iPad displays its masterful range of capabilities, perfect for service and repair work, when equipped with a mobile field service app
What comes to mind when you hear the word “iPad”? Sleek, transportable hardware design? Video games? Swiping through Facebook while lounging on the couch? Maybe a business person displaying a presentation in a conference room?
iPads and tablets have become common place in the consumer realm and white-collar fields, but we don’t often associate them with blue-collar work. But when you think about it, mobile industries like field service have always been perfect candidates for mobile devices like iPads.
The iPad’s opus is a long string of capabilities and applications that when seen in a blue-collar business context presents a collection you won’t want to miss. With its sleek design, affordable consumer price, and full range of field service applications, let’s welcome the iPad to the field service stage with a hearty round of applause.
Tablets: A Growing Preference for Running Field Service Management Software
Though they haven’t been the most popular device for field work in the past, tablets are perfect for field service organizations looking for the portability of a smart phone, but the larger display and ease-of-use of a laptop.
According to Field Technologies’ “Field Mobility 2014,” only 15% of respondents are currently using tablets, but 83% plan to stick with tablets at the next refresh. In addition, 40% of companies using handhelds or smartphones plan to consider tablets at their next refresh, as will 55% of companies currently using laptops.
In other words, the number of companies investing in tablets for field work is on the rise and if you’re not at least considering iPads for field workforce automation, you’re missing a whole range mobile possibilities for your field technicians.
Rugged vs. Consumer Devices: How to Translate Consumer Electronics to a Blue-Collar Field Workforce
A common argument against iPads for blue-collar work is that they’re fragile and in order to protect against the wear-and-tear of field work, companies need to invest in rugged devices.
But rugged tablets are only feasible for big companies with a lot of capital since they run around $1000-$3000–a cost which just isn’t realistic for small to medium sized businesses.
iPads, on the other hand, run between $200-$800 and offer just as much, if not more, software functionality as a standard rugged device. Even if your technicians damage one or two devices, the cost to replace a few iPads will add up to much less than the initial cost to equip your techs with rugged devices.
And if you’re still unsure about handing out naked iPads to technicians working in rough environments, you can invest in rugged cases , which cost less than $100 and protect the iPad from inclement weather, water and drop damage, as well as the regular wear-and-tear of working in a field service environment.
iPad Creates a Beautiful 7 Part Symphony for Field Service Companies
We’ve presented cases for using tablets for field work and consumer devices over expensive rugged devices, but what is it about the iPad specifically that makes it a suitable tablet for blue-collar field work? iPads have taken off as the most popular consumer tablet on the market since their arrival in 2010. What makes them capable of transforming into blue-collar field workforce management machines?
Here’s where the iPad opus for blue-collar work really begins; the rest was just prelude:
No. 1 Standard platform:
Apple’s operating system, iOS, runs standard across all Apple mobile devices. Half of the more than 1 million iOS applications that exist today are optimized for the iPad, which means that there are literally hundreds of thousands of apps for iPads, many of which are created for or assist in field workforce management.
No. 2 Built in native features:
In addition to the thousands of available apps, there are also features that come standard with iPads that are useful for blue-collar work, such as built in voice recognition, Siri, and high-resolution photo taking capabilities.
No. 3 Big community of developers:
Since Apple is such a mobile giant, iPads come equipped with the support of a huge community of developers. If issues arise, you’ll receive plenty of support because of iPad’s popularity in the consumer market and the depth of knowledge among its many developers.
No. 4 Apple as trusted brand:
Because of Apple’s trusted reputation, you can rest assured that you’ll receive a quality piece of equipment and reliable services and support with your iPad purchase.
No. 5 Built in GPS:
When iPads are equipped with built-in GPS technology, technicians can easily locate where they’re going and schedulers and dispatchers can track technician location and status to sync with the field service scheduling software in the back office.
No. 6 Hundreds of Compatible Accessories
With hundreds of add-ons and accessories like keyboards, adaptors, cases, credit-card readers, etc., field service companies can transform the iPad to fill whatever niche they need.
No. 7 Mobile Device Management (MDM):
iPad comes equipped with built-in support for third-party MDM solutions so companies can secure, monitor, manage, and support devices throughout the organization with internal IT support. The built-in MDM framework for iPad is powerful and scalable enough to fully configure and manage all iOS devices within an organization. Some examples of third-party mobile MDM solutions supported by iPads include airwatch and MobileIron.
Mobile Field Service Apps Equip iPad for Blue-Collar Work
As mentioned earlier, iPads have nearly limitless functionality potential because of the huge number of applications available to it. For example, you can invest in a mobile field service app that connects technicians and the work they do with the back office, improves productivity and workforce utilization in the field, and increases opportunities for data collection and improved customer satisfaction.
Mobile applications for iOS® boost technician, inspector and other field worker productivity on the iPad®. These applications automate work assignments, status, alerts, scheduling, mapping and work order management, including mobile asset tracking, parts, warranty, tasks, service history, labor time, audits, signature capture, photo and video capture, and inspections.
Mobile inspection app for field service, repair, maintenance, inspections, audits
Instead of using paper forms and spread sheets to perform inspections, which are time-consuming and prone to error, companies with mobile inspection software for iPad can automate mundane, productivity-sapping inspection tasks.
iPad Makes a Splash in Blue-Collar Industries
Field service apps really beef up iPad’s already beefy repertoire. In a world that’s become increasingly app-centric, having access to the industry’s best iPad apps for field service can give your organization the 180 degree make-over it’s been looking for.
The field service industry is inherently mobile. With a workforce constantly on the move, it’s the perfect candidate for the latest in mobile technology and improvements in mobility. The iPad’s consumer availability, affordability, flexibility, reliability, and ability to be ruggedized make it an ideal choice for blue-collar companies of any size.
It’s official, the iPad has debuted on the field service stage and the critics agree, it’s a hit!
A Buyer’s Guide to Mobile Field Service Software: 9 Tips for Choosing a Mobile Solution that’s Right for You
Interested in investing in a mobile field service app for your team of iPad users? Download this free whitepaper to gain access to tried and true tips to help organize your mobile buying process.
Like this post?
Subscribe to our Field Service Management Blog for original weekly content updates.
