Maintenance management continues to remain a vital function in almost every industry. Number speaks of growth as the global maintenance market is expected to hit the $701.3 billion mark by 2026. Maintenance software applications are playing a pivotal role in this remarkable growth, as businesses gear up to embrace maintenance solutions.
Having the best equipment software eliminates the obstacles getting in the path of your business’ success. Afterall, managing your equipment in optimal condition is vital for the seamless operation of your business.
However, equipment maintenance work can be challenging, especially when dealing with a large inventory of equipment. Fortunately, technology has come to the rescue with an equipment maintenance system that can help to fine-tune the maintenance process. But with many options available in the market, how do you choose the best software for your business needs?
With the right software at your side, the equipment maintenance process will be a piece of cake, allowing you to boost productivity effortlessly. But, if you make an incorrect choice, it can result in wasted time, escalated expenses, and in the end, equipment downtime. This is why you need to cautiously select a tool.
To help you make the right decision, we have crafted the factors to consider when selecting the right software. This will help you to steer you in the right direction.
What to Consider When Finding the Right Equipment Management Software
Whether you are looking to replace your existing software or starting from scratch, you should focus on the following factors, when identifying and selecting the best equipment maintenance solution for your business.
Start with Pre Assessment
Before you start looking for software, start identifying the company’s needs. This process involves taking stock of your equipment inventory, identifying the challenges and pain points you face in managing equipment, and defining the goals you hope to achieve with the software.
If you have a larger inventory, the equipment maintenance process will be more complex and time-consuming. In such cases, you’ll need software that can handle the scale of your operations, with features such as asset tracking, preventive maintenance scheduling, and work order management. On the other hand, if your inventory is relatively small, you may not require all the bells and whistles, and simpler, more straightforward software may suffice.
Be ready with expectations
What do you hope to achieve by implementing the top equipment management software? Are you looking to reduce downtime, increase productivity, or optimize maintenance operations? Defining this will help you identify the software features and capabilities you require to achieve those goals. This will help you to narrow down your options from the vast majority of software.
Dig deeper
Once you have identified your company’s goals and needs, you can start evaluating the features of different software solutions. Choose the right equipment management software that can automate your equipment maintenance operations, and help you schedule preventive maintenance tasks. Also, consider solutions that allow you to monitor and track your equipment’s performance.
Key features to consider:
- Asset tracking
- Preventive maintenance scheduling
- Work order management
- Reporting & analytics
Look for bespoke options
The customization option refers to the ability to tailor the software to meet your specific needs. This means you can choose the features that are most important to your business and customize them to fit your unique requirements. For example, you may want to add specific fields to your equipment inventory or create custom reports.
When you are looking for the best equipment maintenance program, make sure you consider the level of customization that is available. Some software may offer limited customization, while others may offer a wide range of customization options.
Note: It’s also important to consider the ease of customization. You don’t want to spend a lot of time and resources trying to customize the software. Look for software that is easy to use and allows you to make changes quickly and easily.
Check for Compatibility
The integration option helps the software to connect and communicate with other systems you may already have in place, such as accounting software, inventory management software, or other business applications. Having this integration helps you to streamline your workflows and reduce the need for manual data entry or duplicate data entry across different systems.
Some software may offer pre-built integrations with popular business applications, while others may require custom integrations. Select the software that has an intuitive interface and easy-to-use integration tools, so you can quickly and easily connect it with your other systems.
Know that accessibility is the bridge
Mobile accessibility is an essential factor to consider when choosing top equipment management software. By selecting software with mobile accessibility, you can manage your equipment from anywhere and at any time, which can be especially useful for businesses with mobile workforces. Check for the software that offers the same features and functionality on the mobile version as it does on the desktop version. Make sure the software is compatible with both iOS and Android and uses encryption and other security measures to protect your data while it’s being accessed on a mobile device.
Never compromise on having an ironclad framework
When choosing software, it’s important to consider the security standards they follow to ensure the protection of sensitive information. There are several security standards that a company should follow, such as ISO 27001, NIST Cybersecurity Framework, HIPAA, PCI DSS, and SOC 2.
Pick the software that has a strong track record when it comes to security, regularly updates its systems to address potential vulnerabilities, and has robust disaster recovery protocols in place. By choosing a company with strong security features and a commitment to protecting sensitive information, you can help ensure that your equipment maintenance processes run smoothly and securely.
Keep checking the pulse
Reviews and ratings can provide valuable insights into the user experience of the software, including its features, ease of use, and customer support. By reading reviews and ratings on different sites, you can get a better sense of what to expect from the software and whether it will meet your needs.
When looking for reviews and ratings, there are several sites you can check, including software review websites like Capterra and G2, as well as user forums and social media. Read a variety of reviews from different sources to get a well-rounded understanding of the software’s strengths and weaknesses.
Take reviews and ratings with a grain of salt, as every business has different needs and requirements.
Keep reminding yourself that each penny matters
Check with the cost of the software, including the upfront cost and any ongoing fees, such as subscription fees or maintenance fees. When comparing the cost of different software, keep in mind that the cheapest option may not always be the best option. Choose the right equipment managing software that offers the features and functionality you need at a price that fits within your budget.
Go for elbow-deep statistical exploration
The reporting and analytics feature allows you to generate reports on various aspects of your equipment, such as maintenance history, inventory levels, and utilization rates. These reports can help you make data-driven decisions about your equipment and identify areas for improvement.
The best equipment software offers intuitive dashboards, easy-to-use dashboards, report builders, and advanced analytics such as predictive maintenance and equipment utilization forecasting, to help you stay ahead of equipment issues before they occur.
You must be led by hand-holding
Customer support is the other important factor to consider when choosing the equipment management software. When you have questions or encounter issues with the software, you’ll want to have access to responsive and helpful customer support.
A study conducted by American Express and Ebiquity says ” 33% of Americans consider switching companies after just a single instance of poor customer support”
Make sure to research the vendor’s customer support options like support channels, such as phone, email, and live chat, and check their support hours align with your business hours. Some vendors may offer basic support for free, while others may charge extra for premium support options.
Look for seamlessness in adoption
It is important that the roll-out for the software happens in a seamless manner.
Ensure the software you select provides adequate training and implementation support. This may include online tutorials, user guides, onboarding assistance, and dedicated support personnel. This level of training can make a big difference in how quickly and smoothly you’re able to adopt the new software.
Conclusion
By making sure that the system you opt for has all the necessary features, is user-friendly, and is mobile-friendly, you can streamline your maintenance processes. It’s also wise to go through the options and compare them with different solutions to find the perfect match that ticks all your boxes.
Moreover, choosing a trustworthy equipment maintenance software that provides top-notch customer service can seal the deal and guarantee you get the most out of your software solution. By considering all these factors into account and taking the time to weigh up various options, you can pick the best equipment software that fits your needs and drives your business toward success.
