While computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) have been around since the 1960s and went through multiple stages of transformation, cloud computing is probably the most crucial development in this software market. This is because the cloud impacts how CMMS is delivered and maintained and on the flexibility, ease of use, and adoption of the software. This post will describe these changes and provide relevant insights from 1564 reviewers of G2’s CMMS category.
How the cloud changed CMMS
Cloud computing had been around for decades, but it was adopted at a different pace in different software markets. For example, enterprise resource planning (ERP), supply chain management, or maintenance software vendors took more time adopting the cloud delivery model than sellers of customer relationship management (CRM) or marketing solutions. The reason for a slow adoption was that enterprise software is complex by definition, thus making it difficult to move to the cloud. At the same time, new vendors created new cloud products instead of adapting old solutions to the cloud.
Either way, cloud CMMS had a significant impact on the market. Our data shows that user satisfaction consistently increased in the past five years while the variations in the software price diminished in the same period. The graph below shows an increasing linear trend for Ease of Use and Meets Requirements criteria rated by CMMS reviewers. Also, the reviewers’ perception of the costliness of CMMS is now between 3 and 5 (on a scale of 1 to 7, where one is the least expensive and seven the most expensive).
Unsurprisingly, all top 10 products in G2’s CMMS category are cloud based. Furthermore, 8 of the 10 were developed by companies founded after 2000, and the top 5 were created after 2008.
This new generation of cloud CMMS vendors fundamentally changed the market in several ways. The most important ones are represented in the image above.
How CMMS changes impacted buyers and users
Companies using CMMS manage expensive equipment and assets and a mix of software solutions such as ERP, accounting, supply chain management, and so on. Since software like ERP is critical for any company and tends to be expensive, budgets for CMMS can be pretty limited. The cloud model made CMMS more accessible to small and medium businesses (SMBs) and the maintenance departments of large companies. Reducing and eliminating the need for hardware and IT personnel can make a substantial difference. Before the cloud, many buyers with limited budgets were using maintenance functionality of ERP software, asset tracking tools, or spreadsheets.
Other than cost reductions, cloud CMMS provides essential business benefits, the most important being:
- Easier to implement, use, and update: The cloud made CMMS easier to implement, use, and update, reducing the disruption caused by replacing such an essential solution. Implementing a new CMMS requires that all asset data gets transferred to the new system, and maintenance workflows are recreated in the new CMMS solution. A smooth transition also improves user adoption and the return on investment (ROI) of the software.
- Better integration with other systems and increased visibility: Tighter integration with other cloud software such as accounting and inventory management facilitates data exchange between systems for spare parts inventory availability, warranties, and tracking maintenance costs. Furthermore, production information from ERP helps maintenance teams track asset utilization and performance.
- Increased productivity and collaboration: The cloud allows maintenance professionals to access the software anywhere, on any device, both online and offline. This improves collaboration and communications between managers, field technicians, and on-site employees. Also, maintenance teams are more productive when their members know precisely what they need to do and where to find the information they require, such as historical asset data.
The best way to describe the benefits of cloud CMMS systems is to share feedback from buyers. So here are some user reviews explaining how companies use cloud CMMS for better visibility, productivity, and flexibility.
What’s next for cloud CMMS?
The cloud makes it easier for vendors to develop and release new features faster than ever. CMMS vendors tend to add features traditionally part of enterprise asset management (EAM) systems, such as preventive maintenance. As a result, it is more and more difficult to discern between the two types of software for maintenance. Also, other types of software like asset performance management and predictive maintenance provide functionality that overlaps with CMMS and EAM.
My next blog will describe the main differences between each type of asset management software and how buyers can make sure that they choose the best option for their specific needs.
Want to learn more about CMMS Software? Explore CMMS products.
Gabriel Gheorghiu
Gabriel’s background includes more than 15 years of experience in all aspects of business software selection and implementation. His research work has involved detailed functional analyses of software vendors from various areas such as ERP, CRM, and HCM. Gheorghiu holds a Bachelor of Arts in business administration from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest (Romania), and a master's degree in territorial project management from Université Paris XII Val de Marne (France).
