what3words Integration

GPS Location Tracking & what3words for Field Service

Know exactly where your engineers are and where they need to be—anywhere in the world. Field Ascend combines Google Maps geocoding, real-time GPS tracking, and what3words precision—so engineers get one-tap navigation to the right entrance, plant room, or equipment location every time. No more circling car parks or calling for directions.

The ultimate field service software with engineer tracking for maintenance and trade businesses worldwide.

30-day free trial · Full access to all tracking features

What is what3words?

what3words is a global addressing system that divides the world into 3 metre squares, each with a unique three-word address. Instead of relying on postcodes that cover entire streets or GPS coordinates that are hard to remember, you can pinpoint an exact location with just three words.

For field service engineers, this is a game-changer. Traditional addresses often lead to the wrong entrance, the main reception instead of the plant room, or the front of a building when you need the service yard. With what3words, you can specify the exact 3m×3m square—whether that's a rooftop access hatch, a basement entrance, or specific equipment in a warehouse.

Example what3words Address

///filled.count.soap

This three-word address pinpoints a specific 3m×3m square anywhere in the world—like a site entrance, equipment location, or plant room door.

GPS Tracking Features

Field Ascend provides comprehensive FSM software with tracking capabilities—from live engineer locations to GPS-verified timesheets and intelligent geofencing.

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Live Engineer Tracking

See exactly where your engineers are right now on an interactive map. View status indicators (travelling, on-site, available), speed, and heading data. Perfect for dispatchers managing multiple engineers across a region. Learn more about live tracking.

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Job Mapping Software

Visualise all jobs on a map with colour-coded status indicators. Use the lasso tool to select multiple jobs for bulk assignment. See unallocated work, engineer positions, and optimal routing at a glance. Explore map allocation.

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GPS Smart Audit

Cross-reference clock-in/out times with GPS coordinates. If an engineer clocks on site but the GPS shows they're miles away, the system flags it for review. Eliminates timesheet disputes and provides audit evidence. Learn about timesheets.

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Geofencing & Territories

Create engineer territories using polygons, radius circles, or travel-time isochrones. Auto-assign jobs to engineers within their zone, alert when assigning outside boundaries, or use visual-only mode for planning. Explore geofencing.

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Google Maps Geocoding

Every site address is automatically geocoded using the Google Maps Geocoding API for precise GPS coordinates—worldwide. London postcodes, New York zip codes, Bangkok districts—it all just works. Sites display on a satellite map preview so you can visually confirm the pin before sending an engineer.

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One-Tap Navigation

Engineers tap once and get turn-by-turn directions via their phone's native map app—Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Waze. No copying addresses or searching manually. Coordinates are cached locally, so navigation works even in basements or areas with no signal.

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what3words Integration

Add what3words addresses to sites for pinpoint accuracy. Engineers see the three-word address and can navigate directly to the exact location—no more wandering around large sites or calling for directions. Perfect for deliveries, plant rooms, and equipment access points.

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Mobile App Tracking

GPS tracking built into the Field Ascend mobile app for engineers. Location is captured throughout the working day with configurable intervals. Works offline and syncs when signal returns. Learn about the engineer app.

Why GPS + what3words Matters

Find the Right Spot First Time

How many times have your engineers arrived at a site only to spend 15 minutes finding the right entrance? With what3words integration, you specify exactly where they need to be—not just the building, but the actual door, loading bay, or equipment location.

  • Pinpoint entrances, plant rooms, and access points
  • Reduce time wasted navigating large sites
  • Works for rural locations with no proper address
  • Three-word addresses are easy to share by phone or text
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Track Engineers in Real Time

When a customer calls asking where their engineer is, you shouldn't have to ring around to find out. Field Ascend's field service software with engineer tracking shows you live positions on an interactive map—whether they're across town or across the world.

  • See all engineers on one map with status indicators
  • View travel direction lines showing where they're heading
  • Historical route playback for auditing and optimisation
  • Works globally—UK, Europe, Americas, Middle East, Asia Pacific
  • Configurable per-tenant—enable or disable as needed
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Verify Timesheets Automatically

GPS Smart Audit cross-references your timesheets with actual location data. If times don't match GPS positions, the system flags it for review—giving you audit evidence and eliminating disputes.

  • Automatic comparison of clock times vs GPS location
  • Visual flags for discrepancies requiring review
  • Full audit trail for billing and payroll evidence
  • Optional feature—enable based on your company policy

The most powerful timesheet software for field engineers available. Learn more.

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Where what3words Helps

Traditional addresses fail in many field service scenarios. Here's where three-word precision makes a real difference.

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Large Commercial Sites

Office parks, shopping centres, and industrial estates with multiple entrances. Specify the exact loading bay or service entrance.

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Construction Sites

No street address yet? what3words pinpoints the portacabin, welfare unit, or specific area on site.

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Rural Locations

Farm buildings, remote pump stations, and rural substations where postcodes cover miles of area.

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Plant Rooms & Basements

Mark the exact access door to plant rooms, basement entrances, or rooftop access hatches.

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Lift & Equipment Locations

Pinpoint specific lifts in multi-lift buildings or equipment in large warehouses. Perfect for lift maintenance companies.

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Delivery & Collection Points

Specify exactly where deliveries should be dropped or equipment collected—not just "somewhere at this address".

Frequently Asked Questions

What is what3words and how does it help field service?

what3words divides the entire world into 3 metre squares, each with a unique three-word address like ///filled.count.soap. For field service, this means engineers can find exact entrances, plant rooms, or equipment locations that traditional addresses can't pinpoint. It's especially useful for large sites, rural locations, and places where GPS coordinates alone aren't precise enough.

How does GPS tracking work for field engineers?

Field Ascend's mobile app captures engineer GPS location throughout the working day. The office team can see live positions on an interactive map, view travel routes, and verify timesheets against actual locations. GPS data is stored securely and only accessible to authorised users within your organisation. Field Ascend works globally—whether your engineers are in the UK, Europe, North America, the Middle East, or Asia Pacific.

How does automatic site geocoding work?

Every site address you enter is automatically geocoded using the Google Maps Geocoding API to obtain precise GPS coordinates. This works for any address worldwide—from London postcodes to New York zip codes to Bangkok districts. Engineers get one-tap navigation from the app directly to the exact site using Apple Maps, Google Maps, or Waze. Coordinates are cached locally so navigation works even without mobile signal.

Can GPS tracking verify engineer timesheets?

Yes. Field Ascend's GPS Smart Audit feature cross-references clock-in and clock-out times with GPS coordinates. If an engineer clocks on site but the GPS shows they're miles away, the system flags it for review. This eliminates timesheet disputes and provides audit evidence for billing. Learn more about timesheet features.

What is geofencing in field service software?

Geofencing creates virtual boundaries on a map. In Field Ascend, you can define engineer territories using polygons, radius circles, or travel-time isochrones. Jobs can be auto-assigned to engineers within their geofence, alerts can trigger when assigning outside boundaries, or you can use visual-only mode for planning. Explore geofencing features.

Is engineer GPS tracking GDPR compliant?

Field Ascend is designed with privacy in mind. GPS tracking is configurable per tenant—you can enable or disable it based on your company policy. Location data is only collected during work hours and is accessible only to authorised admin users. We recommend informing your engineers about tracking as part of your employment policies.

Does tracking work offline?

Yes. The Field Ascend mobile app uses true offline-first architecture. GPS data, job details, and site coordinates are all cached locally in SQLite. Engineers can navigate to sites, record times, and complete jobs even with zero signal—everything syncs automatically when connectivity returns. No data is ever lost.

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