How Standard Service Codes Improve the Efficiency of Your Service Department

Standard Service Codes

If your company provides repair and maintenance services, your technicians are performing many of the same tasks, time and again from one service order to another service. Many of these tasks have a set number of hours assigned to complete the task and require the use of specific parts to complete the service. Somebody must enter the services and parts utilized to ensure the work is accurately recorded and the customer is billed for the parts and the labor.

Utilizing Standard Service Codes in Business Central can improve the efficiency and accuracy of data entry.

Working in Service-related industries for more than 30 years, I know that a substantial portion of shrinkage, (inventory losses), results from paperwork errors. If you have an opportunity to improve the accuracy of recording parts usage, it is worth the time to implement Standard Service Codes.

Standard Service Codes

Below is a list of sample Standard Service Codes for a company that services and repairs generators:

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Each of these Standard Service Codes is a hyper link to a Standard Service Code Card. When you open the Standard Service Code Card you can assign services and parts.

Standard Service Code Card

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In the example above, the Standard Service Code CH1000-MAJ represents a service charge for a Major Service, two hours of Technician’s time, one air filter, two spark plugs, one oil filter, and three quarts of oil.

When you enter the Standard Service Code onto the Service Order, the associated Standard Service Lines are added to the Service Item Worksheet.

You may have multiple product lines, or multiple models you service and repair, so not every Standard Service Code will be applicable for every product.

When you set up Standard Service Codes, you can assign specific Standard Service Codes to various Service Item Groups you service. Based on the Service Item Group of the Service Item on the Service Line, you would only see the Standard Service Codes for that product.

If you do not assign the Standard Service Codes to any Service Item Groups, you will be able to select all the Standard Service Codes on every Service Line of every Service Order.

Adding Service Codes to a Service Order

So how do you add the Standard Service Codes to a Service Order? That is where the easy button comes in!

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After entering the Service Item on the Service Line of the Service Order, select the “Get Std. Service Code” button under the Functions option on the Service Line. This will open the list of Standard Service Codes associated with the Service Item Group on the Service Line. As noted above, if you are not using Service Item Groups, or you do not assign Standard Service Codes to the Service Item Groups, you will be able to select any of the Standard Service Codes.

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When we select the CH1000-MAJ Standard Service Code and click the OK button, the associated Standard Service Lines we saw on the Standard Service Code Card are added to the Service Item Worksheet.

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We knew we were performing a Major Service that required Technician Time and specific parts. Rather than enter the Services and Parts manually, the Standard Service Code added everything with one click of a button.

This ensures that we have included all the basics for the services and parts needed. Before the Service Order is closed, the Supervisor or personnel responsible for billing the Service Order can modify the quantities as needed, but using Standard Service Codes saves time and ensures anticipated parts are entered on the Service Item Worksheet.

Do you have questions about improving the efficiency of your Service Department, or need to know about the Service functionality in Business Central? Send me an email.


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