Asset management in 2025: collaborating on the future
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Asset management in 2025: collaborating on the future

What is happening in the field of asset management? What does the increased unrest in the world mean in that context? And how does technology help to cope with all this? In his traditional year-end review and outlook, Jack Lok takes you through the developments and poses an important philosophical question.

23 December 2024 • 15 min read
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Many issues that require attention

Organizations currently have a lot on their plate. We see that in our own company and with our clients. Working more sustainably, the persistent shortage of people, security: these are all themes that bring their own challenges. In addition to these ‘ordinary’ things, there are the consequences of the increased geopolitical unrest in the world. The human suffering, but also economic consequences such as possible trade sanctions or shortages of parts. So many things that require the attention and the right decisions from your organization – also in the field of asset management. What do we invest in and what not? How do we save costs? And how do we safeguard knowledge?

Steep growth curve AI

Fortunately, technology is there to help answer these kinds of essential questions. Developments around AI are moving fast, with new applications in all kinds of areas and rapid growth in usage. Just look at the unprecedented steep adoption curve that AI chatbot ChatGPT has shown! And it is not only public forms of AI that are being used more and more. The same applies to private solutions on own data, such as WatsonX from IBM. Looking specifically at asset management, AI can support your organization in many ways. Firstly, to make better investment and maintenance decisions. Secondly, to make your assets work more sustainably and efficiently, based on well-thought-out processes. And thirdly, to deal more intelligently with the scarcity of mainly technically skilled employees.

IBM MAS and AI

At the end of September 2025, IBM will stop regular support for IBM Maximo 7.6. The majority of our customers will therefore make the switch to IBM Maximo Application Suite (IBM MAS) next year. IBM MAS includes all kinds of intelligent tools to optimize the deployment of assets throughout their entire lifespan. This ranges from making investment plans, real-time monitoring of performance with sensors and predicting maintenance needs to making analyses to maximize the reliability, safety and sustainability of your assets. When is preventive maintenance required? When is it better to say goodbye to an asset? And how do you best deploy your people?

Attractive to Gen Z

In IBM MAS you record all kinds of valuable data about your assets and their maintenance. This prevents the loss of valuable knowledge, for example when experienced employees retire. At the same time, you make this knowledge quickly and easily available to existing and new employees. A smart chatbot can, for example, be a great help for less experienced mechanics in the field, just like glasses with augmented reality technology that graphically displays assets and shows important maintenance information. The use of this type of innovative technologies also appeals to a new generation of employees, who are used to doing everything digitally and expect nothing else at work.

Data, data and more data

Whoever says AI, says data. In order to always make the most advantageous decisions about your assets and to organize your processes efficiently and sustainably, you need data from various sources. This goes beyond, for example, historical maintenance data, data from online sensors that measure the performance of assets or all kinds of data about ESG (Environmental Social Governance). You can also think of information from virtual meetings. Suppose the setting of an asset or a malfunction is discussed in an online call. AI can automatically record this type of information and make it easily accessible. Also useful for employees who were not present at the online meeting. This way you immediately respond to the fact that young employees attach more importance to a good balance between work and private life and are often no longer working full-time.

What information do you need?

To reap the benefits of AI, it is important to have your data in order. In many organizations, data is still in different systems, which are used separately and do not talk to each other. There is often still some catching up to do. To take steps in the field of AI, relevant data sources for your asset management must be unlocked and linked. The question is where you want to go. What information do you need to be ready for the future and make better decisions about your assets, both at management level and in the field?

Human work

Technology usually runs ahead of reality. This is also the case when automating your asset management processes with AI. In addition to unlocking data, there is another determining factor for your initiatives in this area. We are of course talking about people. Take your employees with you in the developments. By starting the conversation about AI, you take away the fear of losing their job and give them confidence in the future. They will need new skills, but they can be learned. Can’t people live without data or can’t data live without people? Personally, I think the latter, but it is a nice philosophical question to think about under the Christmas tree.

Into 2025 together

Would you like to spar with us in the new year about your asset management plans? At Gemba, we are happy to think along with you about your challenges and how technology can help you and your people. In the meantime, we wish you very happy holidays and a healthy and happy 2025. And we continue to believe in a better world, without tensions and oppression. Let’s toast to that together!

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Would you like to talk to Gemba about preparing your migration to IBM MAS? Please contact Gerben ter Horst, via g.terhorst@gemba.nl or +31 6 14 57 21 19.

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