Dynamic task bundling

  • Release version: Washingtondc
  • Updated February 1, 2024
  • 2 minutes to read
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    Summary of Dynamic Task Bundling

    Dynamic task bundling allows administrators to automatically group tasks based on custom criteria, optimizing operations in Field Service. Through the creation of policies and rules, tasks can be bundled efficiently, reducing inefficiencies in service delivery.

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    Key Features

    • Policies: Define how many tasks to bundle and their maximum duration. Each policy must have rules and qualifiers to function, with a minimum of two and a maximum of 200 records per bundle.
    • Qualifiers: Determine which tasks are eligible for bundling, primarily based on assignment groups or territories if Field Service Territory Planning is active. Each policy can include only one type of qualifier at a time with no duplicates.
    • Rules: Set specific parameters for task bundling. A rule can only belong to one policy and applies to tasks that are in a Draft state and not already bundled or requiring special conditions.

    Key Outcomes

    By implementing dynamic task bundling, companies can significantly enhance service efficiency. For example, in an HVAC service scenario, tasks related to maintenance and repairs can be bundled based on location and type, allowing technicians to complete multiple jobs in one trip. This not only reduces travel time but also improves customer satisfaction by streamlining service delivery.

    Administrators can ensure optimal task grouping by configuring the system to create bundles prior to dynamic scheduling, further enhancing operational efficiency.

    You can create policies and rules to bundle tasks automatically with Field Service Task Bundling.

    Dynamic task bundling enables administrators to create policies and rules to bundle tasks automatically according to custom criteria.

    For information about the policies and rules installed with Field Service Task Bundling, see Field Service Task Bundling components.

    Policies

    Policies dictate how many work order tasks should be grouped per bundle, as well as the maximum duration of bundles.

    A policy consists of multiples rules. Policies have the following restrictions:

    • Two records minimum per bundle.
    • 200 records maximum per bundle.
    • No limit for rules per policy.
    • Policies must have rules to run.
    • Policies must have qualifiers to run.

    Qualifiers

    Qualifiers dictate which work order tasks are targeted for bundling. By default, qualifiers are based on assignment groups. If Field Service Territory Planning is active, qualifiers are based on territories.

    Qualifiers have the following restrictions:
    • Qualifier records can contain only type of qualifier at a time.
    • No duplicate qualifiers enabled per policy.

    Rules

    Rules specify the parameters for which work order tasks should be bundled.

    A rule can only be assigned to a single policy. Rules only apply if tasks meet the following conditions:
    • Are in the Draft state
    • Aren't in a bundle
    • Aren't a bundle itself
    • Aren't a vendor task
    • Don’t have access hours
    • Don’t need a crew
    • Don’t have a fixed window
    • Don’t have subtasks or dependent tasks

    Example - Optimizing Field Service operations with Task Bundling

    The following scenario illustrates simplifying complex schedules, ensuring effective resource allocation, and optimizing service delivery using task bundling.

    Let's consider a company that specializes in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) services. During the summer months, the company receives a high volume of tasks related to air conditioning maintenance, repairs, and installations. Some tasks are at the same building or complex, but they are individually scheduled, leading to inefficiencies like multiple trips to the same location.

    The Task Bundling solution:
    • The company sets up qualifiers based on the service location and type of service required (maintenance, repair, or installation).
    • A policy is established to bundle any maintenance and repair tasks that are in the same building or within a 2-mile radius and can be completed within an 8-hour workday.
    • After the bundles are created, dynamic scheduling is then applied to ensure optimal routes for the technicians.

    Outcome: Using dynamic task bundling, the company can now assign multiple tasks in the same location to a single technician, reducing travel time and increasing service efficiency. Tasks that are similar in nature are bundled together and scheduled for the same time window, streamlining the workflow and enhancing customer satisfaction.

    Dynamic scheduling and dynamic bundling

    Administrators can configure the system to create bundles before initiating dynamic scheduling. This ensures tasks are optimally grouped before they're scheduled. Administrators can enable the Dynamic Bundling before Dynamic Scheduling(com.snc.dynamic.scheduling.bundle_before_scheduling) property to ensure bundles are generated before dynamic scheduling.