With demand rising and headroom for continued adoption of specialist software, investors have the chance to back scalable, recurring revenue solutions in an underserved market.
Field Service Management (FSM) software helps businesses manage and optimise their field-based operations, bringing structure and visibility to what are often complex, mobile workflows. It covers everything from scheduling, dispatch management and work order management to billing and invoicing and routing. Used across sectors like construction, utilities, telecoms, healthcare and facilities management, FSM platforms have quietly become essential wherever mobile teams are delivering services on the ground.
As industries move away from paper-based processes and spreadsheets, specialist FSM software is stepping in with smarter, AI-enabled, scalable solutions. It’s a shift that’s opening up a wave of opportunities for investors, providers and the businesses they serve.
So, what determines success in what is still a highly fragmented space?
A market set for growth
FSM platforms have evolved significantly in recent years. Yet for all the progress, a surprising number of firms are still relying on Excel or basic tools like Microsoft Forms. That leaves significant headroom for growth, particularly among mid-sized operators and in sectors that have been slower to digitise. Adoption is being driven by familiar pressures: labour shortages, technician turnover, rising customer expectations, and a generational shift in how industries like construction and utilities approach technology. With AI capabilities becoming more accessible, FSM software is increasingly seen as a core operational tool.
“It was an archaic industry with resistance to change, but after COVID we saw a huge transformation… now, rather than being a nice to have, it’s a must-have.”
UK-based specialist FSM vendor
High barriers to entry
That said, it’s not a straightforward market to play in. While the total addressable market is large, the landscape is fragmented, and every sector (and often every business), has its quirks. FSM platforms need to offer a high level of flexibility to reflect real-world workflows.
Workforce dynamics add another layer of challenge. Many businesses use a mix of staff and third-party contractors and expect their software to handle both seamlessly. Some vendors are starting to address this with built-in contractor management networks, but there’s no one-size-fits-all.
Then there’s the challenge of change itself. Once embedded, FSM systems can be difficult to dislodge. Decision-making is often decentralised and slow, particularly in organisations with ageing workforces or lower digital maturity. For new entrants or challengers, convincing customers to switch often requires differentiated technology, features or capabilities which provide an enhanced value vs. being a like-for-like alternative, potentially only differentiated on price.
“Enterprise organisations are reluctant to shift from established business processes. Most choose platforms that address very specific use case requirements within their industry.”
Global specialist FSM vendor
What defines a winning platform
Success in FSM is about striking the right balance between capability, credibility and commercial focus. The most effective platforms go beyond digitising forms and scheduling, offering an integrated experience that supports technicians in the field, streamlines back-office operations and delivers a faster, more seamless service for customers.
Depth matters. Providers that build real expertise in specific sectors, understanding regulatory requirements, operational pain points and integration challenges, tend to win trust more easily and expand more effectively.
Innovation also has a role to play. AI and automation are beginning to shape the market, not just behind the scenes, but in areas like dynamic scheduling, predictive maintenance and and optimised inventory management. Done well, these features can be a real differentiator.
“Digital adoption in the space is accelerating, largely because the capabilities simply weren’t there before. It’s enabling better service delivery, better insight, and better decision-making.”
North American specialist FSM vendor
Commercial strategy is just as important. Platforms that invest in brand, partnerships and targeted sales efforts are making progress. Simpro, for example, grew revenues by 32% in 2023 – evidence of strong momentum in what remains a competitive market. Simpro is carving out a clear position in fire protection and security, where it’s leveraging local industry and consulting partners to co-sell its platform. This partnership-led approach is helping the business deepen its vertical presence and build credibility with target customers.
Similarly, Joblogic has delivered strong organic growth by reshaping its sales strategy. Previously reliant on inbound enquiries through digital channels, the business has built a more targeted outbound function, underpinned by senior enterprise sales hires, that’s driving a larger, higher-quality pipeline. These strategies show how a clear proposition backed by a focused go-to-market plan can drive growth.
The FSM space is well-suited to buy-and-build strategies, with opportunities to bring together complementary platforms, deepen vertical coverage or expand into new geographies. Totalmobile, backed by Bowmark Capital, has made four acquisitions since 2021 to extend its reach and product capability. Asolvi, a pan-European platform, has executed a series of acquisitions across sectors such as traffic management and fire protection, while also entering new geographies including Spain, Germany and Latin America.
“The larger platform providers in field service management probably only have a combined 25 to 30% of the market, with the rest being highly fragmented.”
Global specialist FSM vendor
There’s clear demand, plenty of whitespace and room for smart operators to scale, provided they can navigate the sector’s complexity. For investors, the attraction lies in a mix of sticky revenues, digital transformation tailwinds and the chance to back platforms that can genuinely improve how field-based industries work.
If you’re exploring opportunities in the space, or just want to understand what good looks like, we’d be happy to share our perspective. CIL has worked with investors and management teams across a range of FSM engagements.
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