Many organizations have adopted computerized maintenance management system (CMMS) software, enterprise asset management (EAM) software, and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software to help improve daily working capital transactions. APQC’s 2011 report Improving Working Capital Management and Cash Flow Intelligence shows that ERP systems can significantly improve an organization’s ability to accelerate cash inflow.  Being able to tap into enterprise-wide systems allows organizations to push information out to other areas within the organization faster.  The accumulation and use of the data allow for an effective working capital management system. Many organizations have an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that effortlessly combines all business operations—distribution, fixed assets, accounts payable, accounts receivable, human resources, etc.—into a single database.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

Software Advice recently conducted a survey on CMMS software to identify how the industry uses this software to tackle major maintenance challenges. Software Advice discusses the results of the survey in the 2013 Computerized Maintenance Management Software Benchmark Report.

Three key takeaways from their report are:

1. Professionals who use best-of-breed computerized maintenance management systems report their systems best fit their needs.

2. Among survey participants, those that use mobile maintenance software reported greater satisfaction than users of non-mobile software.

3. Survey participants report preventive maintenance is a top priority for 2013.

Maintenance management is important to many organizations, and improving how information is maintained can save an organization a lot of money over time. According to Software Advice’s study results, 84 percent of those surveyed use some kind of software to manage maintenance. Approximately 77 percent of those surveyed use commercial software products (i.e., CMMS, EAM/ERP or other business software tools) to help tackle maintenance challenges.  What is your organization doing to help deal with maintenance issues?