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Making Field Work Less Complex
Just as COVID-19 forced many businesses to outsource operational infrastructure toward a more “decentralized” operational model, so also has there been an increase in “field” workers.
That is to say: those who must leave their home or office represent a much larger contingent of the population. Companies like “Door Dash” were already getting big. COVID-19 forced the issue.
Now, virtually any eatery has some sort of delivery option. So do florists, traditional department stores, hardware stores, and insurance agencies. House calls from medical professionals are more “in vogue” than they’ve been before as well.
What does this mean? Well, when there are new working conditions there needs to be new tools with which such conditions can be handled. To that end, this writing will briefly cover five tech tools workers who spend a lot of time “in the field” would do well to consider.
1. GasBuddy Or Other Fuel-Finding Apps
GasBuddy isn’t the only fuel-finding app out there, but it is one of the easiest to find and interact with. Essentially, you download the app and it uses your search engine “map” software to identify nearby fuel stations. You can organize results by price to help you find the cheapest local fuel, avoiding time loss, maximizing mileage, and extending your budget.
2. Route Streamlining Software—AceRoute, Etc.
AceRoute is one of a family of apps that make it easier for you to find fast routes. Options pertaining to things like traffic can be explored to help you find the timeliest route from point A to point B regardless of the geography between such locations.
This is an especially useful program in big cities like L.A., where the wrong route can leave you trapped in sweltering mid-day traffic for hours. There are traffic problems in L.A. that make walking faster than driving, and that’s an absolutely literal statement. In situations like this, you definitely should find route-streamlining software.
3. Field Pulse: Schedule, Dispatches, Invoices Payments, Etc.
Field Pulse is an exceptionally worthwhile scheduling, dispatching, invoicing, customer relationship managing app. This software can help you organize field work a lot easier, and give you varying data points you can use to assure you are minimizing transit and maximizing budgets. You can follow the link to visit Field Pulse and see what the app could offer you.
4. Slack: Decentralized Team Communication
Remember when MSN Messenger was new? It predated the FB messenger app, it came well before modern text messaging paradigms designed to expedite textual communication, and now it’s a relic of ancient times. Today, decentralized cloud-based apps like Slack cross software and hardware platforms to be easily accessible.
Apps like this allow you to delete messages you sent accidentally, send pictures, delay message delivery, and much more. If you’re working in the field, it’s essential to have either this or a similar app as a means of getting everybody on the same page and keeping them there.
5. Spotify: If You Know, You Know – If You Don’t, Listen Up!
Most everybody is familiar with apps like Spotify today. Spotify is likely king. Basically, you sign up for free and listen to all sorts of music. You can buy albums you like, you can use Spotify like Pandora to listen to things on random, and even enjoy both established and up-and-coming comedians (like this guy—NSFW) through the app.
If you’re traveling and need entertainment over the radio of your vehicle, pop on Spotify and let the music play. You can listen to old favorites, find new music, and if you’re involved in this industry, even get your own tracks featured on the site.
Optimizing And Streamlining Field Work With The Right Tools
Apps like Spotify make field work easier through providing a budget-friendly all-encompassing entertainment option for the drive. Apps like Slack make it easier to communicate with workers in a “decentralized”, field-friendly workplace.
Field Pulse makes client management a thousand times easier. AceRoute and similar programs expedite travel. GasBuddy saves you money.
Altogether, apps like these save time, they save money, and they make work a whole lot easier. Technology isn’t perfect, but when you can leverage modern free apps, and those which have a mild expense, toward more budget-friendly operations, that’s an ultimate win-win for you, your business, your customers, and society at large.
