Top Reasons Why Enterprise Asset Management System (EAMS) Implementations Fail
A quick online search for the main reasons why Enterprise Asset Management System (EAMS) implementations fail reveals a wide range of causes such as insufficient training, inadequate vendor support, scalability issues, and more. However, it is rare to find mention of a fundamental issue: the software does not support the business processes. Yet, this is one of the most common problems—often disguised in different forms.
The Importance of Business Processes in Asset Management Systems
A business process is defined as a collection of structured, related activities or tasks that produce a specific service or product (serving a particular objective) for a specific customer. It can often be visualized through a flowchart as a sequence of activities. The key point is that these activities are carried out in a way that supports a broader purpose or objective.
From an asset management perspective, the most critical principle in ISO 55000 and its predecessor PAS 55 is the alignment between asset management objectives or strategies and overall organizational goals.
In the context of an EAMS that supports business processes, why do contracts and system requirements typically include long, exhaustive lists of functions and features rather than a detailed explanation of the business processes and activities the system must support? This is usually because business processes are not as easy to define as functionality, are often undocumented, and are not widely understood as the true drivers of value.
The Lack of Focus on Business Processes in EAMS Selection
The real value of your EAMS selection is realized when the system optimizes your business processes in support of your asset management objectives. The role of an EAMS can be summarized in two primary benefits:
- Automation of business processes, such as work order scheduling
- Feedback on how effectively those processes are performing, such as backlog management
Additional benefits of well-defined asset management business processes in relation to your EAMS include:
- Linking the EAMS to strategy and best practices
- Defining the required outcomes of the EAMS
- Ensuring data integrity
- Enabling effective user training
- Supporting robust change management
Selecting and Implementing the Right EAMS
How do you select and implement the right EAMS for your organization? First, you must find a provider that understands asset management as well as your organization’s context and industry. This provider should be able to help assess your current asset management environment and support the development of an asset management plan aligned with your asset management and information strategy. This plan should clearly define the business processes that need to be established and optimized.
The implementation and configuration of the EAMS should be carried out in support of these business processes and the overarching strategy—not in isolation. Change management must be a key component of this process, ensuring a clear line of sight between the EAMS implementation and the organization’s strategic objectives.
Do not simply purchase and install an EAMS—implement it as part of a comprehensive asset management improvement process.
Pragma Products and Services
Pragma offers a range of products and services, including the On Key EAMS software, asset management business processes, asset management assessments, and roadmap consulting, as well as comprehensive asset management training programs. These offerings are effectively integrated to deliver end-to-end asset management solutions for your organization.
