CEO Insights Magazine

The role of a CEO in business is pivotal, encompassing leadership, strategic decisionmaking, and overall management while being responsible for steering companies toward their goals. Amal Mohan, the Founder & CEO of Fieldmaster.ai, serves as a prime example of the critical role CEOs play in driving company growth. His journey, evolving from a childhood coding enthusiast to an MBA graduate, showcases a blend of technological expertise and entrepreneurial fervor. Fueled by inspiration drawn from field service contracts, Amal developed a suite of applications that tripled company profitability. Under Amal’s leadership, Fieldmaster.ai adopts a consultative SaaS model, providing customized solutions swiftly deployed within days.

Amal’s advice to emerging leaders underscores the importance of diverse industry knowledge and problem-solving skills. With Fieldmaster.ai poised to address market gaps and deliver tailored solutions globally, Amal’s leadership brings exciting prospects to the forefront. Let’s dive into this interaction to know more.

Could you provide a concise overview of your career path and share the motivations that led to the creation of Fieldmaster.ai?

From childhood, I've harboured twin passions for computers and entrepreneurship. In sixth grade, I delved into coding, earning pocket money by assembling PCs and installing software. Following engineering and MBA studies, I commenced a career in Supply Chain Management with a major oil firm, but eventually transitioned to entrepreneurship. Initially, I ventured into ecommerce, gaining valuable business insights despite its short-lived success. Subsequently, I seized an opportunity in field service contracts within Oman's utility sector. With a small team, I managed both field and back-office operations, gradually automating processes with scripts. By 2018, I dedicated myself to developing a comprehensive suite of applications, resulting in a 3X industry average profitability and enhanced customer satisfaction. Post-pandemic, I launched Fieldmaster.ai, leveraging the technology to benefit competitors and experiencing exponential growth, leading to a full focus shift from contracting to Fieldmaster.ai. 

We've established ourselves as a 'Consultative SaaS', offering personalized solutions that precisely meet each client's requirements at a monthly rate. Our adeptness in deploying these customized solutions within 2 to 7 days without upfront costs ensures no penalties for clients regarding development timelines or expenses. Additionally, we provide ongoing customizations at no extra cost and avoid enforcing long-term contracts. Clients can easily cancel engagements if expectations aren't met, a scenario we've never encountered, reflecting our commitment to customer optimization.

As the Founder & CEO, what factors do you consider when formulating successful corporate growth strategies for the company?

Unlike standardized accounting or HR processes, the workflows and parameters for field service contracts vary greatly for each client and project, continually evolving throughout the project's lifecycle. Failure of software to meet these nuances or adapt to evolving processes results in increased manual labor to fill gaps, evident in wasted man-hours on Excel operations, manual coordination, and basic reporting. Therefore, a volume-based approach isn't favored; instead, we target customers with acute pains, collaborating closely to provide 5X to 10X value. Our growth has been organic through word-of-mouth and upselling. Moving forward, systemizing service delivery for scalability without compromising quality is paramount.

How do you share your expertise to steer your team in assisting businesses in smoothly executing fieldwork operations and projects?

Navigating this is challenging since every business is distinct. Even if two companies tackle the same project for the same client, their approaches vary. I frequently meet with Project Consultants to grasp project intricacies and offer guidance rooted in my fieldwork experience. For complex projects, I urge site visits to grasp real-world dynamics. Encouraging team learning breaks knowledge barriers. On the development front, I continuously refine product and system architecture to align with customer needs, ensuring regular meetings and thorough documentation.

Share your leadership style with us. What principles or methodologies guide your approach as a leader?

I adopt a results-driven approach, delegating responsibilities with clear accountability. While I emphasize ethical conduct, I don't micromanage details like work hours or locations. Our office often sits empty as employees work remotely or visit clients. I align the team with company goals through incentive structures, echoing Charlie Munger's sentiment: 'Show me the incentives and I will show you the outcome'. By hiring the right people and crafting effective incentives, micromanagement becomes unnecessary. I encourage autonomous decision-making, allowing employees to learn through experience, even if it means making mistakes. Accessibility is key - I ensure availability for productive discussions through easily bookable time slots.

What is your future destination, and based on your strong professional experiences, what advice would you give to budding industry leaders?

Considering the widespread need for field services across various sectors, including utilities, telecom, manufacturing, and more, alongside the challenges faced by companies with outdated tools and a hesitance to invest, it's evident that there's a significant market gap. These inefficiencies, often addressed through manual processes, result in substantial global costs. The scarcity of technology firms offering tailored, rapidly deployable solutions creates a prime opportunity for growth. I learnt that a good path to success is to learn about two completely different industries intimately, and then marry them both in a way that creates an astounding amount of value for one of them. Coupled with a relentless passion for learning and problemsolving tenacity, this approach can pave the way for success.

Amal Mohan Founder & CEO, Fieldmaster.ai

Amal Mohan, Founder & CEO of Fieldmaster.ai, is a visionary leader revolutionizing field service management. With a passion for technology and entrepreneurship, he drives innovation to deliver tailored solutions, enhancing operational efficiency for diverse industries.