In the pursuit of digitally transforming Municipal Asset Management, the path forward can be daunting when not executed properly. A recent white paper by industry expert MRF Geosystems focuses on a proven approach for municipalities to clearly chart and navigate their way to success. Drawing from over three decades of experience, MRF has identified 6 key factors contributing to the failure of asset management projects, and it has developed a robust methodology to overcome these challenges.
Are you a Municipal Asset Manager or Leader facing this important yet challenging opportunity in your digital transformation? This article highlights just some of the key take-aways of the information-packed white paper, which for anyone currently engaged in Municipal Asset Management, really is a must-read.
What are 6 key factors contributing to the failure of most asset management projects?
1) Project Complexity
Municipalities very often struggle with the complexity of managing a diverse range of assets, from roads and bridges to water and sewer systems to buildings and vehicles. The generic one-size-fits-all nature of most available software packages pose significant limitations, hindering customization and integration with other systems. MRF acknowledges and addresses this challenge by providing a tailored solution that goes beyond the generic, ensuring seamless integration within a single unified and scalable solution.
2) Time Consuming, Step-by-Step Execution
In the whitepaper, MRF identifies that any successful asset management project requires a step-by-step approach. This involves building a comprehensive asset inventory, digitizing asset documents, assessing asset conditions, reporting problems, and implementing asset lifetime modeling. By following this logical sequence, MRF ensures that municipalities have a solid foundation for effective decision-making.
3) Interdepartmental Consensus
Collaboration between different municipal departments is crucial for successful asset management. MRF acknowledges the difficulty in building consensus among departments with diverse priorities. The company's approach emphasizes understanding the unique needs of each department, for example ensuring that the software addresses both financial reporting requirements and the operational capabilities required by public works.
4) Budget Constraints and Power Struggles
Budget constraints often lead to projects being assigned to existing staff, causing delays and incomplete implementations. MRF tackles this issue by offering a cost-effective solution that minimizes the need for additional resources. Moreover, MRF addresses competing interests within organizations, ensuring transparency and efficient communication throughout the asset management implementation.
5) User Adoption and Training
Municipal staff's own time constraints and hesitance in learning new software is a common challenge. MRF addresses this by developing user-centered solutions that are intuitive and easy to use. For instance, the Mobile for Drivers App is designed with a big button interface, catering to the specific needs of grader operators. MRF also recognizes the importance of user training and offers half-day training sessions for all their modules.
6) Lack of Well-Trained Professionals
MRF understands the shortage of asset management professionals, especially in rural municipalities. The company's approach involves assisting municipalities in acquiring the necessary skills, offering various methods for creating asset inventories, and providing ongoing support.
What is MRF's secret to ensuring asset management project success?
MRF's success in implementing asset management systems lies in its meticulous step-by-step procedure, utilizing web-based GIS, mobile GIS, AVL integration, and comprehensive asset inventory building. The company also emphasizes regular asset condition assessments, innovative asset problem reporting, and asset lifetime modeling for true cost-effective decision-making.
Providing Truly Innovative Solutions
MRF stands out with its commitment to providing and improving innovative solutions. For asset inventory creation, MRF offers multiple methods, including engineering drawing scanning, 360 degree road videos, LiDAR, and GIS Mobile with sub-meter GPS. The company excels in system integration, supporting various capabilities such as GIS, AVL, document management, work order management, and asset reporting.
Needs-based Asset Management Modules
MRF's comprehensive modules, like Gravel Road Condition Assessment, Gravel Checker, and Timesheets, for example, showcase the company's dedication to addressing specific municipal needs. The easy integration of these modules eliminates the risk of customization and system integration, providing a seamless and efficient asset management solution.
Customer-Centric Approach
MRF understands the diverse needs of its customers and tailors its solutions accordingly. The company's commitment to user interface optimization, integration with popular finance software, and module development streamlines the asset management process, making it more accessible to all municipalities.
Competitive Pricing & Responsive Customer Support
MRF's commitment to excellent customer support ensures that any IT challenges are addressed promptly, with most issues resolved within 24 hours. Additionally, the company offers competitive pricing, making its solutions more accessible to municipalities and fostering a broad customer base.
Flexibility & Seamless Module Implementation
MRF recognizes that municipalities may have varying priorities and budgets. Therefore, it allows customers to choose and implement modules based on their specific needs, ensuring flexibility and efficient utilization of resources. This approach minimizes the need for simultaneous implementation of multiple modules and allows municipalities to prioritize according to their requirements.
In conclusion, with the undeniable reality that most municipal asset management projects will face numerous challenges, MRF Geosystems stands out as an industry leader offering a compellingly comprehensive and innovative solution. By addressing the key factors that contribute to project failures and with a needs-based, customer-centric approach, MRF is ensuring that municipalities can successfully navigate the complexities of asset management now and into the future.