How ServicePower's Field Service Glossary Can Help FSOs

As field service organizations digitally transform their business, they need to stay current with accurate definitions of common field service management terms. Meanwhile, new terminology, technologies, and trends are constantly emerging within the field service industry and present a myriad of challenges and questions. 

Will your customers understand each term accurately? What about old and new employees? What is their level of understanding and consistency among terms used within the industry? How can your FSO stay up-to-date on changing industry terminology? 

In this post, we’ll make the case for ServicePower’s Field Service Manual Glossary as a vital resource for FSOs, examine current challenges, and considerations, and cover the top benefits of using the glossary.

What is a field service manual glossary? 

A field service manual glossary is a glossary that defines common field service management terminology. For example, the ServicePower Field Service Glossary defines field service (and ancillary industry terminology) in a clear and logical method. Likewise, it’s important that glossaries deliver accurate and up-to-date definitions that everyone in an organization can easily access and understand. 

What challenges does a field service glossary solve?

Field service glossaries aim to solve the following challenges:

• Incorrect terminology: Terminology should be accurately defined to mitigate any miscommunication among employees and customers. The crux of a glossary is to provide accurate and timely information. 
• Inconsistency: Field service glossaries aim to provide a common industry vocabulary, which will be used by everyone within an organization. An agreed-upon definition of a term ensures that the FSO is aligned when communicating – internally and externally. 
• Lack of a centralized place for FSM terminology: As mentioned, field service industry terminology is constantly emerging. Moreover, with the terminology being used in different contexts and communication channels, there may be multiple understandings or connotations of one phrase. A field service industry glossary helps centralize all the terms in an organized, clear, precise, and logical approach. If there is a need for further clarification of specific terminology, the glossary will be there to function as the single source of truth. 

How does a field service glossary help FSOs?

Field service glossaries provide an organized, centralized digital repository of terminology for quick reference; and in doing so, FSOs can refer to glossaries to learn and understand terms. Alignment of terminology is essential for all members of an organization as it ensures that terminology is used accurately and consistently. Field service glossaries also improve communication and collaboration.

With an increasingly blended workforce, FSO can use a field service glossary to quickly and easily train new and existing employees on common industry terminology. Digital glossaries promote fast, self-service access on various platforms (laptops, mobile devices, etc).

Field service glossaries also provide the benefit of industry thought leadership. FSOs can stay updated with changing and emerging trends and can help further define the best practices behind the terms. For example, an FSO can take ownership of a new industry concept and help define the space.

What to look for in a field service management glossary?

Before adopting a field service management glossary, FSOs need to make sure they are using the best possible resource to fit their needs. Top evaluation considerations include:

• Digital field service management glossary: Printed manuals are costly, unsustainable, and may require frequent updates and editions. Use a field service management glossary that is digital and optimized for mobile platforms, which is ideal for field technicians on the go.
• Accurate, clear definitions: Terminology must be defined correctly and clearly. Look for a field service glossary that avoids jargon or unclear language. Users of the glossary need a simple definition that is quick and easy to comprehend.
• Depth of terms covered: The ideal glossary should have a significant volume of terminology. Do not use glossaries where only a small paucity of terms are defined. Select a field service management glossary that has a wide range of terms covered as it shows that the publisher of the glossary has spent significant planning and editorial time creating it.
• Native to the field service management industry: There may be some glossaries that include terminology relevant to the field service industry but it is important to select a glossary that was created specifically by a field service management organization. This ensures that the glossary was developed by an organization with experience and expertise pertaining to field service management, which has its own nuances. 
• Includes further information and insights: The ideal field service industry glossary should have additional links to further learning resources for each topic. This enables users to continue to deepen their understanding of the field and improve their ability to provide high-quality service. 

ServicePower Field Service Management Glossary 

The ServicePower Field Service Management Glossary meets all the benefits and evaluation criteria covered to help FSOs stay current with existing and emerging industry terminology. Over 55 pages and growing, the Service Power Field Service Management Glossary provides users with the most accurate definitions in a clear, well-organized structure. Not to mention, the glossary is linked to an array of comprehensive, thought-leadership content that empowers users to deepen their understanding of field service management. 

Read, bookmark, and share the ServicePower Field Service Management Glossary within your organization as a valuable resource.