Once a company makes the decision to invest in a computerized maintenance management system (CMMS), the next step is evaluating vendors to determine which system is the best fit.
Defining CMMS selection criteria upfront is invaluable in streamlining the process and increasing the probability that the chosen CMMS will help a company to achieve their maintenance goals. Many factors influence a company’s maintenance priorities such as the size of operations, number of technicians, types of assets, etc. There is no “one size fits all” approach to CMMS selection, but the five key criteria to consider are:
- Ease of Use.
- Mobile CMMS Capability.
- Reporting.
- Scalability.
- Strong Services & Support.
These are certainly not the only criteria on which CMMS vendors should be evaluated, but they are areas that have a significant impact when it comes to long-term CMMS success.
1. Ease of use.
The more complicated a CMMS is the greater the chance of failure. A complicated system is not necessarily the one with the most functionality, but instead refers to how the functionality is presented within the workflow of the system. Is it easy to transition from one screen to the next? Is the interface and workflow intuitive?
For organizations that are not currently using a CMMS, adopting software that changes how workers do their job can be intimidating to those inexperienced with technology. A CMMS that rates high in ease of use should have the capability to ease users into the system. For example, if there is extraneous information that will not be used by a company, can it be turned off?
To be thorough in evaluating ease of use, all users should be a part of the process. If technicians find a system difficult to use, they will not readily adopt it, which diminishes the value of the CMMS. Involve technicians and other key stakeholders in reviewing the user interface, workflow and other key features to ensure they are bought into the system.
2. Mobile CMMS capability
Mobile functionality within a CMMS is valuable, as 50% of technicians now use a mobile device for work orders.¹ The power that a mobile CMMS provides means that while working on equipment in the field, a technician can complete the necessary tasks for the maintenance and repair efficiently:
- Retrieving procedures and documentation.
- Evaluating the equipment’s maintenance history.
- Checking parts availability.
- Initiating parts orders.
- Updating work order status.
Labor efficiency gains combined with more accurate maintenance performance metrics are a strong combination that enhance the overall value of a CMMS.
All mobile CMMS software is not created equal. Some tie users to a particular type of device. Device-agnostic mobile applications give users the flexibility to have diverse mobile devices and to change devices in the future without additional costs.
Even if mobility functions will not be implemented initially, the opportunity to add this capability later can be valuable.
3. Reporting.
A good CMMS not only helps companies manage their maintenance programs, but also serves as a repository for historical asset and maintenance work order information. To take advantage of the data, companies must convert it into actionable intelligence that drives continuous improvement. This process starts with establishing metrics and reporting that companies can then act upon to improve results. A good CMMS makes it easy for each user to extract and analyze data in the way that makes it most useful for them.
Companies have varied reporting needs at all levels of their organization. For example, an Operations VP responsible for multiple sites might want the ability to compare each site’s monthly maintenance spend on similar equipment. A maintenance supervisor at one of those sites might want to look at an asset’s average repair time. Flexible and configurable reporting is essential to an effective CMMS.²
Maintenance Connection’s effective CMMS reporting provides a thorough library of reports that can deliver a good starting point. However, robust reporting must also offer the flexibility for companies to tailor reports to their specific needs. Reporting is a great vehicle to increase the value of a CMMS by enabling better informed business decisions.
4. Scalability.
There are two main scalability considerations to assess. The first is how the system fits a company. For instance, if the company has ten maintenance technicians, one operating unit, and one hundred assets, a CMMS with a complicated hierarchical structure might not be the best choice.
The second scalability consideration is the ability of a system to grow with an organization’s needs. If a company is rolling out a CMMS at one site, but may want to roll out to other locations in the future, they need to consider how easy or difficult a system’s design may make that expansion process.
5. Strong services and support.
While a vendor’s CMMS software is core to the selection and buying process, the vendor organization is equally important. Good vendors are partners with their customers in implementation, training and ongoing support. Implementation services are a natural part of a CMMS project. Thorough vendors acknowledge this and include these costs upfront. Companies should be able to ask vendors for a clear implementation plan with expected timeframes before starting a CMMS project. Companies can ask to meet potential resources that might be working on their project.
Training can take many forms and is not just a one-time activity. Any suggested formal training should be outlined clearly by the vendor and should define the duration, number of users that can be included in the sessions, the materials that will be provided, etc. Besides formal training, companies may want to inquire about online training options and other training resources that are available to users on a continuous basis.
As part of their proposals, CMMS vendors typically include how training will be conducted, how much it costs, what resources are available and any additional training options. If this information is not part of the original proposal, companies may want to ask for it.
Once a CMMS is in place, questions will arise, and the vendor’s support team is critical to helping companies work through any issues. A strong support team has 24/7 coverage and works quickly to resolve issues, escalating them when necessary. The support team also works with a vendor’s engineering and product management teams to identify any bug fixes needed based on collective customer feedback.