The Best Field Service Management Software for Small Businesses

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Any small business with a team on the road should look at investing in field service software. This software won’t just help you manage time more efficiently – it’ll help you cut down on unnecessary costs and processes, too.

Think about it – how many times has an employee called up on their way to a job, requiring more information about the job at hand? Or how many times have you wanted to invoice a job right away, but couldn’t because the job details were on the office computer?

With field service software downloaded onto your phone, you’ll literally have the means to manage your business from your pocket. Produce estimates and invoices on the go, manage your field team, keep track of fuel costs, and even send clients alerts to tell them that a member of the team is on their way.

Field service software gives you the means to run your business like clockwork. And when your business runs like clockwork, you’ll see opportunities where you can make processes even more efficient – and opportunities where you can save on costs.

All of this will only have a positive effect on the areas that matter – namely client growth and company profits. So what are you waiting for? Receive field service software quotes today, simply by filling in our online form.

Alternatively, check out our pick of the best field service software for small businesses below.


The Best Field Service Software for Small Businesses

Based on our research, the best field service software for small businesses is supplied by Samsara, Salesforce Lightning, Praxedo, mHelpDesk, and Opermax.

Check out the table below to see how we rate them.

SupplierBest ForStar Rating
SamsaraFleets
Salesforce LightningAdvanced features
PraxedoBudget
mHelpDeskEase of use
OpermaxSimple software

Samsara – Best for scalability

Samsara offers great field service software, and then some. In actual fact, Samsara has drawn together fleet management and field service software, meaning it can provide its clients with a complete business management solution for small businesses.

Thanks to real time vehicle tracking, you can check out where members of your team are at any given time. You can also check job status to see when a member of the team has finished a job. This makes it super-easy to allocate jobs as they come in – simply look at the app to find the closest team member who’s finished their current job, then allocate them the new one.

Pros

  • Combines field service management and fleet management
  • Use alongside other Samsara software products
  • Suitable for a huge range of industries

Cons

  • User interface is a little complex

Salesforce Lightning – Best for advanced features

If you’re a fan of innovation, you’ll love Salesforce Lightning. The software is a platform for the genius Einstein Vision, an AI that learns from your data to deliver predictions and recommendations that’ll help your team perform better.

But there’s so much more to it than that. With 4,000 pre-built apps ready to go, you can design your field service software so it’s molded to the way you manage your business. You can also combine it with other software packages, such as CRM, so you have a complete overview of your business.

Pros

  • Huge array of features to play with
  • Easy to use interface
  • Different pricing structures depending on requirements

Cons

  • Full package gets expensive

Praxedo – Best for small businesses on a budget

Praxedo proves that you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to benefit from decent field service software. The software is designed with technicians, drivers and inspectors in mind, so no matter your position, you’ll find Praxedo to be the practical solution.

In addition to the software itself, you can integrate API web services and CRM systems, which will enable you to have full insight into the goings-on of your small business.
Add to this the fact that a huge variety of industries are catered for, and it’s no surprise that Praxedo boasts an impressive 25,000 daily users.

Pros

  • Good value for money
  • Freedom to add or combine elements
  • Completely scalable

Cons

  • Interface perhaps not as smooth as other software

mHelpDesk – Best for ease of use

mHelpDesk claims that its offering is the fastest, easiest, and most powerful field service software for small businesses. That’s a big claim, and one we think we can get on board with. With heaps of five star customer reviews across the web commending the onboarding process through to using the product itself, it’s no wonder over 51 million jobs have been completed via mHelpDesk.

Just bear in mind that this popularity comes with a price. While mHelpDesk’s software is ripe for giving you that ROI, it may take a little longer for you to see it.

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Good offline capabilities
  • Heaps of features

Cons

  • Not as customizable as other software

Opermax – Best for simple software

If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed by the amount of features offered by the other suppliers on our list, Opermax could be a good alternative. They by no means compromise on any of the necessary features, but keep the snazzy AI stuff at bay.

From CRM integration to customization, there’s still a lot this field service software can do. And because Opermax has kept the features down to the essentials, you’ll find it easy enough to train staff on how to use the software.

Pros

  • Perfect for small businesses
  • Great customer service
  • Available in English and French

Cons

  • Not as many features as the other options

Next Steps

Now that you’ve learned about how the best field service software suppliers can help you improve your business, it’s time to find out how much a system costs. All you need to do is fill in our form with a few details about your business, and the best suppliers for your requirements will be in touch with tailored quotes.

How We Test Field Service Software for Businesses

We tested nine market-leading field service software providers to evaluate them in terms of functionality, invoicing, price, customer support, and more so we can make the most useful recommendations to Canadian businesses.

Our rigorous testing process means these products have been scored and rated in six main categories of investigation and 30 subcategories – in fact, we covered 30 areas of investigation in total. We then gave each category score a relevance weighting to ensure the product's final score perfectly reflects the needs and requirements of Expert Market readers – and this is our algorithm in a nutshell!

Our main testing categories for field service software are:

Online Customer Booking: the functionality of the field service software that allows customers to schedule and book service appointments online, such as booking online and customer rating tools.

Schedule and Dispatch: the capability of the field service software to efficiently manage and assign service appointments to technicians or field workers.

Invoicing: the functionality of the field service software that allows for generating and managing service invoices.

Price: the cost associated with using the field service software. It includes factors such as licensing fees, subscription plans, and a trial period.

Customer Support: the assistance and resources provided by the field service software company to users, including phone support, email or chat support, and online forums.

Mobile App: determining whether a mobile app is available to download and if it offers a functioning site.

 


FAQs

Does free field service software exist for small businesses?

In short, yes it does. There are a number of suppliers that offer free field service software apps, but you know the saying – when something seems too good to be true, it usually is. You’ll find the features that make field service software worthwhile are missing, and you’ll probably have to pay a significant amount to unlock these features in the future.

If you’re unsure whether field service management software is right for your business, you can always request a free trial from a top supplier. With some suppliers offering up to two weeks to explore their software, you’ll certainly know by the end if spending the money is worth it.

Is there suitable field service software for start-up businesses?

Of course there is! A number of the suppliers listed above offer cheap field service software solutions for businesses operating with just one or two members of staff. You’ll be given all the tools necessary to grow your business, and because field service software is scalable, your investment will grow with you, too.

What’s the difference between web-based field service software and field service software apps?

Both web-based field service software and field service software apps operate on the cloud. Although web-based field service software is hosted on your browser, it’s still optimized for use on mobile and tablet screens.

The only real difference is that an app will provide you with better offline capabilities. That means you don’t always have to rely on an internet connection to update jobs and calendars, since everything will sync back up once an internet connection is established.

Can you integrate field service management software with a CRM system?

Absolutely. The majority of field service management software will integrate with a CRM system, giving you complete overview of your company. Check which CRM systems integrate with your chosen field service software before you commit.

Written by:
Julia Watts author headshot photo
Specialising in business software, Julia writes jargon-busting guides about VoIP, fleet management, dash cams, fuel cards, and more. Having spent almost a decade writing for entrepreneurs and reviewing business solutions, she loves helping exciting ventures – big or small – to flourish.
Reviewed by:
James thinks all businesses can improve if they use the right technology. At Expert Market, he utilises his 4+ years experience as a researcher to offer specialised advice on a wide range of categories from CRM to Fleet Management.