During our recent New & Next webinar, we addressed feedback on schedule-related reliability issues impacting both buyers and providers. Recent product enhancements aim to prevent scheduling conflicts and improve provider arrival time management, offering better tools for enhanced reliability and clearer expectations.

Understanding Hard Start schedules (19:54)

In June 2024, Field Nation transitioned all Fixed schedule types to Hard Start schedules. This change created clearer expectations around arrival times and improved provider timeliness tracking. Previously, buyers had varying views on timely arrivals but had no way to indicate flexibility. The Hard Start schedule type ensures everyone understands what “on time” means.

Enhanced conflict management 

New schedule management tools help prevent schedule conflicts before they occur. The platform now sends providers automatic notifications when schedule conflicts arise and offers an improved calendar view on the mobile app for spotting potential overlaps. When conflicts occur, providers can request schedule changes directly through the platform, with updates routed automatically to work order managers.

Future improvements 

Based on user feedback, Field Nation is developing a new arrival window schedule type that offers more flexibility while maintaining clear expectations. The proposed change will allow providers to arrive within specified windows and communicate specific start times within those windows. Buyers can also add optional complete-by times for better planning, though these won’t affect reliability metrics.

For more details on these updates and other product enhancements, watch the full webinar recording.