Maintenance management is a crucial part of any business operations. It allows companies to make sure that all of their equipment, facilities and other assets are fully functional at all times. But did you know maintenance management efforts can take up at least 40-50% of a business’ operational budget? On top of that companies use up an average of 80% of operational time reacting to maintenance issues and 19 hours on a weekly basis for scheduled maintenance. So, it comes as no surprise that when Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) software were introduced in the latter part of the eighties, it became one of the most in demand business systems on the market.

CMMS started out as an application for department-specific maintenance that accommodates manual input and on-premise deployment. Over time, it has evolved into a system that covers the different facets of a company’s maintenance efforts. To top it all, thanks to the increasingly scalable designs of modern CMMS, businesses both large and small can now easily handle maintenance efforts digitally.

Since then, these maintenance systems have transformed the way companies handle their maintenance responsibilities. According to a survey by A.T. Kearney and Industry Week Magazine, CMMS can increase maintenance productivity by 28.3%, reduce equipment downtime by 20.1% and lower material costs by 19.4%. From performing routine inspections on tech hardware to repairing broken office fixtures, these systems have automated and optimized the entire process. Users can then shift from paper-based schedule and task maintenance to automated management systems that are easier to access and configure.

The question now is, what’s next for CMMS? To help you get a better idea of what to expect from future CMMS solutions, we have compiled some of the top trends for CMMS for 2018 and beyond.

Better CMMS Mobility

In the recent years, many business processes have become more fast-paced due to technological advances. This has made it difficult for professionals to meet deadlines and keep up with the demands of their customers. Likewise, maintenance management personnel also found it increasingly difficult to monitor equipment, especially if these hardware are located in different facilities. This is why the implementation of mobile-ready systems has become more prevalent.

This version of CMMS can not only make businesses more productive; it also cuts down data entry expenses and simplifies work order tracking and reporting. Because of this, we can expect to see more companies implementing mobile CMMS ecosystems in order to optimize their workflow. In fact, the 2017 Plant Services Pdm Survey showed that 30% of respondents plan to invest in wireless connectivity and in smartphones to reinforce their CMMS efforts in the coming years. In turn, the demand for this feature will lead to more CMMS vendors providing better mobility features for this system.

Predictive Over Preventive Maintenance

Since its inception, CMMS has slowly shifted from providing reactive maintenance measures to preventive maintenance solutions. This preventive approach to maintenance management allows businesses to save 12% to 18% of their budget as they will be able to nip problems in the bud as early as possible. However, this method may soon be replaced by an even more efficient tool in the future: predictive maintenance.

According to the same study, 59% of respondents found predictive maintenance to be one of the top functions of CMMS systems. Facility managers, entrepreneurs, and maintenance management professionals get real-time updates when using these thanks to machine learning algorithms. Unlike more traditional CMMS tools, this uses reliability as its unit of measurement, and helps you identify which assets need more attention when it comes to repairs and maintenance. By utilizing this, you and your staff can save time and energy as it takes out the guesswork in figuring out how you should prioritize assets for maintenance. This comes in handy particularly for big corporations that need to monitor a large amount of hardware at a time.

Utilization of IoT

IoT or Industrial Internet of Things is becoming increasingly popular because of its ability to improve quality control, supply chain traceability, and operational efficiency. In fact, IoT is expected to contribute an estimated $11 trillion to $14.2 trillion to the world economy in the coming years. This is why it only makes sense that many CMMS vendors are incorporating this into their systems.

In a 2018 survey, results even showed that 32% of CMMS users are convinced that IoT can help boost maintenance operations on varying levels. With that said, we can expect more CMMS software vendors offering IoT. By doing so, users can get access to intelligent assets, data communications infrastructures, and analytics applications that can optimize maintenance management solutions. This can increase revenue, customer satisfaction, and prevent operational downtimes.

More Cloud-Based Deployment Options

While many entrepreneurs are still hesitant about investing in a cloud-based system because of security concerns, a majority of businesses today prefer it due to its accessibility. It allows you to gain greater flexibility and control over maintenance management efforts because it is easily accessible from different devices wherever and whenever you want. Moreover, it is available for use without the need for lengthy installations and is monitored by the provider round-the-clock to make sure it is in tiptop condition for your operations.

This deployment option has become such a boon for different types and sizes of companies that the global cloud market is currently growing at a rate of 22% per year. It steadily increased from $87 billion in 2015 to $146 billion in 2017 and is expected to grow even more in 2018 and beyond. With this in mind, users should prepare for themselves to see more cloud-based CMMS solutions on the market as vendors are trying to keep up with other SaaS software offering this type of deployment.

Intuitive Data-Driven Maintenance Options

As mentioned previously, more and more CMMS software vendors are moving towards the use of machine algorithms and artificial intelligence for maintenance management. This will pave the way for more intuitive data-driven maintenance options. Using this, users can get access to ad-hoc query tools and across-the-board sorting and filtering potentials. With these more advanced solutions, you can easily simplify certifications, audits, and even root cause analyses for your operations in the future.

Wider Range of Covered Tasks

Lastly, users can expect CMMS software to offer a range of functions that covers a variety of maintenance management tasks. Originally focusing on work order management for niche industries, these platforms are now designed to cover tasks such as automation and preventive maintenance. But with the growing demand for IIoT and cloud-hosted deployment, users will surely see more CMMS tools that are powerful enough to manage extended enterprises. This can monitor the different aspects of maintenance management for a single business, allowing managers to get complete visibility of all assets using only one server.

Conclusion

Innovation is what drives today’s modern business landscape. This is why many CMMS software vendors are actively looking for ways to make their products more efficient, secure, and cost-effective in the years to come. With these trends in SaaS, you can rely on future CMMS software (also known as facility management software) to be more reliable and intuitive. Moreover, you can expect these new platforms to be able to adapt to the unique needs of your business all the more.

An important thing to note, however, is that while CMMS platforms are evolving to serve you better, the advantages that come with utilizing one will only materialize if you implement it according to industry’s best practices. In addition, if you have yet to invest in a CMMS platform, be sure to choose your software wisely. Consulting a reputable SaaS software directory might help you gauge your prospective systems and find out how they compare against the top solutions in the industry. By doing so, you will surely be able to reap all the benefits that this technology has to offer.

About The Author

Jonathan Davis

Jonathan has been covering asset management, maintenance software, and SaaS solutions since joining Hippo CMMS. Prior to that, he wrote for textbooks and video games.
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