Computerized Maintenance Management Software (CMMS) is supposed to improve your company’s maintenance operations. However, no type of software can deliver its full benefits if you and your team don’t know how to leverage it to your advantage.
While some CMMS software features may seem intuitive, that doesn’t mean you’ve got it all figured out. Often times, a new or upgraded CMMS requires steady training and onboarding to ensure you’re getting the most out of your investment.
CMMS training can do more than simply show you how to use your system. Consider these four additional advantages of CMMS training when creating your training plan to get the most out of your efforts.
1. CMMS Adoption Rate Increases
If you’re introducing a CMMS for the first time or just replacing your existing one, you may have some reluctant team members who want nothing to do with it. This might be for a number of reasons, such as not understanding its purpose or not being technologically sufficient. Or, it could be that some folks just don’t want to learn something new.
Regardless of the reasons, the reality is that your CMMS won’t deliver the results you expect unless everyone is using it as it’s intended.
Offering plenty of training can help the naysayers make friends with your new technology and set them up for success from Day 1. It also ensures your team will not only accept the new system, but also want to use it.
2. Formal CMMS Training Ramps Up Users Faster
There’s a learning curve to every new piece of equipment or software, and CMMS is no different. It takes time to learn workflows, create habits, and understand best practices.
It won’t happen overnight, but training can help streamline the learning process.
Your team needs to feel confident using the new system. Even if they’ve used a CMMS before, your new system may have a completely different look and feel. Users may find new features they didn’t have on the old system. You may need to rethink how you log data, retrieve information, and assign duties within the system.
These may seem like small changes, but they’re large enough to interfere with the workday. Even an extra 15 minutes per day per person spent looking for crucial details can take a huge chunk out of your productivity.
The sooner your team adopts the CMMS and starts using it on a regular basis with confidence, the sooner you can start to see the benefits you hoped for.
3. Workers Can Solve Their Own Problems Quicker
Not all training has to take place in a conference room. You should encourage self-guided training so workers can make their own discoveries with the system.
Allow them time each day to play around with the CMMS. They may find new features not covered in formal training. Most people learn better by performing tasks themselves rather than watching others, so make sure they get plenty of opportunity to do so.
As a result, they may be able to on-board themselves faster than by training videos or FAQs alone. They’ll be able to answer their own questions about the system without relying on their peers so business can keep going.
4. Every Worker Uses the CMMS Uniformly
Uniformity is crucial to CMMS software. Training ensures each user organizes data and employs workflows in a systematized way. This also means each user is equally comfortable and proficient in using the system.
What’s in Your CMMS Training Plan?
Training is too important a step to skip in CMMS implementation. Your plan should include both hands-on and self-guided resources for the best results. Remember, your training plan could be the factor that determines your CMMS’s success or failure, so invest wisely.