Field Nation Vs. OnForce: Best Services Management Platforms

Field services management platforms like Field Nation and OnForce are revolutionizing how companies manage their dispersed workforces. These on-demand marketplaces allow businesses to hire qualified technicians to complete projects in the field.

With so many options to choose from, it can be challenging to determine which platform is the right fit for your business. This guide provides an in-depth comparison of Field Nation and OnForce, examining the key features, pros, cons, and use cases of each.

A Brief Comparison Table

Feature	Field Nation	OnForce
Founded	2008	2009
Headquarters	Minneapolis, MN	New York, NY
# of Technicians	60,000+	100,000+
Focus	Field services across 27+ categories	General field services, labor
Key Features	Automated dispatcher, project portal, rating system	Vetting, timesheet verification, account management
Best For	Complex field services, specialty skills	General labor, home services, IT
Pricing	Lower service fees	Higher service fees

Overview Of Field Nation

Founded in 2008, Field Nation operates an on-demand flexible workforce platform that connects businesses with over 60,000 qualified, independent contractors across the US and Canada. The company touts over 500,000 completed projects with a 97% satisfaction rating.

Field Nation stands out for its large network of experienced technicians spanning over 27 service categories. This makes it easy to find contractors with specialized skills like AV installation, low voltage wiring, and more.

Businesses use Field Nation to dispatch technicians to complete on-site projects like IT support, POS installation, inspections, assembly, and repairs. You create and post jobs, review technician profiles, select the best fit, manage projects, and pay contractors upon completion.

Also Read: Comparison Between Datadog And AppDynamics.

Key Features

• Vast network of over 60,000 independent contractors
• 27+ service categories including IT, AV, electrical, handyman services
• Automated dispatcher identifies top technicians based on skills, location & availability
• Project management portal to assign jobs, communicate with technicians, track progress
• Mobile access for technicians to update work orders onsite
• Payment processing and insurance options to protect your investment
• Rating system to evaluate technicians and provide feedback after jobs

Pros

• Large contractor network makes it easy to find qualified technicians nationwide
• Specialized in field services with technicians in 27+ categories
• Automated dispatcher saves time identifying top technicians for jobs
• Rating system encourages high quality work and accountability
• Insurance and payment processing for protection and convenience

Cons

• No screening or vetting of technicians beyond profiles and reviews
• Quality of technicians can be inconsistent without stringent vetting
• Automated dispatcher lacks human oversight or customization
• Less focus on big data analytics compared to some competitors

Overview Of OnForce

OnForce was founded in 2009 and offers an online contractor marketplace tailored for field services, professional labor, IT projects, and logistics. The company promises access to over 100,000 contractors across a wide array of categories.

OnForce is designed to help businesses scale their onsite operations without expanding full-time headcount. It aims to provide the speed and flexibility of the gig economy while ensuring professional-grade results.

The platform allows you to instantly tap into OnForce’s network to dispatch technicians for IT, home services, delivery, assembly, warehouse work, and other field projects. You can track job progress, communicate with contractors, and pay for completed work.

Key Features

• Marketplace of over 100,000 pre-qualified contractors
• 50+ categories including IT, home services, assembly, logistic, and labor
• Custom recruiting and screening of new technicians
• Project management portal to post jobs, assign contractors, communicate, and track progress
• Timesheet verification via geo-tracking of contractors onsite
• Payroll and payment processing services
• Dedicated account management

Pros

• Large network of over 100,000 qualified technicians
• 50+ categories for all field services needs
• Custom screening and strict vetting of all technicians
• Timesheet verification via GPS tracking for accuracy
• Payroll services for added convenience
• Dedicated account management for personalized support

Cons

• Smaller talent pool than some competitors
• Higher costs due to screening and onboarding process
• Limited public data on contractor quality and satisfaction
• Less automated dispatch functionality compared to some rivals
• Less flexibility due to pre-screening of all technicians

Also Read: Choose Between Ramp And Expensify.

Key Differences

While Field Nation and OnForce share similarities as field services management platforms, there are some key differences in their features and approaches:

• Contractor Network– Field Nation touts a larger network of over 60,000 contractors compared to 100,000 for OnForce. However, OnForce focuses more heavily on screening.
• Technician Vetting – OnForce manually vets all technicians before adding them to their talent pool. Field Nation relies more on profiles, ratings, and reviews.
• Dispatcher – Field Nation uses an automated dispatcher while OnForce has less focus on automated matching algorithms.
• Specialization – Field Nation offers technicians across 27+ specialty categories while OnForce covers 50+ more generalized categories.
• Tracking & Verification – OnForce uses geo-tracking of technicians to verify timesheets. Field Nation does not provide automated tracking.
• Pricing – OnForce has higher service fees due to increased overhead related to their vetting and verification processes.

Use Cases And Ideal Customers

When To Use Field Nation

Field Nation best serves these use cases:

• Businesses that prioritize access to niche specialty skills like low voltage cabling, lab equipment installation, etc.
• Organizations that value speed and flexibility with an automated dispatch system to instantly match with technicians
• Companies with more complex field services needs across multiple specialty categories
• Businesses that want robust project management capabilities to oversee dispersed workforces
• Startups or smaller companies that benefit from on-demand access to field talent versus maintaining full-time technicians

Field Nation is ideal for:

• Large field services providers that dispatch high volumes of technicians daily across the US
• Companies with frequent needs for onsite IT support, installation, or repairs
• Businesses that require access to specialized telecom, electrical, or other trade skills
• Organizations with fluctuating project-based needs rather than ongoing full-time field staff

Also watch the video!

When To Use OnForce

OnForce is optimized for these use cases:

• Businesses that prioritize rigorous vetting and screening of all technicians
• Companies that value timesheet verification via geo-tracking of technicians
• Organizations that want dedicated account management and more personalized service
• Startups that need to quickly scale their field operations without full-time hires
• Businesses with demand across less-specialized categories like assembly, delivery, and general labor

OnForce best serves:

• Field services providers focused on IT, home services, warehousing, delivery, and general labor
• Companies that need to verify contractor hours and locations via geo-tracking
• Businesses with high standards for screening and onboarding all technicians
• Organizations that value relationship-driven account management support
• Startups seeking to augment their field workforce and ramp up operations quickly

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Also Read: Comparison Among Gartner, Forrester And IDC.

The Bottom Line

When choosing between Field Nation and OnForce, weigh factors like technician vetting, specialty categories, automated matching, and account management. Field Nation shines for field operations requiring niche skills and self-service dispatching. OnForce adds value through rigorous screening, timesheet verification, payroll services, and dedicated account management.

Consider which platform best aligns to your field services needs and priorities. Both provide flexible on-demand workforces to augment field operations, with differences in contractor pools, specialties, screening, and support services.