Written by There is nothing more terrifying to a small business owner than the idea of shutting off their phone and going off the grid. When you’re in charge of a field service company, taking a vacation for any amount of time can feel like a recipe for disaster.
However, at one point or another, the need to disconnect and unwind eventually outweighs the worries associated with taking time off work. When this inevitably happens, there are some tips you can follow to get the most out of your vacation while ensuring your business continues to run itself efficiently.
Plan Ahead and Predict Slower Seasons
When you run a business, there is nothing wrong with taking some time off. However, last minute trips make it slightly more difficult for your staff and customers to adjust to your lack of availability. By booking your holidays during slower seasons and planning trips long in advance, you’ll be able to take off for more extended periods of time while not missing out on peak selling seasons. Planning your field service appointments so that you have a full schedule of calls once your return will save you from having unproductive working days after your vacation.
Appoint a Deputy
To ease the distress of stepping away from the business, appoint a deputy who can act as your second in command while you’re out of the office. For larger organizations, you may want to nominate a few different people or department heads to care for critical pieces of the business in your stead. Doing so helps to create a singular point of contact that can make important decisions while you’re away and contact you only if and when emergencies arise.
Decide On How Accessible You Will Be
While completely disconnecting from your business can be a healthy thing once in a while, sometimes going off the grid might not be reasonable. If this is the case, it’s best to create a schedule that you can follow to check emails and answer phone calls. Having a business checkup schedule in place helps you to enjoy your holidays still while staying connected with your company. Mobile field service software and applications can be extremely beneficial in doing this, as they allow you to have real-time access to your business information while efficiently collaborating with your team members.
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Did you know HelpDesk’s automated notification system frees you from having to manually send updates to customers, field technicians, and office staff? Use it for appointment reminders, scheduling confirmations or to send messages while you’re on vacation or away.
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Empower Your Employees Year-Round
Have you ever asked yourself how long your company could continue to run itself without your presence? Regularly auditing your organization’s ability to automate itself is a great way to ensure you’re empowering your employees to be better leaders. This is an excellent tactic to support whether you’re out of the office for a vacation, illness, emergency or any other unplanned absence. By following this process, you’ll ensure that you’re implementing appropriate training regimens throughout the year, benefiting your field service business whether you’re on vacation or not.
Turn On Out of Office Reminders
Regardless of the size of your company, it’s a good idea to make sure that everyone inside and outside of your office is aware that you’re absent and when you’ll return. Turning on your out of office reminders is the perfect way to communicate to your customers that you’re temporarily unavailable while providing them with a list of other contacts to answer their questions.
Here is an example of how you can draft your email auto-responses:
Subject: Out of Office
Body:
Hello,
I will be out of the office Wednesday, June 13th, returning on Thursday, June 27th.
While I’m away, I will have limited access to my phone and email, but will respond to all correspondence when I’m back in the office.
If you need immediate assistance during my absence, please contact the following;
For customer service, contact xxx-xxx-xxxx.
For sales, contact xxx-xxx-xxxx
For all other inquiries, please call xxx-xxx-xxxx or email support@yourdomainname.com.
Establishing and growing a field service business is hard work, and owners deserve some time away from it all. By following these necessary steps in planning your holidays effectively, you can ensure you get that much needed R&R while your business continues to operate.
mHelpDesk makes it easy to be away from work
In addition to automated email and text messages you can set up, mHelpDesk can keep records of all the customer emails sent and received. Schedule your free demo now!
Last modified: July 5, 2018
