Syclo and IBM's Maximo for Enterprise Asset Management

Many people know Syclo as a mobility partner of SAP, particularly in the EAM (enterprise asset management) space, but did you know they also work with IBM's Maximo in the EAM space?  I was reading today about Syclo's Smart Work Manager version 7.5 for Maximo.  Here is a list of some of the supported features and capabilities:

PSION's Durable Enterprise PDA
EP10

Work Orders
• Location
• Short/long description
• Priority and status
• Field generated work requests
Data Capture
• Time/attendance
• Parts and material used
• Failure codes
Plans and Histories
• Job plans
• Safety plans
• Equipment work order history
Advanced Functions
• E-validation and E-signature
• GPS, GIS enabled
• Assignment Manager

An area of particular interest to me was the workflow description in Syclo's press release, "...your technicians are guided through intuitive, action-driven workflow to ensure they capture all relevant information - including work performed, failure codes, parts used, and more."  The ability to guide your workforce through specific tasks, in remote locations, using mobile apps is becoming increasingly important, especially in utilities where they are losing many of their most experienced workers due to retirement.

Enterprise asset management is one of those areas that many solutions come together.  A mobile EAM system can include:

• Work orders (field service management)
• Time and attendance (HR and payroll)
• Parts and material used (inventory levels, suppliers, re-order, etc.)
• Safety plans (worker safety and compliance) 
• GIS/GPS tracking
• etc.

Most mission critical mobility solutions, that offer competitive advantages, are not just one mobile app connected to one backend system.  It is a mobile app connected to many backend systems in unique combinations.

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Kevin Benedict, Independent Mobile Industry Analyst, Consultant and SAP Mentor Volunteer

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Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility analyst, consultant and blogger. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.

Systems Integrators and SAP Enterprise Mobility

One measure of the level of maturity in a technology market is if a systems integrator can do the work, rather than the original solution developer.  Today, most SAP enterprise mobility vendors are still doing their own work.  Why?  The solutions are new, dynamic, rapidly expanding and ahead of adequate documentation and systems integrator training programs.

It is still rare to see systems integrators using SAP mobility solutions from vendors.  It is still very common to see systems integrators custom building their own mobile applications.  This however, is not in the best interest of SAP customers in the long term.  Out of the box solutions are generally more stable.  They have been tested for longer periods of time and often have more companies using them in production environments.

I was interested to read that ENERGY4U, a German-based consulting and implementation firm was implementing SMART Work Manager from Syclo for use with the SAP® ERP application for RheinEnergie, a German utility. The solution will automate technicians’ daily meter and preventative maintenance work order processes.  ENERGY4U specializes in providing consulting and implementation services related to SAP solutions for utility companies in the deregulated energy market.

The fact that ENERGY4U, a systems integrator, is implementing a mobile solution from a mobility vendor in the SAP ecosystem is a sign of maturity and progress in the industry.

If you are a systems integrator and are implementing a mobile solution from an SAP ecosystem partner please let me know the details!

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Kevin Benedict, SAP Mentor, SAP Top Contributor, Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst
Phone +1 208-991-4410
twitter @krbenedict
Join SAP Enterprise Mobility on Linkedin:
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2823585&trk=anet_ug_grppro

Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility consultant, mobility analyst, writer and Web 2.0 marketing professional. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.

SAP Enterprise Mobility and Management Education

I have been thinking a lot lately about how management, and the art of managing, needs to evolve with the advancement and progress in mobile technology.  It is not just mobile devices that change, but a whole list of new capabilities that are now available to a manager.  I wonder how many managers have adapted their management styles and practices, and re-engineered their business processes to take advantage of these mobile features and capabilities?

What do you think?  Do you see managers staying on top of new mobile capabilities, or are they managing the same way they did in a disconnected world? 

Let me provide just one example.  Earlier this year Syclo connected their mobile applications to the SAP global support backbone.  This is a great step that recognizes the importance of mobility to the enterprise, but how many managers know what this means and how to use it effectively?  Here are some details.

Syclo’s mobile applications now connect to the SAP global support backbone of the SAP® Active Global Support organization and have built-in support for incident processing and remote diagnostics using the partner edition of the SAP Solution Manager application management solution, providing end-to-end incident management processes.   Syclo is using SAP Solution Manager during support operations and conforms to SAP standards for shared support processes, service-level agreements and escalation procedures. The integration between Syclo’s SMART Work Manager and SMART Service Manager applications and SAP Active Global Support will help customers increase operational efficiency.

Now that the technology is here, I believe it is time to educate management.  What do you think?


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Kevin Benedict, SAP Mentor, SAP Top Contributor, Mobile and M2M Industry Analyst
Phone +1 208-991-4410
twitter @krbenedict
Join SAP Enterprise Mobility on Linkedin:
http://www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=2823585&trk=anet_ug_grppro

Full Disclosure: I am an independent mobility consultant, mobility analyst, writer and Web 2.0 marketing professional. I work with and have worked with many of the companies mentioned in my articles.