Wearable technology is finding its way into many different areas of our daily life. While some devices and their functions seem pretty novel, some have functions that goes as far as “life-saving”. Wearable tech might seem like a brand new concept, however, some say that it goes as far back as the dawn of the wrist watch in the 1800’s (or, my favorite early iteration, the homing pigeon with a camera strapped to it). Either way, wearable technology has exploded in the past few years.
The Apple Watch is just one of many devices out on the market, but like most things the company produces, it seems to be talked about quite a bit. Smartwatches started out with very basic functions of being able to control your smartphone, but the list of functions are growing.
Here are a few ways that wearable technology can change the way field service professionals work.
Health monitor
One of the biggest benefits of wearable tech is the fact that you can monitor your health with many of the devices. Most newer fitness bands, like the Fitbit, and smartwatches have some form of health monitoring system. Many field service businesses operate during extreme temperatures. Lawn maintenance, irrigation and landscapers are often their busiest during the hottest months of the year. Because of that, they have health risks associated with the job.
Heart rate
Wearable tech can enable users to effectively monitor their heart rates and other important health measurements. This can be incredibly important if you work outdoors in extreme heat or your job is physically demanding. If you know what your normal pulse should be, you’re able to take a break when you’re over your usual range or even detect a dangerous situation before it is about to happen.
Hydration tool
Another cool feature of many wearable devices is that you can track how much water you’re drinking throughout the day. While you can do this easily from a Fitbit and other devices, there are a few options that work directly with a water bottle to show you how much water has passed through the lid using sensors. Again, this can be important to know for businesses located in warmer climates where employees are exposed to more dangerous conditions.
Productivity
The main question that any field service business should ask before investing in technology is - how can this make my business more productive?
Activity
Wearable tech can show you overall activity for day. Besides being a step tracker, many devices can show you what kinds of activities are being performed as well, which can be a helpful insight for certain businesses. If your team is on board with the idea, you can even host weekly competitions for activity which can create some friendly competition with your team.
Calendar and events
Using a smartwatch for notifications can help make your crews more effective. If they aren’t having to check their phones or tablets out in the field, it can help make them a bit more effective. They can receive a quick buzz on their wrist if they’re supposed to be leaving to different job in the next couple of minutes or they can take a quick glance to see if their office manager is trying to get a hold of them.
Landscape Design/Build With Virtual Reality
Virtual reality is becoming a more affordable and more practical application in the past year. Isn’t just for playing video games anymore. One very cool way that wearable tech can change the way field service professionals work is through the use of virtual reality. If you’re a in a highly visual industry, like landscaping or other design/build industries, virtual reality could change the way you plan and design your work.
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