One of the essential queries that should be asked before making CMMS integration is, Is it valuable? Basically, integration is important for speeding up company procedures and making data analysis and reporting easier. To better understand your business processes, data can be shared and exchanged instantly and without delays between various software applications through integrations. First, what is CMMS integration?
CMMS integration is a process of enabling two or more software systems to communicate with one another by making shared data accessible to all systems and facilitating its exchange. Each system may read from or write to the other’s data during the data exchange. And without a doubt, the ERP system is the most crucial system to link CMMS software with.
Integration of CMMS and ERP
CMMS and ERP systems are two different software programs that are designed to help manage a company’s business processes. CMMS stands for Computerized Maintenance Management System, and it is used for managing maintenance operations. It helps to track and manage the maintenance of assets and equipment in an organization. ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning and it is usually used to manage the entire scope of a business. It is a business management software that integrates all the business processes and data from various departments of a company.
Integration of these two systems is a way to improve the efficiency of your company’s maintenance operations, cut downtime and increase profit margins. It will also allow you to have more accurate records of your inventory, which can save you time when you need to order new items or find out what supplies you have in stock.
If a CMMS software doesn’t work on accurate and up-to-date information, all of the investments made in its deployment and the overall value it provides may be lost. The planning module of the computerized maintenance management system is a prime example, as it has the potential to significantly improve downtime optimization in production if implemented properly. However, if a CMMS maintenance software planning is based on inaccurate or out-of-date data, it will simply be erroneous. So it is necessary to integrate the computerized maintenance management system with ERP to get real-time data.
How smoothly do the CMMS and ERP integration work?
CMMS and ERP integration is a process of linking the two systems together. This allows for seamless management of the changes that come from one system to the other. The two systems are linked through the use of workflows, which are automatic processes that trigger when specific events occur. The key is to make sure that the two systems communicate with one another and that all changes that happen in one system are reflected in the other.
At the time of CMMS integration, it is important to look at the integration process. How smoothly do the CMMS and ERP integration work? There are a few things to make sure of before you take the plunge. The first thing you need to make sure of is that your CMMS is compatible with your ERP. The next thing to make sure of is that you have the software and hardware to support the CMMS integration. The last thing to make sure of is that the integration team knows how to integrate the two systems.
The benefits of this integration are that it can reduce the time spent on data entry and increase efficiency in terms of workflow management. We will explore some of the challenges in CMMS and ERP integration.
When trying to integrate the CMMS and ERP systems, there are some challenges you need to overcome.
- How data is created and stored?
- How is it forwarded from one system to another?
- How is data managed?
- In which way the data is synchronized.
- How data is shared?
- And the last one is how data is accessed?
When you have a clear idea about these questions your integration will be smoother. Integration between CMMS and ERP can be seen as an investment, rather than an expense because it saves time and money in the long run.
Also Read: How CMMS Reporting Can Improve Your Organization’s Maintenance Management?
What are the benefits of CMMS integration with an ERP System?
There are a lot of benefits that companies can gain by integrating their CMMS with their ERP.
Spare parts management
A faster spare parts inventory management procedure is the first and most unquestionable benefit that a CMMS/ERP software integration offers you. No longer do technicians need to double-enter spare part data or question its accuracy. To speed up operations, all crucial data is broadcast across the platforms.
Easier purchase orders
Each maintenance manager strives to speed up purchasing of a missing spare item. This could be a drawn-out, tedious process that involves multiple departments and calls for numerous approvals. A technician can easily speed up the process by designating a spare item as missing in the maintenance management software, which will then automatically generate, send, and notify all concerned employees of a purchase order in the enterprise resource planning software.
With computerized maintenance management systems and ERP integration, the management of purchase orders has become simpler than before. All you have to do is, create a purchase order in your CMMS software and transmit the data to the ERP as a purchase request. The integration will then sync the data automatically to update the pertinent quantities and cost data for simple inventory ordering.
Easy reporting and data accessibility
All employees now have access to a central information hub where they can use the knowledge necessary to make critical decisions thanks to the integration of asset management software and enterprise resource planning software.
Effectively manage historical data
Maintenance managers are aware of the data value in making choices. Data is used by managers to comprehend variables such as the typical response time and the number of open monthly work orders. But it might be challenging to obtain a full scope of data-backed information when distinct information is housed in separate systems.
A single reporting system with ERP and CMMS integration gives accessibility to all parties across departments. The management can access the facts they require to make executive choices about recruiting or budgets through this lone reporting point. The production team, meanwhile, can identify inefficiencies in technician productivity, information on asset downtime, and typical response times.
Improved internal communication
To maintain the smooth running of the organization, many departments interconnect. However, when trying to communicate with multiple systems, everything from research to accounting to production may suffer. ERP solutions make it possible for various divisions to efficiently communicate data about human resources, time management, and distribution planning. As a result of schedules, service statuses, and overtime hours recorded in the system, managers use a CMMS software to make decisions about scheduling technicians or backlogged repair orders.
Managers can use a single interface to make choices based on data from all departments by connecting the two. For instance, based on HR data, managers can immediately determine whether a technician qualifies for overtime and, if necessary, schedule someone for an emergency work order request. The numerous teams around the facility are more responsive as a result of improved data accessibility and the elimination of superfluous data.
Enhanced planning
In this scenario, managers and HR departments may accurately assess the competence of the technicians regardless of their educational background. They can accurately calculate the amount of time they have spent using any kind of equipment and the problems they have resolved. They can also remind staff members that they need to complete any required training or renew their licenses. Because of this, maintenance managers may better organize their team’s schedules and recruitment needs by using HR data. However, maintenance technicians are better able to comprehend their abilities, developments, and interventions.
Conclusion
The organization’s efficiency can be significantly increased by using the top-tier CMMS software system, which is extremely valuable software. However, proper integration with an enterprise systems, particularly ERP, will further improve the efficiency. Although it is technical, it requires many business decisions, and it is worthwhile to take and plan individually for a specific firm.
The advantages of CMMS integration will be proportional to how updated the information in the system is. As a result, we can only fully utilize the CMMS system’s capabilities if we consider and accurately map the processes in the environment.
And even if the entire concept might seem difficult to implement from a technical standpoint, many software solutions can address the issues at once, so it won’t be difficult. In order to attempt the initial question: Yes, it is valuable to integrate computerized maintenance management systems and ERP.
