How many different software applications do you have to open in order to do your job? Are you frustrated with a crowded laptop? A slow interface from all the programs that are running in the background? When people invest in an EAM system that isn’t efficient they err on the side of trying to fix it without involving another software application. Unfortunately, this can be costly, frustrating, and it can take much more time than simply adding another software application. Let’s discuss when would be a good time to invest in another software application.
Many companies try to just make do with Excel and spreadsheets. This is inadequate on many fronts, the first being the lack of simplicity. When companies expand and grow, so do their assets. Eventually, the number of spreadsheets required is too much to efficiently email, merge, and manage. The security of managing data in spreadsheets is concerning and by nature they provide no audit trail. These spreadsheets can’t be automated, which wastes employee time with mundane tasks. For example, data within spreadsheets can’t be validated, and it can’t be prepopulated. Often our customers struggle with many human errors buried in their spreadsheets and then complain that they can’t visualize their data from a single spreadsheet. The worst part is that spreadsheets can’t integrate with your core corporate systems such as your EAM.
One of the biggest urges to switch to software is when your data is stored in paper documents. You have no insurance that it won’t be lost or destroyed. In addition, specific documents may be hard to find which takes away from precious wrench time. And, if you have multiple facilities then the paper document may not even be accessible to the people that need it. Consider reading our blog on migrating from paper to digital, called “Can your Data Catch Fire”.
Another cost benefit of switching to a more convenient piece of software is if you are spending huge sums on consultants. They generally charge way too much, their work isn’t trackable, and this is not a long-term solution. Often the need for consultants stems from having an old software application that is no longer supported or a home-built custom solution. If your current software is slow, bulky, and not useful, then migrating to a different piece of software is the smartest and cheapest decision for the long term.
Lastly, if you find that your staff are spending time on incredibly manual tasks, then it is time for a new piece of software. These manual tasks could be conducted so much quicker, and then employees would have time freed up to do more valuable work.
How NRX AssetHub can Help
NRX AssetHub provides maintenance and reliability professionals at asset-intensive businesses with world-class software solutions for analyzing, visualizing, building, editing, organizing, approving, and sustaining high-quality Asset and Maintenance Data for their Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) And Computerized Maintenance Management (CMMS) system. One of the things our customers use NRX AssetHub for is to migrate data to an EAM system from one or more existing asset management systems. Reach out to our data management experts to find out more!
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