How remote maintenance improves industry operations

How remote maintenance improves industry operations

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Contents

The recent pandemic showed how supply chains and the movement of people can be disrupted with no warning. Maintenance of equipment like nuclear power plants or oil rigs cannot wait for restrictions to be lifted. It must be carried out regularly to prevent system failure. The nuclear industry is but one example of an industry that has rapidly transitioned to remote inspections, balancing the need for social distancing with strict inspection requirements. Remote maintenance has allowed companies in many sectors to continue maintaining critical systems without dispatching a mechanic or inspector to a remote location. ViiBE’s software has allowed customers, including oil & gas companies, to monitor and maintain oil rigs remotely, ensuring continuity of operations. So in concrete terms, what is remote monitoring and maintenance? 

1. What is remote monitoring and maintenance?

Remote monitoring is used to monitor and maintain equipment in the same way as a mechanic or inspector would do so in person. The difference is a connection via a live video feed. Remote visual inspection has caught on in many different industries, from aviation to construction. RVI allows the inspector to conduct an inspection remotely by interacting with a person on-site who directs the camera according to the inspector’s instructions. Remote inspections must meet the same standard of quality as a conventional inspection as much as possible. Certified inspectors follow the same checklist and guidelines as they would for a convention inspection. RVI has existed for many years for specific use cases where human access was dangerous or impossible. These inspections require specialized equipment like borescopes or remote-controlled vehicles. Today, software like ViiBE is opening up the possibility for remote inspections to new industries like construction.

Cranes and other complex machinery on construction sites occasionally require maintenance to keep the site in operation. ViiBE has been deployed in the construction industry, increasing the first call resolution rate by 25%. Through a simple web link, an expert can connect via video to someone on the job site as soon as the issue occurs, avoiding dispatching them to the worksite in person. Follow-up calls are easily handled in the same manner. The small savings add up on construction sites where ViiBE reduced tech dispatch by 20%. Video assistance tools can also be deployed for building inspections required as part of the home buying process. This flexible technology has a wide possibility of use cases depending on your needs. 

Now that we’ve examined remote monitoring and maintenance, what are remote management systems and remote services? Are they related? Let’s take a closer look. 

ViiBE remote maintenance
ViiBE has increased the first call resolution rate in the construction industry by 25%

2. What is a remote management system?

Remote monitoring and management (RMM) systems manage and update devices on a shared network. While remote monitoring and maintenance is an approach to remotely maintaining equipment using software, remote management systems are a specific type of software system. In practice, a company’s information technology (IT) department uses RMM to manage all of the company’s laptops, servers, and other devices running on its network. RMM systems can control the system configurations and perform software updates. They can see the user’s screen, similar to remote access screen share software.

In many cases, they sync the employee’s files to a central server or the cloud, ensuring continuity if a single user experiences a technical problem with their computer. Companies that deploy RMM systems rely on this software to keep things running. Remote service software is a different but similarly critical solution for many companies.

3. What is the use of remote services?

Remote services remotely manage and monitor customer-facing services. Remote service software connects to the equipment to minimize downtime as much as possible. Remote service software aims to be proactive and prevent problems from occurring in the first place by updating software and diagnosing technical issues before they become a problem. They must be secure and allow for auditing of the system. Remote service software is used in hospitals, and other environments where minimizing downtime is critical. IT support teams need to plan ahead to ensure the continuity of their software operations. Video assistance can empower your support teams to plan their updates for remote service software. You can store ViiBE calls in a centralized knowledge base alongside important photos and documents. This capability allows your IT support to be better organized and reduce system downtime. They can also share their screen and annotate screenshots to diagnose any software issues. Now that we’ve explored these two systems used for remote maintenance, let’s look at the big picture of remote maintenance. What benefits are driving the rapid adoption of this technology?   

4. What are the benefits of remote maintenance?

While many of remote maintenance’s benefits were demonstrated during restrictions on personnel movement, there are other reasons to adopt this technology. Avoiding dispatching an inspector or mechanic can save your company fuel and personnel costs and reduce your carbon footprint. Additionally,  remote maintenance can become even more convenient by integrating a knowledge management solution. ViiBE’s knowledge base stores past calls for full traceability and quality control. It can also be used to train new inspectors. ViiBE’s ticketing solution stores multiple calls to the same site under a single ticket. It enables you to organize calls using tags to track any issues. Inspectors can share documents and photos before and during the call. The recently released ViiBE V.4 allows call scheduling to help plan calls at a convenient time for all involved parties. ViiBE is based on WebRTC technology, which provides a secure download-free platform for remote maintenance, which is always up-to-date on any system.  

5. Conclusion

Almost any industry which employs technicians can benefit from implementing remote maintenance. This transition has been accelerated by the pandemic and continues to take off. In most cases, new tools enable the same quality of inspection or maintenance as an in-person visit by an expert. ViiBE is designed to make this transition effortless while saving you money. Reducing tech dispatch cuts down on fuel and employee costs. As a bonus, ViiBE reduces your company’s carbon footprint, providing a tangible contribution to any environmental CSR programs. As remote maintenance becomes an industry standard, ViiBE’s always up-to-date secure platform makes this transition as easy as possible. 

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