Driver training is an invaluable addition to any fleet manager's repetoire of management tools. An effective program can not only lessen incidences of personal injury and asset damage, it also provides a valuable avenue for road rule re-education and current driving practice assessment. [ + ]

Honeywell and The Service Council have revealed 38% of field service organisations expect to potentially reduce costs by an average of $875,000 following improvements to workflow processes that would save each worker 30 minutes or more per day. [ + ]

Fatigue management has increasingly been the focus in terms of road safety for managers responsible for on-the-road teams. A historical reliance on paper-based logging systems means that many companies have been slow to adapt and to take advantage of the new technologies that present a simple solution to this often deadly problem. [ + ]

Gone are the days when a truck or van was just a way of getting from one job to the next. Field service vehicles are an increasingly valuable asset with many faces: mobile office, technology hub and roving inventory location. [ + ]

In Australia's highly competitive access equipment market, a product range renowned for its quality, performance and innovation is merely a good start. That's why the management of JLG Industries Australia set out to back it with the best possible support systems. [ + ]

The Service Council has partnered with Westwick-Farrow Media's Field Service Business (FSB) to bring our thought leadership content and expertise to FSB's community, to help service-centric businesses continue to sharpen their service strategies through global insights and trends analysis. [ + ]

For many years, the importance of 'services' has been increasing in the global economy. This rise in importance is primarily the result of the impact of commoditisation, particularly in manufacturing-related industries. Manufacturers have relied on post-sale service given the impact commoditisation has had on product margins. [ + ]

Traditional technologies may work well above ground, but what happens when you need to locate and trace a person or object underground, or in a difficult environment without clear signals? [ + ]

Reduced driving distance? Increased customer satisfaction scores? First-time resolution? When it comes to field operations, there are plenty of metrics that you could track. And if you aren't already measuring the success of your field operations, you need to start - now! [ + ]

Since 2001, ECONZ has been the driving power behind New Zealand's favourite roadside breakdown service, The Automobile Association, helping rescue an average 1200 stranded drivers per day. [ + ]

When it comes to implementing new business systems or processes, it is recognised that the human response to change has the greatest capacity to determine a project's outcome. This continues to be a factor in a range of studies into the causes of failure in large-scale ICT project implementation. A lack of senior level support, changing mindsets and poorly defined objectives are just some of the factors that influence the results. [ + ]

In any enterprise, the workflow process from the point of job instigation right through to payment must be as efficient as possible. Workflow problems are common to all businesses, but it is even more critical when operating field staff. A smart system reflects the way you want to run your business, rather than dictating changes in processes to meet its parameters. [ + ]

Wireless technology has changed the way we interact with one another. Free to roam and still remain connected, it has provided flexibility at previously unseen levels and created a more mobile world and workforce. But wireless isn't limited to emails and social media, the same technology is now being used in a multitude of ways to ensure safety of the workforce. [ + ]

BHP Billiton's dedicated, heavy-duty rail network is a vital component in its vertically integrated, Australian iron ore supply chain. Some of the world's longest and heaviest trains are under its direct control, operating continuously in the harsh outback environment. [ + ]

When starting out, it's easy for a company to settle on stand-alone software solutions that fill a particular business requirement. Referred to as 'best of breed' in their category, these applications can certainly be an astute option when addressing a specific commercial function, such as accounting, HR management or CRM. While they may present a suitable short-term solution, what happens to these unrelated systems as the company grows? [ + ]