In 2020, the global HVAC market was valued at USD 241 billion, and it is expected to grow to USD 301 billion by 2026. The 4% increase in the last six years is driven by energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, the rising trend of outcome-based service models, and evolving consumer demands for a better experience, convenience, and affordable pricing.
The New-Age Trends In The HVAC Industry
The HVAC industry is primarily divided into three categories:
- Heating, cooling, and ventilation equipment
- Type of implementation: new construction and retrofits
- Residential, commercial, and industrial applications
Each category has recently seen a shift in demand patterns, influenced by the maturation of IoT, AI, ML, data analytics, mobile computing, and wireless connectivity.
AR and VR technologies have also made their way onto the list, revolutionizing how businesses deliver services both within and outside the organization.
Because of these technologies, HVAC industry leaders have been able to set the standard for service. Because their customers have grown accustomed to high standards and they are reaping huge profits, those who are still using legacy systems must now invest in new technologies. Its effects can be seen in the form of new trends in the HVAC industry, such as:
1. Better Air Quality
On the equipment front, the industry will see an increase in demand for products that promise improved indoor air quality. COVID-19 has already made high-quality indoor air a requirement for these machines. Massive efforts are expected to be directed toward solutions that ensure that air is clean, sanitized, and purified to reduce the spread of illness in the HVAC industry.
2. Green Customers
Environmental consumer attitudes are shifting. HVAC buyers want to become more responsible buyers in order to alleviate the burden of guilt for contributing to carbon emissions, environmental pollution, and the extinction of many species.
3. Intelligent Technologies
The increasing maturity of the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence has provided HVAC companies with accurate data insight. They can apply the knowledge in two ways:
Using easy-to-use HVAC software powered by IoT and AI to improve operational efficiency, provide customers with cost-effective installation and maintenance services, and identify and address gaps in processes such as scheduling and dispatch, inventory and work order management.
HVAC companies could help customers maximize the value of their equipment by sharing data insights with them. Customers could use the insight to learn how much energy the equipment consumes and when, as well as the current status of the equipment’s operations, to ensure timely maintenance.
4. Predictive Maintenance
While we have already discussed how IoT will affect every segment of the HVAC industry, predictive maintenance has made a list because it is typically used as a convergence of advanced technologies. Technology-savvy businesses combine IoT and AI to build powerful platforms for managing work orders with minimal human intervention and fully automating scheduling and dispatch processes.
How Does HVAC Service Software Help You Drive New-Age Technology Transformation?
The service industry is moving quickly to achieve the best possible technological transformation, and eventually, every business will be equipped with capabilities never before seen. Running a service business without tech-enabling field operations or other operational processes is a risk in such a scenario. However, many small businesses, particularly those that operate locally, continue to manage their field operations manually. Because tech-enablement, automation, or digitization are the new-age tools for business expansion and growth, this is where businesses are falling short in terms of market competitiveness. HVAC service companies that want to expand their business and serve a larger clientele must empower their workforce to work with increased productivity and efficiency.
HVAC Management Software Applications
HVAC software for field service is a multifunctional tool that can manage and handle a variety of field operations in an automated mode. Using such software provides benefits such as streamlined operations, improved customer experience, intelligent job scheduling and dispatching, real-time field worker communication, real-time data collaboration, quoting, invoicing, and much more.
The primary goal of well-designed HVAC service management software for HVAC companies is to make field workforce management more transparent and accurate. To accomplish this goal, the software provides mobility solutions to the field workforce, allowing them to be more productive and efficient in field jobs; it also provides supervisors with better field visibility, allowing them to track the performance of each field agent working at different job sites, and know every step of the way.
A Few Instances Of How HVAC Software Works
Intelligent Scheduling and Dispatching
As soon as a service request is received, the software can determine which technician is best suited to the job. The service manager can then create a scheduling calendar for the entire team using simple drag-and-drop procedures. The software determines the availability, proximity, and skillsets of the technicians using location technologies and data mining capabilities.
Real-Time Data Collaboration
One of the most significant mobility challenges for field workforces is a lack of access to information or a lack of the right information when needed. Consider HVAC services: technicians require access to data such as service or equipment part warranties, service agreements, maintenance checklists, service quotes, service history, and so on. The software functions as a cloud-based centralized data repository that stores all enterprise and service-related data in one place and employees can use, share, access, and collaborate on the data and get the information they need to render satisfactory customer service by using valid access privileges.
Conclusion
HVAC service software includes everything HVAC contractors require. These are intended to be the ultimate all-in-one solution for HVAC service businesses. These are scalable solutions, so they can scale from a business with 5+ technicians to a much larger team. It simplifies and optimizes the entire process. When choosing HVAC software, contractors should look for features such as a user-friendly interface, a compatible mobile app, custom forms, drag-and-drop scheduling/dispatch, customer/asset management, quoting, invoicing, and so on.
