This is the 10th blog of this series, before this I have created last blog from module 2 on the topic “Manage incidents”  which you can check here: MB2-877 MICROSOFT DYNAMICS 365 FOR FIELD SERVICE MODULE 2 TOPIC – MANAGE INCIDENTS

In this blog we are starting with the first topic – Manage Scheduling options from module 3 “Scheduling and dispatch work orders”

1. Describe options for scheduling work orders including the Schedule Board and Schedule Assistant & Determine when to use each scheduling optionOnce you have a work order, you need to schedule it in order for the field work. There are three ways of doing it:
   ⦿ Schedule Board
   ⦿ Schedule Assistant
   ⦿ Resource Scheduling Optimization

   Schedule Board
   

   Schedule board provides a a brief and easy view on how many of your resource are allocated to how many work orders and if they have some more capacity.

   ⦿ Drag & drop interface for scheduling and rescheduling ( showed below in the image)
   ⦿ Filter by Resource Type, Services, etc.
   ⦿ Scheduler settings allow configuration of dispatcher time zone, grouping etc

   

   Scheduling Assistant

   Scheduling assistant really helps to find the right resource for your work order by allowing you to enter filters like Duration , Radius within which you need a resource , Start and End time , Territory , Resource type etc.

   To schedule a work order using scheduling assistant, go to a work order which needs scheduling and click on “Book” from the ribbon command bar and you will be presented below. Based on your criteria you get resource > select the resource and click on book.  A resource booking will be auto created:

   

   Resource Scheduling Optimization

   Resource Scheduling Optimization(RSO) is an add-on capability for the Dynamics 365 for Field Service application that enables you to automatically schedule work orders for the most appropriate resources, by optimizing bookings for the shortest travel time, available work hours, and many other constraints.

   Few important points about RSO:

   ⦿ Add-on service used for optimizing schedules based on defined optimization profiles
   ⦿ Requires a valid production instance of Field Service
   ⦿ Licensed per resource you want to optimize
   ⦿ Used to optimize any entity enabled for use with the schedule board.
   ⦿ Optimization is based on profiles that define what you want to optimize and how you want to optimize it

   Example: Optimize currently scheduled items for the next three hours to minimize travel time.

   Here it is very nicely explained by microsoft how you can start using it and configure it your way : Overview of the Resource Scheduling Optimization (RSO) solution

2. Describe stages of the scheduling process and steps that occur during each stage
   
   A typical work order scheduling process consist of three stages:

   
   A. Work Order Creation
   

   ⦿ Identifies the Service & Billing Accounts
   ⦿ Defines the type of Work Order
   ⦿ Indicates the Tasks, Products, Services, Skills, etc. needed
   ⦿ Includes Price List and Tax information
   ⦿ Preferences for service delivery can be defined

   B. Resource Requirement Definition

   ⦿ Pulls the customer and required duration from the Work Order
   ⦿ Pulls in any preferences for delivery such as time and date windows, as well as any resource preferences
   ⦿ Indicates any additional relevant scheduling information such as skills, territories, etc.
   ⦿ Created automatically when a Work Order is created
   ⦿ Requirement records are used by scheduling features to locate, assign, and schedule specific resources

   C. Resource Booking

   ⦿ Once a resourse who meets the necessary requirements is identified and scheduled a Resource Booking record is auto created
   ⦿ Defines who is responsible for completing the Work Order
   ⦿ Contains time and status information including estimated and actual Travel information such as miles and durations can be populated
   ⦿ Booking statuses are updated as technicians update information from the mobile application

   That’s it for this blog – I will see you in the next blog where we will cover the next  topic “Implement the Schedule Board”