Running a business involves a constant reassessment of where to focus on investment. As a business owner yourself, you have probably recalculated your budget many times to focus on short term goals vs. long term investments to increase future performance.
But did you know that investing a maintenance management solutions like facility management software or CMMS can help you achieve better ROI and keep your assets at peak performance in the long run? You have probably never even thought about adopting software to manage your maintenance tasks.
Say, for example, you have started a new plastic and rubber manufacturing business. You rented a huge space, acquired necessary equipment and machines, and set it up in appropriate locations. You plan to outsource both janitorial and other maintenance management services. But have you asked yourself, “what if I implement a CMMS or facility management software”?
Outsourcing janitorial services can be comparatively quite inexpensive, but what about heavy equipment and machines? Manufacturing equipment and machines comprise a large portion of the investment. Without proper planning and maintenance, the likelihood of equipment failure increases and can put a halt to the entire operations and affect productivity.
In addition to essential equipment, there are HVAC systems to worry about too. You will be amazed to find that even janitorial service providers utilize a maintenance management system of some sort to organize information and maximize output.
Investing in a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) or facility management software is a smart investment for the value it offers by reducing costs, equipment downtime, and improving productivity. For companies that are taking advantage of technology, maintenance management software is one of the most useful tools at a facility or maintenance manager’s disposal.
Let’s take a look at few reasons why investing in maintenance management technology is a smart move to help you better understand.
Offers sustainability
According to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, commercial buildings waste 30% of the energy used on average. Energy consumption on non-commercial or manufacturing plants is twice, thrice, or sometimes more than the amount of energy used in commercial buildings. Studies also show that HVAC systems and lightings typically account for more than three-quarters of a building’s energy use. This wasted can be curbed down using maintenance management solutions. For example, with facility management software, companies can track the consumption and energy costs to add long-term value.
Provides Visibility
Maintenance managers who rely on pen and paper are exposed to higher risks of errors and inaccuracies. Most of them also still use Excel spreadsheets at best. However, Excel spreadsheets do not have the capability to show 3D models and send out notifications. Most modern facility management software has robust analytics dashboard features that show entire maintenance operations occurring in real-time, including operations occurring at multiple facilities. In simple words, it provides a bird’s eye view of entire maintenance management operations, employee availability, and so on.
Increases the Lifespan of Assets
This aspect makes maintenance management tech solution a smart investment. After all, a big chunk of your investment will be spent on assets and equipment. Without maintenance management software, there is no way to schedule planned or preventive maintenance. Well, you could, but it won’t be as effective as when utilizing technology. You will mostly have to rely on reactive maintenance, which is performing maintenance only when equipment breaks down and malfunctions. Finding spare parts of critical equipment can be difficult, and replacing parts can be very costly. This is why the practice of preventive or planned maintenance is so widely recommended by FM professionals. By managing the overall stress level of critical equipment and machines, business owners can improve the lifecycle of their assets. This feat can be best achieved by utilizing a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS).
Renders Mobility
The workforce has become more mobile, and employees have become more flexible in where and how they work. They want to work from home, on the train, or in public places. Most enterprise maintenance management software is cloud-based, and they allow users to access the system from anywhere and anytime. Facility managers can schedule and assign a technician to a maintenance task while sipping a cup of coffee in a coffee bar. Technicians can respond to requests or log maintenance details from literally anywhere. This harmony of interaction enables greater collaboration and enhances productivity.
Reduces Overall Costs
It all boils down to cost transparency and proper allocation of resources. Modern maintenance management systems are connected to financial systems to minimize manual data inputs and ensure data consistency. CMMS, facility management software, or integrated workplace management system all provide managers with valuable information and analytics to help them make better-informed decisions, implement the right measures, and track results.
Wrapping Up
This is just a sneak preview of what maintenance management tech solutions can do. Having a maintenance management solution is all about being more efficient and responsive in day-to-day maintenance operations. This technology will offer a helping hand for your business that you have longed for. From improving your productivity to keeping your employees trained to handling all maintenance operations, these solutions come packed with many other benefits. If a solution can help your staff members gain back useful hours and accomplish more tasks throughout the year, this investment will be worth your while.
Author Bio: Riyan N. Alam is a Digital Marketing Analyst at CloudApper, a cloud ERP service provider, and a lifelong learner with an ongoing curiosity to learn things. Riyan enjoys spending his time traveling, reading up on current industry trends. He uses curiosity, combined with his passion for reading books, to write about subjects valuable to people and their daily lives.