Roles in Field Service - Shifton Service Help

In Shifton Field Service, roles define each user’s level of access, responsibility, and permissions within the system. Proper role configuration helps protect sensitive data, structure workflows, and ensure smooth coordination across tasks, employees, schedules, and company operations.

Owner

The Owner is the user who initially registered the company. This role is assigned automatically and holds the highest level of access in the system.

Owner capabilities:

Full access to all system settings and modules
Management of payment methods (add, edit, remove cards)
Modification of company billing details and legal information for invoices
Subscription and plan management
Adding, editing, and removing Administrators and Employees

Ownership Transfer

The Owner role can be transferred to another user.
To transfer ownership, go to:
Company Settings → Company Name → Change Owner

After confirmation, the selected user becomes the new Owner, while the previous Owner automatically becomes an Employee.

Administrator

The Administrator role can be assigned by the Owner or another Administrator.

Administrator capabilities:

Almost identical rights to the Owner
Can manage employees, schedules, tasks, service zones, and modules
Can configure company workflows and operational settings
Does not have access to financial and billing information

Administrators are responsible for managing the system, but they cannot change payment methods, update billing data, or transfer ownership.

Employee

The Employee is the default role for regular system users. Employees have basic access designed for day-to-day operational work.

Default Employee capabilities:

View only their own task schedule
Perform assigned tasks and update statuses
Receive and return inventory items
View personal inventory records

By default, Employees cannot create or approve tasks, view other users’ schedules, or access company settings.

Extended Roles for Employees (Functional Roles in Service Zones)

Employees can be given additional roles that expand their responsibilities within specific Service Zones.

Role	Purpose	Capabilities
Technician	Task executor	Can see and perform tasks assigned within the zone
Task Requester	Task creator	Can create new tasks, select client addresses, and assign them to zones
Task Approver	Supervisor / Controller	Approves or rejects task creation and assignment requests

These roles are assigned individually and can differ between zones. For example, an employee can be a Technician in one zone and a Task Approver in another.

Role Comparison Overview

Feature / Permission	Owner	Administrator	Employee
Full system access	✔️	✔️	❌
Manage payment methods	✔️	❌	❌
Manage company legal and billing info	✔️	❌	❌
Transfer ownership	✔️	❌	❌
Invite / remove users	✔️	✔️	❌
Manage settings and modules	✔️	✔️	❌
Create and assign tasks	✔️	✔️	⚠️ (with role)
Approve tasks	✔️	✔️	⚠️ (with role)
See and complete own tasks	✔️	✔️	✔️
Manage personal inventory	✔️	✔️	✔️

⚠️ — Requires additional assigned role in service zones

Key Points to Remember

The Owner has full control — including billing and company identity — but can transfer their role.
Administrators manage daily operations, users, zones, and tasks, but cannot access financial settings.
Employees work with tasks and inventory, and can gain extra permissions through functional roles.
Functional roles (Technician, Task Requester, Task Approver) can be assigned per zone, giving precise control over responsibilities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What are roles in Field Service?

Roles determine a user’s level of access, responsibilities, and permissions within the Shifton Field Service system. They help structure workflows, protect sensitive data, and coordinate tasks across users.

Who is the Owner in Field Service?

The Owner is the user who first registered the company. This role has the highest level of access, including all system settings, billing, invoices, user invitations, and more.

What can the Owner do?

Owners can:

access all system modules and settings;
manage payment methods and billing info;
subscribe or change plans;
add, edit, or remove Administrators and Employees;
transfer ownership.

How does ownership transfer work?

The Owner can transfer their role to another user. After transfer, the previous Owner becomes a regular Employee. The transfer option is found in the Company Settings → Change Owner menu.

What is an Administrator in Field Service?

An Administrator is assigned by the Owner or another Administrator. They have broad permissions for managing users, schedules, tasks, service zones, and system modules — but cannot access billing or financial settings.

What can an Administrator manage?

Administrators can:

manage employees;
configure workflows;
assign tasks;
update company settings (except payment/billing);
oversee daily operations.

What is the default Employee role?

The Employee role is the default for regular users. Employees can view and complete tasks assigned to them, update task statuses, receive and return inventory items, and view their own inventory.

Can Employees access schedules or settings of others?

No — by default, Employees can only see their own assigned tasks and personal inventory, not other users’ schedules or company settings.

What are Extended Roles (Functional Roles in Service Zones)?

Beyond core roles, employees can be assigned functional roles within service zones such as:

Technician — task executor within a zone;

Task Requester — can create and assign tasks;

Task Approver — can review and approve task requests.

Can an employee have different roles in different zones?

Yes. A user can be assigned different functional roles for different service zones (e.g., a Technician in one zone and a Task Approver in another).

How do roles affect what a user can do?

The role determines what a user sees and can perform:

Owners and Administrators have broad access;
Employees have task-related access;
functional roles add permissions within specific zones.