Employ Mobile Strategies To Keep Your Team In The Field

What comes to mind when you hear the words “computerized maintenance management system?” A large bank of servers in a back room of your facility? Or an agile program your managers and technicians can access from a tablet or mobile phone on the go? If you only thought of the first scenario, we’ve got a lot to tell you about the evolving world of mobile CMMS! Read on to find out more benefits of a mobile CMMS solution:

Mobility
As the name suggests, mobile CMMS puts something that used to only be available from a bulky desktop in the palm of your hand. This has a range of benefits over a stationary CMMS. First of all, it means multiple users can access the system at once — no one will ever have to wait their turn on a single desktop terminal.

Another feature that goes along with mobility is accuracy. If a technician has to wait until they get back to their office to input work order notes, it’s likely they’re going to forget key information in the interim. Mobile CMMS completely eliminates this problem by letting users add notes to and complete work orders entirely on the go.

Real-Time Updates
Many CMMS solutions can be configured to send alerts via email or SMS when certain maintenance tasks are scheduled or if a pre-set trigger in asset condition is reached. Mobile CMMS means that users can receive these alerts, go perform the task and complete the paperwork without ever returning to the main office.

Streamlined Workflows and Communication
CMMS platforms let managers assign tasks directly to technicians. With a traditional stationary CMMS or a spreadsheet management system, they would have to either call, text, email or talk in person to the relevant parties. Mobile CMMS lets managers relay information in real-time through the platform, alerting the necessary teams to new or updated work orders.

Employees always being on their phones can put a serious damper on productivity, but they’re essential for communication, so it’s not like you can completely ban them. If you implement a CMMS with mobile capabilities, users can rely on a tablet or work-provided mobile phone for their tasks. This removes the temptation to send a text real quick or just sneak a peek at Facebook — all communications can take place through the CMMS internal messaging system or via the work phone’s SMS as techs complete their jobs.

Multimedia Files
Describing a problem in words is hard — “the motor is making an “eeeeeeee” sound” isn’t the most helpful information. Mobile CMMS lets users take pictures or videos and upload them directly to the asset profile from their mobile device, improving communication and clarity when diagnosing problems.

Convenience
An additional benefit of mobile CMMS is offline mode. Some CMMS solutions let users temporarily store the work order or asset profile a technician is working on to the mobile device itself if there’s an interruption in service. When you reconnect, the data automatically uploads to the cloud. Mobile applications are also optimized to be viewed on smaller screens, which results in a simplified interface. This typically improves usability and increases the chances that your employees will fully utilize the system.

Most CMMS solutions these days offer a mobile-enabled system, but not all do. Take these benefits into consideration when choosing a CMMS so you can take advantage of all that mobile access has to offer!