Poor asset management results in bad decision making

More than a quarter of decision-makers, managers and engineers working in asset management roles in the UK (28%) said that either making a ‘wrong decision regarding replacements and improvements’, or ‘uncertainty in decision-making’ more generally is the greatest risk now faced as a consequence of poor asset management. A further 26% highlighted ‘improper financial decision-making criteria for investment decisions and maintenance’ as a major consequence of poor asset management.

Tuesday, 30th July 2019 Posted 4 years ago in by Phil Alsop

These were among the headline findings of a new survey commissioned by technology company, Yotta and carried out by the Institute of Asset Management (IAM), which polled the views and opinions of their members working for organisations in a range of asset management-related roles.

The research also indicated that usability and accessibility of data are likely to become more important qualities of asset management in the future. More than a third (36%) of the survey sample highlighted ‘more modern capable, easier-to-use asset information systems’ as the single most exciting recent development to asset management. This was followed by ‘innovative data collection methods’ (27%).

Chris Dyer, Head of Consultancy, Infrastructure Asset Management, Yotta said: “Organisations are increasingly understanding the importance of high-quality asset management in connecting people, systems and infrastructure across their estates in gathering and visualising data and using it to make informed decisions. If they don’t do it well, however, as this survey indicates, they run the risk of making poor inaccurate decisions which waste money, consume resources and lead to reduced competitiveness.”

Surprisingly, less than a fifth (19%) of respondents believed that The Internet of Things (IoT) was the single most exciting recent development, while 5G was referenced by just 2% of the sample overall.

When asked to name the top three benefits of improved physical asset management, more than eight in ten (83%) of the survey sample referenced ‘higher efficiency and effectiveness of operations’, while nearly half (48%) said: ‘higher return on physical assets’.

Dyer added: “The latest innovative connected asset management technology available to asset managers takes advantage of the latest development in IOT and machine-to-machine technology, which can play a major role in achieving enhanced operational efficiency and higher return on their infrastructure, while driving down costs.”