Google Maps Platform and Task4Work, a story of success

THE ORGANISATION

Task4work is a 100% cloud-based Field Service Management solution to manage mobile workforce efficiently.

Task4Work helps dispatchers, field workers, coordinators and the company itself to be more efficient and increase their productivity. Task4Work adds intelligence, control and speed to all task-related processes. Task4Work is a customizable solution with the potential to integrate with other systems, fully built on Google Cloud Platform.

THE CHALLENGE

Geolocation is the key for this tool’s functioning. Task4Work required to integrate the best geolocation services in the market to be able to offer a unique value through many of its functionalities:

• Map visualization: one of the most basic yet necessary elements for the essential functioning of this tool is the visualization of the map in order to have geolocalized the technicians and the tasks they perform
• Task Assignation to Field Technicians:

Task4Work increases mobile workforce management efficiency thanks to its task assignment system, looking for the closest and best qualified technician. Without a geo-positioning system that provides accuracy, this service would be totally non-existent.

On the other hand, they needed a system that allows the technician to see his daily route and offer  him the best optimised route.

• Route optimization: for coordinators and dispatchers it is also essential that they are able to know where the technicians and the final client are located, in order to be able to organize efficiently the working time
• Address Standardization and Validation: The addresses provided by the final client to Task4Work can vary in many occasions, either due to a typing error, the non-recognition of the address or other types of incidents. Task4Work users needed an accurate geolocation system that reduces the margin of error in searching for addresses

THE SOLUTION

• Map visualization

JavaScript API -allows the display of the dynamic map. Thanks to this API, we can view any result obtained through the Google Maps APIs that we want to implement.

• Task Assignation to Field Technicians

Task4Work assigns the task to the best qualified technician who is closest. It also allows the technician to see his daily route and offers  them the optimized route.

Distance Matrix API – provides information on the distance and duration of a journey from multiple destinations to a given point (place of the emergency) taking real time traffic updates  into account.

Directions API – among other functions, it calculates travel time based on past and present traffic conditions.

• Route Optimization

Coordinators and dispatchers need to plan and organize efficiently the working hours of each of the field technicians.

Directions API – among other functions, it calculates travel time based on past and present traffic conditions.

• Address Standardization and Validation

It is paramount to reduce the margin of error in search of addresses

Places API – offers, among other features:

• autocomplete → provides a query prediction service for text-based geographic searches

If the search is done by webservice or import, the specific coordinates of the location are necessary.

Geocoding API – allows the geo-positioning of the device from which the alert was transmitted.

Geocoding is the process that transforms addresses (such as, “Torre Picasso, AZCA, Plaza de Carlos Trias Bertran, 1, 28020 Madrid, Spain”) into geographic coordinates (such as latitude 40.4505067 and longitude -3.6930797222222225) that serve to place markers or determine a position on the map.

THE RESULTS

Thanks to Google Maps Platform APIs, Task4Work is a solution capable of managing customers’ mobile workforce reducing their operating costs.

These are some of Task4Work features that are based in Google Maps Platform:

1.OPTIMIZING JOB-ALLOCATION

Taking into account shifts, availability, skills and the location of field workers.

This means greater efficiency of the whole team through an increased number of tasks that each field technician can perform and a reduction in the time required to resolve incidents which ultimately leads to an increased customer satisfaction.

2.REAL-TIME CONTROL OF ACTIVITIES

Meaning real-time control of the organization to optimize resources and reduce costs without dependence on telephone calls and spreadsheets. An enhanced system to handle emergencies and unforeseen incidents in an optimal manner.

3.GEOLOCATION AND ROUTE OPTIMIZATION

The location of every on-shift field worker is known at all times and in real-time and their jobs will be associated with an exact location.

Centralized control and route optimization allows to reduce travel-time, increase organization-productivity and cut costs.