When small businesses require planning, managing, and improving their Maintenance Services, one of the best tools that they can rely on is CMMS software. A CMMS software is an industry-specific software suite design with the aim of standardizing field operations through automation. The prime advantage of the software is that it enhances field workforce productivity and efficiency by optimizing the field operations, reducing operational challenges, and controlling overall cost. Eventually, the use of the software improves service quality and leads to customer satisfaction. Listed below are some of the benefits of using CMS software.
- A CMMS software helps promote preventive maintenance over reactive maintenance.
- It automates the task that is repeated tave and reduce the need for human intervention and thereby saving time
- It functions as a cloud database and facilitates on-the-move data collaboration for multiple participants operating from different locations. They can share information, check on others' data through valid access permission in real-time. The processes get quite fast.
- Using CMMS software is all about digitizing the paperwork involved in various field operations. Right from field data collection to record-keeping to inventory management, every type of data recording and management process can be digitized with the help of CMMS software. This not just helps in keeping the data safe for future use but also makes the sharing of data quite convenient.
- It facilitates improved field visibility. The service manager can keep track of the on-field activities of the technician like which route they are taking, which client site they are working on, their login and logout time for a job, if they are running late for any particular task, etc.
How does CMMS software work?
Computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) software is a tool that helps leaders manage their maintenance operations, field workforce, inventory, workflows, and other processes in a streamlined automated way. CMMS software is offered in two versions: one is for the service manager and one is for the field employees. The dashboard to be used by Service Manager facilitates features like automatic job scheduling of the field technicians, preparing optimal routes for the technicians, maintaining the inventory records, keeping the database regarding clients, managing enterprise data ensuring the right access permissions and other all sorts of management-related operations that can help improve field operations.
The version designed for the use of field technicians provides them with a range of automation features that help facilitate field mobility. For instance, the technicians can get automated messages regarding their schedules. They can use the software to access their self-services like making reimbursement claims, checking on their leaves, etc. all from any location.
Technicians can install the CMMS software on their personal devices and can use it while being on the move. CMMS software is one of the revolutionary tools that has provided field technicians with the necessary mobility solutions enabling them to overcome field operational challenges like dependence on back-office staff for accessing enterprise data, scheduling conflicts like overlap schedules mists schedules duplicate schedules extra. Having the software installed in their personal devices also enables them to always travel through optimized routes that save their travel time and well expenses.
One of the prime advantages facilitated by CMMS software to the field technician is the improvement in their first visit effectiveness. When a field technician visits the client site and finds difficulty in resolving the issue then instead of keeping the issue pending for a next-day resolvement the technician can directly access the troubleshooting tutorials like AR videos via the software and resolve the issues right there from the client site. This way the first visit effectiveness of field technicians improves.
Choosing the right CMMS maintenance software
If you are interested in getting CMMS software for your business to improve the operational efficiency and productivity of your field workforce and field operation then here are a few tips to help you choose the right CMS software.
Look for the software that has the must-have features to facilitate automation in the very basic and necessary field operations such as job scheduling, route planning, inventory management, data management, team collaboration, etc.
If you are going for a customized CMMS software for your requirement then connect with a software development company that has a ready-to-deploy software suite with a customization facility to build over it. This way you won't require developing software from the scratch rather you can integrate customized features over a ready to deploy software framework. This improves time to the market and also the development process proves to be cost-effective.
Last but not least you should always consult with the development company and check if the software is future-ready. As you understand, the maintenance industry is undergoing massive transformation owing to the technological development in the field of Artificial Intelligence and IoT. So it is important that you choose software that either has these features integrated into it or has the capacity to support these features in the future if the requirement arises.
