Numerous SAP Plant Maintenance (PM or EAM) customers worldwide have successfully implemented mobile solutions for executing work orders.
These solutions range from SAP Work Manager, SAP Field Service Management (SAP FSM), SAP Service and Asset Manager(SSAM), and SAP Partner Solutions such as myJobCard to various custom-built applications.
This article explores the SAP Service and Asset Manager and SAP FSM Crowd Sourcing Solutions and how the two can work together. However, before delving into this topic, it is worth noting that, at On Device Solutions, we’ve successfully delivered these and other SAP enterprise mobile solutions to numerous clients, including FTSE 100 and Fortune 500 companies. Learn more about our SAP Service and Asset Manager and our SAP FSM offerings here.
A recurring challenge many enterprises face is ensuring seamless access to mobile solutions for contractors. Contractors are increasingly pivotal in Work Execution, whether due to specialised tasks, short-term demand spikes, or strategic staffing considerations.
Over time, various strategies have emerged to address this challenge:
1. Issuing devices to the contractors and creating SAP users for them.
2. Granting access to essential documents through procurement platforms like Ariba.
3. Creating a contractor-specific portal to distribute work orders and updates.
4. Offering APIs for contractors to integrate with their work management systems.
However, these options often fall short when assessed against key objectives, which include:
1. Reducing support costs for contractors (e.g., allowing contractors to use their devices or reuse existing work management systems).
2. Allowing contractor user management to be handled by their admin teams.
3. Providing real-time visibility of planned work dates and times, as well as work status updates in the core EAM system.
4. Ensuring audit and traceability for work carried out by contractors.
5. Providing offline support for mobile work execution.
While SAP FSM Crowd Sourcing is a viable solution for contractors, it can only dispatch work to the FSM mobile application, not to SSAM (SAP Service and Asset Manager) which is the more comprehensive mobile app.
To address this issue, On Device Solutions has developed an accelerator enabling SAP customers to utilise SAP FSM Crowd Sourcing for dispatching work to internal and external workers through SAP Service and Asset Manager.
The benefits of this approach include:
1. A unified mobile solution for both internal and external workforces.
2. No need to manage third-party users in the customer’s SAP and AD systems.
3. Real-time visibility of planned work dates and times.
4. Real-time visibility of work status updates in the core EAM system.
5. Comprehensive audit and traceability of work executed by contractors.
6. Easier invoice matching with the executed work.
7. Contractors using their own devices for work execution.
8. Overall lower-cost solution.
SAP Service and Asset Manager and SAP FSM Contractor Solution are designed to help organisations optimise their service and asset management processes.
On Device Solutions (ODS) is an SAP Gold Partner and a specialist IT consultancy for SAP enterprise mobile solutions. If you operate an SAP system for your Work and Asset management processes involving a contractor workforce, contact us here for a no-obligation discussion on how we can help.
