managers may work from a desktop or laptop while technicians and contractors rely heavily on mobile devices in the field.
AI-FM supports this environment with web-based functionality along with native iOS and Android applications, helping office and field teams work from the same operational platform.
Information about jobs, customers, employees, contractors, equipment and other operational activity can remain connected rather than being scattered across unrelated systems.
Learn more about AI-FM’s mobile applications.
SaaS Can Reduce the Internal IT Burden
Running business software internally can involve considerably more than purchasing an application.
Companies may need to consider servers, databases, backups, networking, security, software maintenance, application updates and technical expertise.
A fully managed SaaS platform shifts much of that responsibility to the software provider.
For growing field service businesses, that can be particularly valuable. A company can expand its use of technology without needing to build an internal software infrastructure team simply to support its field management system.
Security Is an Ongoing Responsibility
Security is not a one-time software feature.
Applications, databases, servers, networks and integrations require ongoing management as technology changes.
As a SaaS provider, AI-FM manages the technical environment behind its platform as part of delivering the service.
This allows customers to use a centrally managed platform rather than having to independently maintain the underlying servers, databases, networking and application environment themselves.
More Than a Software Installation
The value of SaaS is not simply that software is available online.
The larger advantage is that the customer receives an ongoing service.
AI-FM has provided field management software globally since 2017. The platform continues to evolve as new capabilities are developed and existing functionality is improved.
Customers are therefore not simply purchasing a static piece of software. They are using a field service management platform that is continually maintained and developed.
Build Your Field Service Business — Not Your Own Software Company
For most service businesses, the objective is not to own more technology.
The objective is to operate more efficiently and grow the business.
AI-FM allows businesses to use a mature field service management platform without having to recruit their own software development team, maintain databases, manage servers or continually rebuild applications as technology changes.
Your company can invest its resources in customers, employees, equipment and growth, while AI-FM invests in maintaining and improving the technology that supports your operations.
Is Cloud-Based SaaS Right for Your Field Service Business?
For many growing service businesses, the question is not whether they need better technology.
The question is how much technology they want to manage themselves.
A fully managed SaaS platform can make that decision considerably simpler.
Your company manages its customers, employees, contractors, jobs and field operations.
AI-FM manages the software and technology platform behind them.
That division of responsibility allows businesses to benefit from modern field service management technology without taking on the burden of operating the underlying software infrastructure.
See AI-FM in Action
Discover how AI Field Management can help your business manage jobs, teams, customers, equipment, inventory and field operations while AI-FM manages the technology behind the platform.
Schedule an AI-FM field service management software demo.
About AI Field Management
AI Field Management (AI-FM) is a cloud-based field service and maintenance management platform designed for growing service businesses.
AI-FM helps companies manage employees and contractors, customers, jobs and work orders, equipment and assets, inventory, GPS field activity, scheduling and mobile field operations from one integrated platform.
AI-FM has been providing field management software globally since 2017, with plans starting at an effective $9.99 per user/month with annual billing.
