In the Market for a new CMMS Software? Here is a realistic short list of the 6 critical factors to consider and why.
Efficiency, ESG, and cost pressures in today’s environment are driving many organizations to rethink their approach to delivering maintenance services. Whether you’re an asset stakeholder or service provider, the pressure is on to deliver maintenance at a lower cost, higher quality, and better overall efficiency.
Here are the six factors that we come across as organizations are navigating their choices.
- What about IoT? will the collection of sensor data help us become “predictive” and avoid costly hazards?
Yes, it is true. Implementing IoT can help you predict and avoid costly hazards by providing vital data for early problem detection in assets. This enables predictive analytics on critical asset conditions. However, IoT requires a significant initial investment in hardware and networks, along with expertise in asset data. Essentially, a successful IoT-enabled CMMS depends on high-quality data and robust technical logic.
- AI – Enabled CMMS can help in the decision making and automation, right?
Like IoT, AI can be incredibly valuable for managing complex maintenance requirements and uncovering hidden operational threats. While some software offers ready-to-use AI for scheduling and job distribution, tasks like asset failure prediction and smart inventory management often need custom solutions. Effective AI models must be trained on specific data to be truly useful.
- Mobile, Mobile, Mobile – is it really something important?
Yes indeed, mobility offers substantial advantages in cutting costs, boosting productivity, and achieving ESG goals. Mobile solutions ease administrative burdens for frontline technicians, provide on-the-go access to information, and ensure high-quality data collection. However, there are challenges like onboarding, training, and providing mobile devices. Despite these hurdles, the benefits of mobility far outweigh the costs.
- Cloud-Based Platform – On-premise sounds like a better approach?
This is another point we come across quite often. Cloud-based platforms come with numerous benefits such as lower total cost of ownership (TCO), AI capabilities, continuous improvements, faster deployment, and flexible business models. On-premise solutions might offer better data residency and perceived privacy. Yet, the advantages of cloud platforms typically outweigh these concerns. It’s essential to partner with a vendor that can address privacy and residency issues effectively.
- Predictive & Proactive Maintenance – that’s what we really want. Can you provide it?
While predictive maintenance is the ultimate goal due to its significant savings and benefits, it’s a journey with several steps. Achieving it requires a fully digital landscape, IoT-connected assets, a connected workforce, deep knowledge of asset data, and substantial historical data. Moreover, a solid business logic and an AI model trained on that logic are crucial. Investing in more than just software is necessary to reach the predictive stage.
- What is meant by Data-Driven Maintenance? How does that help us?
Data-driven maintenance means making decisions based on available data from various sources like human input, IoT, or machine learning analysis. Even without IoT or AI infrastructure, you can be data-driven if you have tools to capture accurate data. Data-driven systems optimize resource scheduling, technician dispatch, cost efficiency, and inventory distribution. A good CMMS collects, analyzes, and presents data to guide efficient operational decisions.
Conclusion: Choosing the right CMMS involves a thorough understanding of your organization’s specific needs and how different features and technologies can address them. Factors such as IoT integration, AI capabilities, mobile access, cloud-based solutions, predictive maintenance, and data-driven approaches are critical. Each offers distinct benefits and challenges, and it is essential to balance these to achieve the best outcomes for your maintenance operations. Working with a vendor that can adapt to your unique requirements and provide comprehensive support will be key to successful implementation and long-term efficiency gains.
