AI Job Scheduling | FieldCamp

FieldCamp's AI Job Scheduling analyzes team availability, travel routes, skill requirements, and workload distribution to find the best possible time slot for any job. Instead of manually cross-referencing calendars and maps, the AI handles the optimization in seconds.

Schedule Jobs with the Command Centre

The fastest way to use AI scheduling is through the Command Centre:

• "Schedule an HVAC inspection for Smith Residence this week, 2-hour job"
• "Find the best time for a plumbing repair at 789 Pine Street, keep travel under 30 minutes"
• "Schedule Sarah Johnson's annual maintenance — assign the closest available tech"
• "Dispatch all unscheduled jobs for this week"

The AI considers every factor below and returns the best slot. You confirm and the job is created. See AI Skills for more examples.

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AI Scheduling Inside FieldCamp vs AI Dispatcher

FieldCamp has two ways to use AI for scheduling. It helps to understand when to use which:

For day-to-day job creation, the built-in AI scheduling is all you need. For teams handling high volumes of incoming work or wanting a dedicated dispatch workflow, the AI Dispatcher provides a full dispatch operations center.

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How AI Scheduling Works Step by Step

Here is exactly what happens when you enable AI scheduling for a job:

1. You enable "Let AI Find The Best Time" — On the job creation form, check the AI scheduling toggle. The smart scheduling interface appears.

2. You set the parameters — Duration, completion timeline, and travel limits (detailed in the sections below).

3. AI checks all technicians — The engine scans every team member's schedule for the requested time window.

4. AI applies filters — It eliminates anyone who:

   • Does not have the required skills (exact match required)
   • Is already booked during the requested window (conflict detection)
   • Exceeds their daily job capacity
   • Is on time-off or outside business hours

5. AI ranks remaining candidates — From the qualified, available technicians, the AI ranks by:

   • Travel distance from their previous job to this job site
   • Current workload balance (prefers underloaded technicians)
   • Customer time window preference (if the client requested a morning or afternoon slot)
   • Performance history on similar job types

6. AI presents the suggestion — The best option appears with reasoning ("Mike Torres is closest, has the right skills, and has a light schedule on Tuesday"). Alternatives are available if you want to compare.

7. You confirm — Click Accept and the visit is created with the selected time and technician.

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AI Scheduling in the Job Modal

You can also activate AI scheduling while creating a job manually:

Step 1: Enable AI Scheduling

In the scheduling section of the job creation modal, check "Let AI Find The Best Time". The smart scheduling interface appears.

Step 2: Set Job Duration

"How long will this job take?"

• Quick options: 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours
• Custom for specific durations (e.g., 90 minutes, 6 hours)
• The AI uses this to block the right amount of time and avoid conflicts

Step 3: Define Completion Timeline

"When do you need this done?"

Step 4: Set Travel Parameters

"Maximum travel time from previous job"

Step 5: Review the Suggestion

The AI presents the optimal time slot with reasoning, plus alternatives if available. Click Accept to use the suggestion, Show Alternatives for other options, or override manually.

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What the AI Considers

Here is the full list of factors the AI evaluates for every scheduling decision:

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AI Team Suggestions

Click the Handy Suggestion button (sparkle icon) in the team assignment section. The AI ranks team members by:

• Distance from the team member to the job location
• Skills matching the job requirements
• Availability during the suggested time slot
• Workload balance across the team
• Performance history on similar jobs

This is useful even when you are not using full AI scheduling — you are picking the time manually but want help choosing the right person.

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Dispatch Modes

AI scheduling supports two dispatch modes:

Immediate dispatch — The AI assigns and schedules the job the moment you confirm. The visit is created, the technician is notified, and the calendar updates instantly. Use this for urgent jobs or when you want to finalize the schedule right away.

Queue dispatch — The job goes into a pending queue for review. You (or the AI Dispatcher) can review the queue and dispatch jobs in batches. This is useful for operations that prefer to plan the full day or week before committing.

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Bulk Dispatch

Select multiple unscheduled jobs and dispatch them all at once:

1. Go to the Jobs list and filter by "Unscheduled"
2. Select the jobs you want to dispatch (checkbox on each row)
3. Click Dispatch Selected
4. The AI optimizes all selected jobs together — considering the combined travel routes, skill requirements, and team capacity
5. Review the suggested assignments and confirm

Bulk dispatch saves significant time when you have a queue of incoming work from online booking, service requests, or recurring job creation.

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When AI Cannot Find Anyone

Sometimes the AI cannot find a conflict-free assignment. When this happens, the job is flagged and the AI explains why. Common reasons:

See Conflict Detection and Resolution for how to handle specific conflict types.

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AI Dispatcher Add-on

For teams that handle high volumes of incoming work, FieldCamp offers the AI Dispatcher as an add-on. The Dispatcher goes beyond single-job scheduling to manage your entire queue:

The Dispatcher uses the same AI engine described above but applies it across your whole operation. For teams that need dedicated dispatch management, the AI Dispatcher app at dispatcher.fieldcamp.ai offers advanced features like multi-day route chaining and automated dispatch workflows.

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Related Articles

• Creating a Job
• Job Management Overview
• Understanding Visits
• Conflict Detection and Resolution
• Calendar Views
• Route Optimization
• AI Skills
• What Is AI Dispatcher
• Recurring Jobs