Enterprises using IBM Maximo can reap more benefits from their investment by empowering their field workforce with smartphones to access Maximo via apps. Mobile apps can help field technicians get more insights into the work to be performed and update the actual work efficiently.
Choosing a Mobile app based on ease of use and performance is crucial, as most mobile implementations fail because of these two factors. The native mobile apps built separately for iOS and Android operating systems are known for ease of use and performance. They can leverage smartphone features more effectively to improve the productivity of field technicians than the cross-platform apps built commonly for all operating systems. The native mobile apps can also leverage advanced features such as Bluetooth connectivity with Beacons/NFC tags/Printers, Augmented Reality (AR) & Machine Learning (ML) kits more easily to enhance the Maximo utilization.
I have listed the top 10 reasons to consider Mobile apps for Maximo EAM.
- Eliminating Paperwork & Dual Entry: The mobile app lets users update work orders directly on the point of work, saving 1000+ reams of paper. It also eliminates dual updates, first in a paper form and then in Maximo.
- Enhanced Data Visibility: The mobile app can integrate with Enterprise solutions such as GIS platforms, Document Management tools, and peripherals such as Beacons, Printers, Trimble Devices, etc., to display the data required for work contextually in the field.
- Real-Time Notifications: The mobile app can provide real-time notifications for work assignments and various workflow actions for effective communication and quicker actions.
- Uninterrupted Data Access: The mobile app's seamless online/offline capabilities help the technician access the data in the field with limited or no network accessibility.
- Improved Safety: The mobile app can enhance how safety prompts and notifications are communicated to the users. The app can mandate the user to acknowledge the safety information to start the work.
- Ease of work with maps: The mobile app can provide direct access to ESRI and Google maps for travel routes to work locations and the geospatial view of linear asset layers. It helps the Technician to perform work effectively and efficiently.
- Improved First-Time-Fix-Rate (FTFR): The mobile app can display the Asset's maintenance history before starting the work, provide remote assistance from a subject matter expert using an Augmented Reality (AR) kit, and display relevant documents based on the Asset's image using a Machine Learning (ML) kit. It helps the Technician to fix the issues effectively to improve the first-time fix rates.
- Improved Opportunity Maintenance: The mobile app can contextually display nearby open work orders and the upcoming PM work orders, facilitating the field technician to efficiently identify and execute the unassigned upcoming work.
- Digitization of Inspections: The mobile app can provide end-to-end support for the new Maximo Inspections; it not only digitizes your manual forms but also enhances the inspection process by capturing photos, videos, audio notes, documents, etc. Follow-up questions and actions can be initiated contextually based on the inspection results, saving time and effort for the workforce.
- Improved maintenance metrics: The mobile app can help to improve maintenance metrics such as Labor productivity, Wrench time, Work order completion, Asset Downtime & Inventory accuracy by effectively utilizing Maximo.
Author:
Arul Varadarajan
Principal Consultant & Managing Partner - Enterprise Asset Management
