The Field Personnel’s Guide to Conducting On-Site Inspections
Tags: software, Smallbusiness, fieldservicemanagement
Published: 2020-06-03 08:53:07

Field personnel carries out routine inspections to determine whether equipment, building, and all other aspects of infrastructure adhere to compliance practices put into effect by governing bodies. This means field inspectors would possess extensive knowledge in their working environments, gained through formal education, an apprenticeship, or on-the-job training.

**On-Site Inspection**

An inspection is basically an official review or examination. When it comes to the term 'on-site', it means that the inspection has to be carried out wherever the subject is located.

In order to stay abreast of the ever-changing and increasingly complex compliance norms as well as audit standards, [field inspectors should know about the latest trends and practices](https://www.reachoutsuite.com/field-inspectors-how-to-succeed-in-fsm-in-2020-and-beyond/). This includes not just inspections in general but understanding the requirements that come with each designated audit or inspection. Field inspectors are also well served by preparing solid plans to execute tasks expected of them.

Site inspections comprise of a set of activities, which involve checking and verifying compliance and safety, as well as other critical areas of the worksite. Traditional site inspections are carried out using equally traditional field visits and the paper checklist method. However, the emergence of inspection management software has brought in a very appealing alternative.

**The Benefits of Inspection Management Software**

[Inspection management software](https://www.reachoutsuite.com/inspections-audit-management-software/) can greatly ease the work of field personnel. Using such a software application can help to manage information related to audits or inspections. This can include forms and checklists, customer sites, team and member activities, schedules, items inspected, and inspection results. An inspection management software uses and presents data in such a way as to enable improving customer satisfaction, increasing operational efficiency, and raise employee satisfaction.

One of the most important benefits of having an inspection management software handy is that all inspections can be digitized. Probable advantages of investing in this translate into regular inspections, data collection, annual audits, as well as tracking deficiencies. Besides, daily inspections can be done faster and the workload diminishes considerably as long as the software is used in the right way.
Another upside is that it becomes much easier for field personnel and the concerned parties to make sure that rules and regulations are being met. A reliable inspection management software also gives easy access to records, making it much simpler to get into a heap of records and documents. One example is fire safety inspections, which can be located easily and properly assessed, all within a matter of minutes.

Inspection documents and checklists can be accessed from any location using a good software application. This can be done from a mobile device too. This in turn means forecasts can be made and delivered in a timely manner. Lastly, having a secure and centralized inspection system lets you summarily access real-time reports, web-based forms, and inspection findings.

**Improving Team Productivity**

The [best inspection management software](https://www.reachoutsuite.com/mobile-field-inspection-software/) will have two tightly connected parts. One is an administrative portal meant for managers or leads, and the other is the mobile app meant for auditors or inspectors. There is a path for seamless information transfer between the two, including instructions, forms, pictures, and notes. This removes issues that would otherwise be caused by such things as illegible handwriting, heavy spreadsheets, long emails, etc.

Field inspectors also have the option to download instructions and forms, as well as upload results from inspections on the internet. That means there is no need to scan and print documents, or to move forms to a USB stick from the desktop. Software like this can help to ensure that all the online connections made are safe and secure.

**Customer Satisfaction**

To a person with access to the right login credentials, an inspection management software serves up all the information they need regarding an inspection, in one place. This means that a manager can send actionable and detailed reports, complete with quotes and photos, to customers at the instant that an inspection is finished.

Inspections can be compared with baselines as well as previous inspections to see if there is any regression, spot issue, or other trends to be aware of. By removing errors and confusion, inspectors can do their jobs well and correctly the first time around.

In conclusion, it is always a good idea for field personnel to use an inspection management software in this day and age. This not only helps to reduce their workload in the long run, but it also works to address a lot of practical issues. That way, an [inspection management software application](https://www.reachoutsuite.com) helps field personnel to build lasting relationships with customers.