COVID-19 created many changes, both useful and challenging, in how business is done and what customers can expect from service providers. In response, plenty of companies are finding new, more efficient ways to operate. Consumers have also grown to appreciate the onset of “the appointment economy.” At its core, the appointment economy represents a seismic…
Read moreIt goes without saying, that utility work can be dangerous. Safety is of the utmost importance. There’s a reason why the sector is named in the annual Employer-Reported Workplace Injuries and Illnesses report. Compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). However, in the most recent announcement covering 2020, nonfatal injuries in utilities were actually…
Read moreLike many other sectors that involve physical labor, the field service industry is experiencing a tremendous change in its workforce. Thanks to large swaths of employees aging into retirement, this “graying” of the workforce is so severe that some studies show over 70% of companies believe an aging workforce to be a threat to their…
Read moreMany different variables can play a role in a field service manager’s journey toward improving customer service and reducing waste. But regardless of the path taken along that journey, the destination must include job completion to the satisfaction of the customer. In fact, research has shown that 90% of Americans use customer service as a…
Read moreOnce upon a time, the thought of carrying a smartphone (a device as powerful as a computer yet small enough to fit in your hand) seemed like fodder for a sci-fi flick. The rate at which technology has evolved has completely transformed the way we live and work. With that evolution comes a set of…
Read moreFueled by innovative advances in technology, digital interactivity is all around us. Daily human life has changed in immeasurable ways with the introduction of interactive tech. We can unlock smartphones (pocket-sized computers) with our faces and fingerprints; we can virtually “walk” the streets of a far-flung city. It’s not just the world’s largest tech companies…
Read moreIt’s hard to believe another year has passed, but here we are in 2022. The COVID-19 pandemic has continued to dominate not only the news cycle but impact the way field service outfits conduct business. We saw more remote service than ever last year, and we expect that to continue in 2022 and beyond. But…
Read moreFor nearly 20 years, IBM has had its finger on the pulse of cybersecurity. Annually, they deliver one of the industry’s preeminent studies on the subject. Released recently for the 17th straight year, the Cost of a Data Breach Report is a widely viewed asset by company leaders across various sectors, including energy and utilities….
Read moreNo matter how well prepared a business is, no one could have ever accurately predicted the arrival and impact of COVID-19. It’s been about 18 months since the virus first upended operations. Forcing businesses of all shapes and sizes to pivot in ways they never thought imaginable. For utilities, specifically, COVID-19 ushered in the era…
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