Using Custom Forms in FieldEdge

In order for Technicians to complete their work, many companies create checklists for them to use.

These checklists can be in correlation to the Task at hand, or even a system check. However, with pen and paper, this can become a challenging duty. Manual checklists can be hard to read, can become damaged, or even lost. There is a solution: FieldEdge has the ability to create electronic checklists to replace your old pen and paper checklists. 

In FieldEdge, these are known as Custom Forms. 

Custom Forms are electronic checklists you can create from the office for your Technicians to use out in the field. Once a Work Order is completed, the Custom Form is then uploaded into the Attachments section on the web-side of FieldEdge for your office to view for record keeping. Custom Forms can also be sent to your Customers for quality assurance or proof of work. 

There are two kinds of Custom Forms: Task, and Equipment Type.

Types of Forms

Task Type Forms 

Task Type Forms are forms that can be associated with any of the Tasks inside of your database. 

When these Tasks are used for your Work Orders, FieldEdge will then populate the Form associated with that Task on your Technicians mobile device! You can associate as many Tasks as you like with a Task Type Form. 

Equipment Type Forms 

Equipment Type Forms work the same as Task Forms, but instead they run off of Equipment Types

You can associate the Form with any piece of Equipment your database has. Then, when that piece of Equipment is selected or used, the Form will automatically populate for your Technician to fill out. 

Creating a Custom Form 

Creating a Custom Form can be as simple or complex as your company needs them to be. 

Custom Forms use components referred to as Form Elements. There are currently seven different Form Elements under two different subsections: 

• Fields
  • Text Field
    • Allows the Technician to write their own notes. 
  • Numbers Field
    • Allows the Technician to input a number integer. Used frequently for readings.
  • Dropdown 
    • Allows the Technician to select an answer from a dropdown or pre-existing answers made by the creator of the Form. 
  • Checkbox
    • Allows the Technician to check an option off on the Custom Form.
  • Multiple Choice 
    • Allows the Technicians to select from a multiple-choice section with pre-existing answers from the creator of the Form.
  • Static Text 
    • Allows the office to input static text that always needs to be on the Form. 
• Headers
  • Section  
    • Allows the office to create Header sections on the Form for organization.

These elements allow you to click, drag and drop them into the Form Layout.

The Form Layout allows you to see, edit, and move any Form Elements for your Custom Form. 

Form Settings 

There are a few settings to assist your company’s Custom Forms. 

The most important setting we highly recommend is making certain elements of your Custom Forms Required.

By marking an Element as Required, this forces the Technician to fill out that section of the Form. If the Technician attempts to skip past that section of the Form, FieldEdge will not allow your Technician to complete the Work Order. 

This ensures that a specific field is filled out. You can set any of the Form elements Required to complete. 

Signature Settings 

Along with Form Elements, you can also make Signatures Required from both the Technician and the Customer. 

Just like the Form Elements, if you require a signature FieldEdge will prevent the Technician from completing the Work Order unless the signature is taken. 

Print/Email Settings

If you wish to send your Custom Forms to your Customers as proof of work, FieldEdge has an option for that. We highly recommend turning on the setting for Include with Invoice.

This setting will automatically attach the Custom Form to the Customers invoice when completed! 

Ready to dive in? Here are 3 popular Custom Forms you can create to improve work flow in the field!

1. Annual Heating/Cooling Maintenance Checklist
2. Generator Checklist
3. Quality Control Checklist

 

Looking for historical data on a customer account? Learn about searching customer history in last week’s blog post – How to Search Customer History in FieldEdge

Want to Learn More about Custom Forms in FieldEdge?

Not sure how to get started, or want some additional help? Powerhouse has your back! Our team at Powerhouse Consulting Group is a certified partner with FieldEdge. We will work with you to understand your workflow, audit your FieldEdge settings, and can provide hands-on training for your team. Contact us today for help with FieldEdge Consulting.