Field service operations in industry sectors like HVAC, appliance repair, equipment repair, IT services and fuel oil and gas system maintenance have traditionally relied on a multi-step process – dispatching a workforce from a central location with the paperwork they need; documenting and reporting activities at the customer or work site, typically by handwriting on multi-part forms; leaving a copy with the customer; and then returning to the central office at the end of the day to drop off paperwork which is then manually transcribed into a computer database for billing, timekeeping or project management purposes.

Many operations are now using handheld computers and laptops to capture and send data electronically to help improve overall performance and efficiency while also helping to reduce errors, wasted time, and costs. Brother™ mobile printing solutions are being integrated at the same time and are ideal for a multitude of field service printing needs. These full-page and small-format printers provide on-demand printing in the field of work orders, maps, diagrams and installation instructions, customer notifications, receipts and invoices. Handheld labelers are also being deployed to mark items and equipment with call-back numbers, service dates, warnings and instructions, and to identify wires, cables, components and connections to speed service on future calls.