On the surface, embracing mobile technology in maintenance and engineering departments might seem easy: give technicians iPads, laptops or other mobile devices, install the proper software, pass along some basic training and guidelines, and set them on their way.
Managers who have been through the process know differently.
Facility Maintenance Decisions recently surveyed 450 readers on the use of mobile technology by managers and their departments and found that about 45 percent of the respondents say their departments are behind the curve when it comes to embracing mobile technology. Only 11 percent say their departments are ahead of the curve, and the rest — 44 percent — feel their departments are where they need to be.
One manager who studied the survey results expressed little surprise at the numbers.
“It is a big number of people behind the curve on technology,” says Jennifer DuPlessis, director of maintenance and operations with the Arlington (Texas) Independent School District, where she manages a staff of 140 maintenance employees. “To be honest, I’m not surprised at all. So much of our focus is out in the field. We’re so focused on what is happening in the building and on the campus.
“We have 75 campuses, so if we’re going to deploy new technology, I have to figure out how I’m going to communicate that and train people.”
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