Maintenance, inventory, scheduling, etc are important areas you have to manage properly to avoid failure of equipment, working of machinery over time and many other problems that can put a damper on the smoothness of your operations. But all of this can be avoided if you invest in a good CMMS software fit for your business operations. But this can get really confusing.
There is a lot of good CMMS software out there for you to choose from. But not all of them might be perfect for the needs of your company. To pick the best CMMS software for your company, you have to really do your research. If investing in a new CMMS is something that you have been thinking about, then here are some pointers that will help you move in the right direction.
What does CMMS include?
While you are trying to make a decision on which CMMS to invest in, the vendors may try to sway you by offering additional features and benefits. These features may not always be compatible with the present apps and such programs may become a handful for you to handle.
If you do not do enough research on what CMMS includes, you may end up with something that is not versatile and out of budget, does not support mobile CMMS and does not provide data in the required format. Features like implementations of MTBF formula are basics for any CMMS. Make sure you know what you are getting before you buy it.
Choose the right vendor
Now that you know what a typical CMMS includes, it is time for you to make sure that you get one which meets your specific needs. Since you have a lot of options when it comes to vendors, it will help you to make a list of requirements and cross-reference it with a list of vendors who provide CMMS solutions with those requirements. Here are a few steps you can take to make this process easy.
- Make a list of around 10 vendors who will meet your needs.
- Create a document with names of vendors, solutions offered and your hardware. Got through the finer details of each and every solution and remove all those that do not meet your needs.
Now you will have a handful of vendors left to choose from. This can still get pretty confusing. What you have to keep in mind while reviewing them is that they all have something unique to offer. Always consider the features of the system first. They should be customizable, easily modifiable and versatile enough to change itself with your evolving business needs.
The next thing to consider is its ease of use. If it is too hard to use, then it is no good. Simple is always better. But even so, make sure that the package that you choose comes with customer support and training. Also take note of the vendor, ratings and reviews they were awarded by other users and how stable they are. Make sure that they will be able to support you in the long run.
Final words
CMMS solution can make all the difference to your business, but only if chosen with care. If you are in doubt, you can always refer to this article to help you get started on how to approach this problem. I hope this article was helpful.
