The FreeFileSync batch job can be started by double-clicking on the ffsbatch file or it can be set up in your operating system's scheduler: Note Be sure to enable Auto-Close and Ignore errors/Cancel if you schedule the ffsbatch file to run under a different user account. Schedule tasks and people; share files and photos; notify of schedule changes/upcoming tasks; quickly create a variety of construction documents - all organized by job. Save $1000's per year over competing pm software; no hefty per-project pricing or hidden fees.
Need a field service management tool but think it’ll be too expensive? Check out these top five free and open source options that won’t break the bank.
Imagine this: you own a small plumbing business. You initially started solo, but last year you hired a few additional plumbers to handle the growing number of jobs coming in.
Your business is growing and manually managing job orders, assigning technicians, and tracking invoices are making you disorganized and overwhelmed. You know you need field service management software.
But your concern—field service management software is expensive! Or, at least, so you think.
The truth is, there are multiple free and open source field service management tools that can cover your basic needs without pinching your wallet.
And it’s not just plumbing businesses that could use free field service management tools. Any small business that sends people—electricians, HVAC technicians, taxi drivers, and such—out into the field face the same challenges and can explore these options.
Below are our top five picks for free and open source field service software (in alphabetical order):
Fergus
Loc8
ReachOut Suite
ServiceTrade
Tasker
For more details on how we selected these products, you can read our methodology here.
1. Fergus
Fergus is a cloud-based tool that packages itself as an all-in-one field service management solution for small service businesses. One of Fergus’s highlights is a feature called job cards, which allows users to store all information related to one project, including pictures and notes, in one place.
It offers a free tier with no cap on the number of users. However, the free tier limits users to 10 job cards per month.
Scheduling and calendar feature in Fergus (Source)
Other important features of the tool’s free tier include:
- Job management features such as timesheets, calendars, quotes, and estimations for materials as well as jobs, and supplier integration to send purchase orders.
- Cashflow features such as accepting credit card payments and generating invoices (the free tier limits the number of invoices to three per month).
- Notice board to share information with team members, and notes to record details about jobs (the free tier limits the history of notes to 14 days).
- Business insights and reporting to analyze project financials before, during, and after a job.
Cost to upgrade: “Basic” plan at $20/user/month and “Professional” plan at $40/user/month.
Mobile apps: Android, iOS
Most suitable for: The free tier is suitable for independent technicians/contractors or small businesses looking to maintain fewer than 10 jobs a month.
Ready to explore Fergus further?
2. Loc8
Loc8 is a cloud-based field service management tool that has a free tier for up to two users. Its task management feature is similar to Fergus’s job cards and allows users to create tasks to represent projects and add photos, attachments, and notes to the tasks.
With all tasks synced to a central database, technicians in the field can see upcoming appointments on their mobile devices, view the details of a job, and write comments. They can also obtain customer signatures for completed jobs and schedule follow-ups if required.
Client records in Loc8 (Source)
Other important features of the tool’s free tier include: Open source vj software.
- Calendar to schedule jobs and view multiple appointments in a single glance. The calendar can be filtered based on a number of parameters such as job status, type, customer, assignee, appointment status, and priority.
- Reporting dashboard to get an overview of quotes, jobs, invoices, assets, and workforce.
- Integration with accounting tools such as MYOB, Xero, and QuickBooks. Users can also create invoices within Loc8, share them with clients, and track payments to stay on top of their finances.
- Customer records to keep track of all communications with clients, as well as their job history, notes, photos, quotes, and invoices.
Cost to upgrade: “Professional” plan starting at $39 for four users. The vendor does not list pricing for the “Enterprise” plan.
Mobile apps: Android, iOS
Most suitable for: The free version is ideal for independent technicians or contractors looking to manage a small business.
Ready to explore Loc8 further?
3. ReachOut Suite
ReachOut Suite is a cloud-based field service management tool that combines customer relationship management and technician tracking into one platform. The tool is free for up to three users.
ReachOut Suite offers work orders that function similarly to the job management features of the two previous tools. Users can input job details in the work orders, add photos and comments, and assign technicians. These work orders can be viewed on a smart calendar and scheduled using the drag-and-drop functionality.
Ticket management in ReachOut Suite (Source)
Other important features of the tool’s free tier include:
- Mobile apps that allow technicians on the field to view upcoming jobs and keep track of the time taken for each job. Technicians can also take customer signatures for completed jobs.
- Customer management repository that holds the history of all client interactions, including the past jobs with each client.
- Billing and invoicing right from the mobile app. The free tier does not offer integration with accounting tools such as QuickBooks or Xero.
- Ticket management to track incoming client requests and channel them into work orders once appropriate details regarding the job are finalized.
Cost to upgrade: “Premium” plan starting at $90/month for three users and going up to $600/month for 50 users. The vendor does not list pricing for the “Enterprise” plan.
Mobile apps: Android, iOS
Most suitable for: The free version is well-suited to the needs of independent technicians or contractors managing small businesses.
Ready to explore ReachOut further?
4. ServiceTrade
Free Mac Job Scheduler Software Free
ServiceTrade is a cloud-based field service management tool designed to help commercial service contractors deliver better services to their customers. The vendor calls the free version a “self starter” account and it is limited to one user.
Creating a quote in ServiceTrade (Source)
The features of the tool’s free version include:
- Quotes to provide a professional-looking estimate to clients. The quote can include pictures as well as detailed descriptions of the job and the cost break-up. There is no limitation on the number of quotes.
- Jobs to manage projects and technicians. Users can add details such as the type of job and due date and assign technicians. The free version of the tool allows up to 20 jobs each month.
Cost to upgrade: “Select” plan starting at $59/user/month. The “Premium” and “Enterprise” plans are priced $99/user/month and $159/user/month respectively.
Mobile apps: Android, iOS
Most suitable for: Independent technicians or contractors who need to self-manage workflows.
Ready to explore ServiceTrade further?
5. Tasker
Tasker is a cloud-based field service management tool that is free for up to three users. Its job management feature—called task—is quite similar to the job management features offered by the tools discussed above.
For each job, users can create a task and assign it to a technician. Users can also add comments and photos to the task and mark out any follow-up requirements.
Adobe genuine software integrity service mac 2018 download. Jun 10, 2020 Step 2: Find Adobe Genuine Software Integrity Service and right-click it. Then, click Open file location. Step 3: Then, open the AdobeGCIClient file and return to. Jun 11, 2020 Follow the steps below: Type “Task Manager” in the Search box to open it. In the Processes tab, you will find the Adobe Genuine Integrity service.
Route planning in Tasker (Source)
Other important features of the tool’s free tier include:
Batch Job Scheduler Software
- Mobile apps that allow on-field technicians to see the details of upcoming jobs and mark them complete once done. Technicians can also obtain the client’s signature to acknowledge job completion.
- Route planning with the help of GPS.
- Real-time status updates on jobs as they are picked up, worked on, and completed by on-field technicians.
- Time and materials tracking for each task.
Cost to upgrade: “Growing” plan starting at $20/user/month and “Pro” plan at $25/user/month. The vendor does not list pricing for the “Enterprise” plan.
Mobile apps: Android, iOS
Most suitable for: Independent technicians or contractors managing small businesses.
Ready to explore Tasker further?
Next steps
Now that you have a better understanding of what the top five free and open source field service management tools offer, you can start figuring out if any of these tools is the right one for you. Spend a little time evaluating the tool’s offering vis-a-vis your requirements.
Here is what to look for in the tool:
- The number of users supported by the free version of the tool should meet your requirements.
- The number of jobs/tasks per month supported by the tool should be more than your requirement.
- The number of invoices the tool allows you to generate should be more than the number of jobs you usually do in a month.
If you are currently using a free field service management tool, or have used one in the past, please share your experience with us in the comments below.
For more information on CMMS solutions, check out the following resources: |
Product selection methodology
Based on secondary research (via Incognito Google search) 24 products were considered for evaluation. 11 products that appeared (on third-party listings) at least twice during the secondary research were shortlisted for further evaluation.
These 11 products were evaluated against our definition of field service management software: Field service management software lets companies manage and communicate with their mobile workforce while workers are in the field. The solutions improve employee productivity and customer experience by allowing constant contact between field personnel and their dispatch office, providing access to customer information, service histories, scheduling tools, and an organization-wide knowledge base.
For the products that met the market definition, we checked if a free version was available. We classify a product as free if:
- It offers a standalone free version of the software.
- This is not a trial version of the software where you must purchase the product after a set period of time.
The five products that met all the above criteria have been included in this article.
Free Mac Job Scheduler Software For Services Businesses
Looking for Field Service Management software? Check out Capterra's list of the best Field Service Management software solutions.