As someone who’s spent years working in the field service industry, I’ve seen firsthand how important efficient route planning is to keep costs in check. Whether you’re a small or large company, controlling operational expenses while maintaining high-quality service is always at the top of your mind. And from my experience as CRO at Field Squared, I’ve learned that smart route optimization is one of the easiest ways to cut costs without sacrificing performance. Let me walk you through ten strategies I’ve seen work, especially when backed by Field Service Automation platforms like ours at Field Squared.
1. Use Real-Time Traffic Data
Nothing burns more fuel—or tempers—than getting stuck in traffic. From my time on the ground, I’ve learned that real-time traffic data is key to keeping technicians on time and reducing costs. When we built Field Squared, we integrated live traffic updates so technicians could avoid roadblocks and stay on the most efficient routes. It’s a simple change that goes a long way in saving time and money.
2. Cluster Jobs Geographically
Assigning multiple jobs in the same area to a single technician helps reduce both driving time and fuel usage. With Field Squared’s job scheduling tool, dispatchers can group jobs in the same area, minimizing unnecessary travel. It’s been one of the most effective ways I’ve seen to save on fuel and cut down on miles driven.
3. Leverage Predictive Maintenance
In my early career, we used to wait for things to break down before heading out, which often meant last-minute scrambles and chaotic schedules. Now, predictive maintenance is a game changer. It allows you to schedule visits before a breakdown happens so you can plan ahead and optimize routes. Field Squared includes asset management with predictive maintenance so technicians are always on the most efficient route, doing proactive work rather than running from emergency to emergency.
4. Match Technicians with the Right Skills
It’s not just about sending the closest technician—it’s about sending the right one. I can’t tell you how many times a job got delayed because we didn’t send someone with the right skills. Over time, I’ve learned that optimizing routes also means matching the job to the technician’s expertise. Field Squared helps companies do that seamlessly. By ensuring the right person gets to the right job the first time, we reduce unnecessary trips and save on costs.
5. Maximize Multi-Stop Routes
If you’re like most field service companies, you’ve got a lot of stops to make. I’ve seen multi-stop routing cut down on drive time and costs dramatically. Field Squared’s platform helps optimize the sequence of stops so technicians aren’t backtracking or wasting time. This was something we were really intentional about when developing our route optimization feature—more stops in fewer miles means lower costs.
6. Monitor Vehicle and Driver Performance
I’ve seen firsthand how monitoring vehicle health and driver behavior can make a huge difference in cost control. Things like idling too long, hard braking, or speeding can increase fuel costs and wear and tear on vehicles. With Field Squared, we give companies the ability to track all of that. It’s a simple way to ensure your vehicles run efficiently and your drivers stay on course.
7. Leverage AI-Driven Route Optimization
We’re living in an AI world now, and in field service, AI has been a massive game changer. It wasn’t always like this. But today, AI can help predict the best routes by analyzing everything from weather to traffic history. With Field Squared’s AI-driven scheduling, I’ve seen companies save both time and money by letting the system figure out the most efficient route—without human intervention.
8. Incorporate Fuel Costs into Route Planning
When fuel prices go up, so do costs. Over the years, I’ve found that the best way to handle this is by factoring fuel costs into route planning. At Field Squared, we help companies take fuel efficiency into account when planning routes, ensuring they’re making the most cost-effective decisions. It’s one of those small details that can make a big impact on the bottom line.
9. Balance Customer Preferences with Route Efficiency
One thing that’s always been a challenge in field service is balancing customer preferences with route efficiency. Customers want service at specific times, but how do you fit that into an optimized route? We solved this challenge with Field Squared by making it easy to incorporate customer time windows into route planning while still focusing on efficiency. This way, we avoid rescheduled appointments and costly return visits.
10. Plan for Emergencies Without Blowing the Budget
No matter how well you plan, emergencies will always happen. The key is handling them without blowing your budget. Back when I was managing teams, a single emergency call could throw off the whole day. Now, with Field Squared, we’ve made it so you can adjust routes in real-time, allowing technicians to handle emergencies without disrupting the rest of their schedule or inflating costs.
Final Thoughts
Looking back on my years in the field service industry, I’ve learned that route optimization isn’t just a cost-saving tool—it’s a way to run a more efficient, reliable operation. The strategies I’ve shared here are ones I’ve relied on throughout my career, and I’ve seen the difference they make when combined with technology. Of course, with Field Squared’s Advanced Scheduling, all of this is done for you. From optimizing multi-stop routes to dynamically adjusting for traffic and emergencies, our platform ensures that your technicians are always on the best route—saving you time, money, and resources. It’s about working smarter, not harder—and in field service, that makes all the difference!
