Does your enterprise have a field service component? Then you'll know how tricky it can be to keep track of workers in the field and ensure operational efficiency.

A field service management (FSM) system can help. It lets you make data-driven decisions and furnishes you with tools to track and optimise your mobile workforce.

But even with the world's best FSM system, you'll still face a perennial problem: communication. Or, rather, the lack of it.

Sure, you'll know where your employees are. But as far as the nitty-gritty of field service goes, they're more or less on their own. A mobile phone isn't much help when you're trying to deal with a leaky pipe or deliver urgent in-home medical care.

But we're not here to moan about unsolvable issues. We're here to offer solutions.

In this post, we show how a two-punch combo of cutting-edge technologies can revolutionise your field service management operation. Using extended reality (XR) devices and SimplyVideo – a  field-first video collaboration platform – you can move faster, reduce errors and make remote communication as natural as chatting around the water cooler.

But before we get to the good stuff, let's make sure we're all up to speed on XR.

What is XR?

The very quick version: XR is an umbrella term for wearable technologies that bring virtual elements into our lived (or worked) reality.

If you thought, "like virtual reality?", you're on the right track. Virtual reality (VR) headsets are one type of XR wearable.

Others include augmented reality (AR) and assisted reality (aR) headsets. Unlike VR headsets, these devices are designed to maintain situational awareness for the user. They let users access documents, diagrams and informational overlays without losing focus on the world around them.

They also have video conferencing capabilities. This is important – and you'll soon see why.

What is SimplyVideo?

SimplyVideo is a video collaboration tool that works on many mobile and desktop devices. Crucially, it's also designed – from the ground up – to work with XR wearables.

SimplyVideo does everything you'd expect an enterprise video conferencing app to do – and then some. See, SimplyVideo is packed with features and capabilities that are tailor-made for the mobile workforce.

Can you see where this is going? With a fleet of augmented or assisted reality headsets and SimplyVideo, you can empower your field workers to communicate, collaborate and solve problems like never before.

How, exactly? A little like this…

SimplyVideo + XR use cases for field service management

Boost first-time fix rates with remote assistance

In an ideal world – a field-maintenance Utopia – every job would be a first-time fix. Unfortunately, reality doesn't work like that.

All too often, routine maintenance jobs turn into operational headaches – and it's often because there's no easy way for workers to ask for help. Perhaps they require specialist support – or just a second opinion – from a trusted colleague.

You know the story. In a situation like this, there's nothing an engineer can do except declare the job a dud. They'll need to rebook the visit for another day, which means wasted time, wasted money and a waste of your employee's expertise.

The answer? Remote assistance.

Imagine a scenario where a field worker is stuck on a maintenance job. They can't find a fix, but they know someone back at base will have the answer.

No problem. With an XR wearable, SimplyVideo and a mobile internet connection, they can dial into HQ and work with a colleague to find the solution – right there and then in the field.

Many XR devices have front-facing cameras, so the engineer can stream high-quality, first-person video directly to their colleague's computer or mobile device. For this colleague, it will seem like they're seeing directly through the field worker's eyes.

From there, the two can work together to find a solution, using a combination of remote collaboration tools and good old-fashioned conversation. Features like in-call annotation mean there's no room for ambiguity – a far cry from trying to describe an issue over the phone. ("The red wire? Which red wire?")

And here's the clincher: SimplyVideo is a voice-operated application, so your field worker can keep their focus – and their hands – on the job. This means you don't have to compromise safety for the sake of an easy fix.

Improve customer communication and buy-in

It's not just colleagues who can join SimplyVideo calls – customers can too.

Let's say you work for a construction firm. You're working on a project that's suffered unavoidable delays, and your client is pressuring you for a progress update.

Without XR or SimplyVideo, you'd have to go down the old-fashioned route. This means trying to explain complex, site-specific issues with little or no situational context. You know you're not making excuses but, to your client, you sound like the excuse fairy.

Now imagine you had a fleet of XR devices on site. A field worker could join a SimplyVideo conferencing call and talk your client through the issues with the help of real-time, "see-what-I-see video".

It's "show don't tell" taken to a whole new level. If your client can see the issues as they're happening, excuses are off the table.

Bring drones into the conversation

When we say SimplyVideo works with a wide range of devices, we mean it. Even drones can integrate with our software, so your conference calls can include bird's-eye-view video streams.

Let's revisit the construction example from a few paragraphs ago. Your client joins the call, expecting little more than excuses and small talk. Then you hit them with a showstopping site tour, delivered in real-time by drone.

Or perhaps you're in the initial stages of an urban planning project. By inviting a drone to your conference call, you could speed up the fact-finding process considerably.

Or maybe your field workers have to fix a problem in a hard-to-reach area. Let a drone do the diagnostic work and stream its findings to your staff on site – that way, you can keep them safely on the ground until you know exactly what you're dealing with.

This is just the start. We're sure you're dreaming up more use cases already.

Now you've seen what our XR video software can do, why not put its potential into action? Sign up for a free, 30-day SimplyVideo trial today.