Addressing the Engineer Shortage in Service Companies with Field Service Management Software
By Tom Naughton | 02 Apr 2024
Service companies are currently grappling with a critical engineer shortage. This presents significant challenges in filling essential roles with skilled workers and securing talent.
In 2019 there was around 7.6 million engineers working in the UK. By 2021, that reduced to 6.9 million. That might sound small when we’re looking at it in millions, but when you consider that around 700,000 engineers left the industry in just two years, it is very worrying.
But how can service companies navigate through these challenges? One solution lies in leveraging technology like field service management software, which can enhance efficiency, streamline processes, and effectively manage subcontractors, making job allocation as seamless as assigning tasks to in-house engineers.
What’s Behind the Engineer Shortage in Service Companies?
The engineer shortage in service companies has been fuelled by events such as the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit, leading to increased staff turnover and a diminished talent pool. Additionally, an aging workforce and a lack of interest among younger generations in pursuing engineering careers have exacerbated the situation.
What does this mean to business?
The shortage of engineers has resulted in higher costs, missed opportunities, and increased pressure on resources dedicated to training under-qualified personnel. For companies striving to meet that elusive 100% uptime in equipment, the engineer shortage is not helping. Lack of skilled professionals means the excellent team you do have is stretched thinner than it needs to be, impacting operations, customer, and ultimately business success.
How Can Service Companies Weather the Impact of the Engineer Shortage?
One solution lies in leveraging technology like field service management software, which can streamline processes and enhance engineer efficiency.
For example:
- Service management job scheduling functionality can help your engineers avoid unnecessary travel.
- Corresponding mobile applications can help give engineers all the information they need to perform a first-time fix.
- Service management software with a sub-contractor module will help you to easily manage contractors when you do need to outsource jobs. Making job allocation as seamless as assigning tasks to in-house engineers.
Investing in better education and outreach initiatives is crucial to attracting and retaining engineering talent. Educational institutions can play a vital role in dispelling misconceptions about engineering careers and highlighting the diverse opportunities available in the field.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, service companies can overcome the engineer shortage by embracing technology like field service management software and investing in education and outreach initiatives. By doing so, they can enhance efficiency, manage subcontractors effectively, and attract and retain top engineering talent, ensuring continued success in a competitive landscape.
