Field Service & Aftersales Insights
Perspectives on Service Growth, AI in Aftersales, Operation and Technology
This page brings together perspectives on field service, aftersales operations, and emerging technology in manufacturing and automotive service, grounded in real implementation experience.
The articles here explore what is changing, what is working, and where execution often breaks down. Topics range from KPIs and AI adoption to dealer operations, warranty management, and the day-to-day decisions that determine whether a transformation program succeeds or stalls.
Pick a topic below to explore further or browse the latest insights.
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Latest Insights
Service vs. Serving
As after-sales becomes a major profit driver, many OEMs are prioritizing revenue over relationships. This article explores how monetizing service, through inflated parts pricing, opaque terms, and sales-driven KPIs, is eroding customer trust and loyalty across the automotive sector. Learn how transparency, contextual upselling, and a Service-Led Growth mindset can rebuild relevance before disruption arrives.
KPI of the Month #1: First Time Fix Rate
The First Time Fix Rate (FTFR) is one of the most important field service KPIs, revealing how effectively technicians resolve issues on the first visit. This article explains what FTFR really measures, why it matters for cost, efficiency, and customer experience, and how people, process, and technology improvements can drive sustainable performance gains across manufacturing,…
GenAI Hype Is Over: Welcome to Reality
Generative AI hype is fading as organizations confront the reality of data gaps, weak ROI, and integration fatigue. Gartner’s 2025 Hype Cycle shows GenAI peaking while traditional AI quietly delivers results. Learn why mature enterprises are hitting pause, what’s driving this shift, and how to navigate the post-hype era with clarity, readiness, and measurable impact.
Platform of Platforms: Why Individual Tools Are No Longer Enough
Discover how a “Platform of Platforms” approach transforms field service management. Learn why integrating planning, execution, quoting, and analytics under one connected architecture is key to service-led growth. Explore enablers, business benefits, and real-world use cases that show how unified platforms drive efficiency, revenue, and customer experience.
Unlocking Service-Led Growth in Manufacturing: From Mindset to Model to Market
Learn how leading manufacturers turn service into a growth engine. This guide explores the strategic models, economic case, and playbook behind Service-Led Growth, from lifecycle ownership to outcome-based value, plus a free checklist to assess your organization’s readiness.
The Field Service KPI Dashboard: What Executives, Managers & Technicians Should Really Track
A complete guide to field service KPIs by role, from executives to technicians. Learn which metrics drive profitability, efficiency, and customer experience. Based on the SmartServiceOps Field Service KPI Framework, this article helps service leaders align strategy with execution through the right dashboards, cost-to-serve insights, and actionable metrics that enable, not control technicians.
Quantum Computing in After-Sales Service
Quantum computing is beginning to reshape after-sales service in the industrial and automotive sectors- enabling smarter maintenance, routing, inventory, and materials innovation when integrated with AI, IoT, and enterprise systems. This article explores how early pilots are delivering value, what kinds of organizations should adopt, and how to determine when the quantum leap is truly…
Lessons from a Data Center Manufacturer’s Digital Transformation
A global data center equipment manufacturer set out to boost service revenue and asset visibility through digital transformation. Along the way, they uncovered lessons about user alignment, technology choices, and ecosystem realities. This real-world case study explores how assumptions evolved into insights – and how the organization turned complexity into clarity, building a stronger foundation…