The fastest path to field service optimization: How Praxedo got FleetCrew up and running in just two weeks

What was your business like before you found Praxedo? 

We are a California-based compliance company that helps fleets abide by CARB’s Air quality rules and regulations. We have both fixed locations and mobile teams that provide various services across the state. For the past 15 years, we utilized a scheduling system we implemented back in 2009. The price of this software continued to increase each year, with no added functionality. This past year, this company not only tripled the price but also required us to commit to a longer contract, which forced us to consider alternative scheduling solutions. 

How did these issues affect your work and business? 

From a scheduling perspective, the existing process was very manual. We would drag and drop blocks of appointments. Everything was left up to a human brain to create logical and efficient routes. We wanted a system that helped suggest better routes and highlight other opportunities in the area. We were also required to call and check in with our field staff each morning, to confirm they left, were in route, on time, etc. The schedule became easily disrupted if they had not. 

What was the search for a new solution like, and what made Praxedo stand out? 

I spent a couple of weeks researching alternative field scheduling platforms, reviewing functionality, pricing and scheduling demos. I never heard of Praxedo and only stumbled upon it by accident. I almost didn’t have the meeting, but I was so glad I did because this tool was outstanding. Everything on my wish list was included and integrated into Praxedo, one way or another. I was completely blown away. No other software platform had everything on my wish list, just a few additional items, or included functionality I was not actually looking for. 

The mobile phone application was intuitive and seamless, it felt very much a part of the Apple iOS system. This is great for field staff who are not as tech-friendly, so for the application to be easy-to-use and simple was important to ensure buy in and usage. It is clear whoever created Praxedo is a genius who definitely lived in the field scheduling world long enough to understand the challenges and create solutions to help resolve those challenges.

What is the single biggest impact Praxedo has had on your business? 

Praxedo solves the problem of having the plan come from someone’s brain. Building logic into the program helps us make better allocation decisions. The templates for technicians to fill out their work orders, along with supporting photos and evidence has been so valuable. This allowed us to discontinue a homegrown program we created to deal with photos and also helped expedite our billing situation considerably. 

What are some of the key results you’ve seen since implementing Praxedo? 

The entire system has been an advantage, and our scheduling team has gotten a lot of time back in their day. Those who knew our old system are very appreciative of Praxedo. Praxedo does a good job of using the technology to help staff optimize routes, automate courtesy calls to clients, and to be efficient, instead of just moving generic blocks of data around on a board. The bulk scheduling feature is also extremely helpful. 

Why should other companies consider Praxedo? 

Praxedo is definitely the way to go. I compared about 15-20 other scheduling platform offerings and created a matrix of pros/cons of each. I knew the functionality I was looking for existed; I just needed to find the product that had it all. Praxedo was it. 

Required functionality included:

• Visual drag-and-drop scheduling to make planning easier.
• A two-step scheduling process that allowed us to pre-plan a route and confirm with a customer before dispatching it to a technician.
• The ability to set up recurring work orders in a way that wasn’t laborious and difficult to manage.
• A mobile solution for technicians to complete work orders from their phone or tablet and attach photos to support their services.
• Better reporting and workflow systems.

Desired Functionality on our wish list to improve efficiency:

• Route optimization to help schedulers make smarter decisions, reduce “windshield time,” and identify other jobs in the same area.
• Improved outbound communication to clients via email or text to confirm schedules.
• GPS or geo-fencing tracking to monitor when our field technicians were in route and onsite, eliminating the need for daily phone calls.
• A cost-effective solution that wouldn’t triple in price over time. 
• Integration with other software we currently utilize, like Salesforce and QuickBooks. 

I created a matrix of other competitor products – features and pricing, and Praxedo is definitely the way to go. Praxedo’s ease of use, interface, and integration capabilities set them apart from the others. Anyone looking to upgrade their field scheduling platform must consider Praxedo.