« back to Case Studies
Low-Cost Mobile Technology Helps Get the Job Done Right on The First Visit
Fred Ross, Deckside Pools, Mission Viejo, California
Deckside Pool Service, a 25-year old pool maintenance company based in Mission Viejo, Calif., has developed remote repair best practices for small field service businesses through its use of myServiceForce.com’s low-cost technology.
Deckside Pool uses myServiceForce.com to turn its field technicians into fully-functional mobile employees who can track inventory, print invoices and efficiently route themselves between jobs with minimal back-office support, in real time. myServiceForce.com’s low-cost devices and hosted service give big-business functionality at an affordable price for companies with a handful or dozens of employees. The technology is designed for small businesses in electrical contracting, plumbing, HVAC, pool and spa service, and commercial contractors.
“It would cost us nearly $4,000 per month to hire enough people to do the same amount of work that myServiceForce.com does for us,” said Fred Ross, president and owner of Deckside Pool Service. “We handle 1,700 service and repair calls per month, and the efficiency means better prices for customers and better compensation for employees. Any field service small business owner can do this, too.” Ross has identified three top strategies to successfully deploy and manage mobile technology:
- Leave IT to the experts: Let the solutions provider manage the setup and maintenance of your mobile IT. This guarantees superior performance and system reliability, with dramatically fewer problems. Do-it-yourself IT costs can triple the price of an unmanaged solution.
- Be able to run your business wherever you are: Make sure that software can be delivered through a simple Internet connection. Software as a service (SaaS) delivery models give small business owners the ability to manage day-to-day tasks without having to be in the office.
- Keep it simple: Use low-cost, user-friendly mobile devices. If devices break, whether dropped in a pool or fallen off a truck, they should be easy and affordable to replace. Adding excessive features and functionality not only increases initial costs, but also adds to monthly expenses. Upgrades will always be available if necessary.
This strategy has helped Deckside Pool Service generate a 30 percent monthly increase in revenues, as well as improvements in technician billability, daily planning and single-visit work orders completed. The software’s scheduling and routing functionality has helped the company increase the number of jobs per technician per month without having to increase technician working hours.
“We’re aiming to help small businesses provide their customers with excellent service – without adding costs – by taking advantage of affordable mobile technology,” said Gary Rawding, president of myServiceForce.com. “Deckside Pool Service is a model to any field service business. Fred Ross and his team have used strategic IT deployment to support and grow the entire business operation.”
Through the use of myServiceForce.com’s hosted solution, Deckside Pool Service technicians’ are able to view their daily work orders without stepping foot in the office. Dispatchers leveraging the solutions’ real-time communication capabilities, route the pool technicians based on knowledge, location, availability and job urgency -- ensuring quality customer service at every client touch point. Once the job is completed, the technician can invoice the client instantly from the job site, speeding time-to-payment and eliminating paperwork.
“I can’t imagine going back to the old way of doing business,” added Ross. “It’s a no-brainer to make more money and spend less.”
