It has been estimated that up to 80% of Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) installations end in failure (at least from the user’s perspective). In this $200-million / year industry how can this be?

From my experience CMMS adoption is signifgantly tied to pure usability: the ability to get information in and out of the system. You have to put a good tool in the hands of the skilled trades member that is is accessible, ergonomic, and easy-to-use - one that complements the role they are in, not complicate it. What better way to empower this than with a mobile device that can be used directly at the process? Other advantages include:

• Elimination of paper-based dispatch models.
• Ability to work offline in remote areas without wireless
• Scan equipment barcodes / RFID tags for asset information
• Replace expensive radios with voice over IP (VOIP) 
• Look up diagrams, job plans, spare parts at the touch of a button

David Berger of Plant Services writes an outstanding article called Tighten the Loop that elaborates on the advantages of mobile CMMS.