How Cloud Hosted MRO Software Enhances Productivity

Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) operations traditionally relied heavily on paper-based systems and standalone software applications. However, the industry’s digital transformation has changed how maintenance activities are managed, especially thanks to cloud technology.

The global aviation MRO software market was valued at USD 7.32 billion in 2023 and is forecast to reach USD 11.68 billion by 2032, a CAGR of 6.02%. The market consists of cloud-based and on-premise deployments, the former expected to see the largest growth.

Drivers of this growth include:

• Increased demand for advanced computing infrastructure
• Expansion of the MRO industry in emerging markets such as China and India
• Increased demand for data-storage solutions for fleet and maintenance management.

Other sources list the demand for shorter turnaround times to be a significant factor.

Cloud hosted MRO software brings new levels of efficiency and productivity that were not possible with legacy systems. In this article, we’ll review which attributes enhance productivity in aircraft services.

How did Cloud Hosted MRO Software Originate?

The Early Days of MRO Management

Before the introduction of software, aviation MRO management relied heavily on manual, inefficient processes.

Manual Record Keeping

MRO processes were documented using physical logs, spreadsheets, and paper forms, and technicians and engineers manually recorded maintenance activities. This could lead to discrepancies and difficulties in tracking the fleet’s maintenance history.

Communication Challenges

Information regarding maintenance schedules, parts availability, and compliance requirements was typically shared through written notes, resulting in misunderstandings and delays in addressing maintenance issues.

Time-Consuming Processes

Scheduling maintenance checks and repairs was a labour-intensive task. MRO managers had to rely on manual estimations to determine maintenance windows, which could lead to increased aircraft downtime, while the absence of automated reminders meant that tasks could easily be overlooked or delayed.

Limited Visibility and Reporting

Without software, obtaining a comprehensive view of the maintenance status of a fleet was difficult. Managers struggled to generate reports on maintenance activities, compliance, and performance metrics, making it hard to analyse trends or identify recurring issues.

Inventory Management Issues

MRO teams tracked inventory levels manually, which increased the risk of stockouts or overstocking. This would cause delays in repairs if parts were unavailable when needed.

Compliance and Safety Challenges

Ensuring compliance with aviation regulations and safety standards requires meticulous attention to detail. Without software to automate compliance checks and documentation, MRO teams faced challenges in maintaining accurate records required for audits and inspections.

Training and Knowledge Transfer

Training new personnel relied on informal methods, such as shadowing experienced workers. This approach resulted in inconsistent knowledge transfer and varying levels of expertise among team members.

The Introduction of Aircraft Maintenance Software

The introduction of legacy software marked a significant shift from manual processes to a more structured approach. However, it still lacked the efficiency and flexibility that modern cloud based solutions provide.

Structured Data Management

The transition to databases allowed for more organised data management. This improved the tracking of maintenance schedules, inventory, and compliance documentation, but systems were often cumbersome and not user-friendly, leading to inefficiencies in data entry and retrieval.

High Operating Costs

Legacy systems required ongoing support and updates, which could be labour-intensive and costly. In fact, IT departments in the U.S. still collectively spend $85 billion per year on maintaining poor-performing technology, while the average developer spends 42% of their time handling technical debt and maintenance issues.

Also, as technology advanced and many legacy systems became outdated, it became harder to find skilled personnel who could maintain them effectively.

Integration Challenges

A lack of interoperability limited the ability to share data across different platforms, which is essential for a comprehensive view of aviation maintenance operations. As a result, MRO managers had to rely on manual data transfers or workarounds, further complicating workflows and increasing the risk of errors.

Thankfully, cloud based software overcomes the challenges above.

Productivity-Boosting Benefits of Cloud Hosted MRO Software

Accessibility and Collaboration

Technicians and engineers often have to perform maintenance tasks in various locations, including hangars, airports, and remote sites.

In the past, personnel would have to access on-premise MRO software from specific workstations, which created delays. However, cloud hosted software enables access anywhere, at any time. Not only does this benefit technicians, but it’s crucial for global organisations in general with their geographically dispersed teams.

Engineers, managers and other personnel can collaborate in real-time, ensuring that everyone has access to the most up-to-date information.

Enhanced Mobility

This flexibility extends to the use of mobile devices thanks to systems such as OASES Mobile. It enables technicians to  update work orders, access technical records, and record inspection results in real-time, no matter where they are.

Visibility

Cloud based aircraft MRO software significantly enhances visibility across maintenance operations. For example, OASES’ Continuing Airworthiness module provides a single source of truth across airworthiness directives, service bulletins, engineering orders, safety integrity levels, and aircraft operations tests.

It allows teams to manage reliability issues, repetitive defects, and so on, while engineers and logistics personnel can handle work orders in real-time.  

Paper-based records and long briefing sessions are unnecessary, thanks to the control dashboard which lets staff address tasks on the go. Admin is further reduced as the system automatically logs all actions.

Real-Time Data Access and Analytics

Access to real-time data is crucial for effective and timely decision-making. With cloud software, data is stored centrally and accessed over the internet, allowing users to access it from any device, anywhere.

As such, it enables real-time responses to task requirements. It also provides real-time visibility into the maintenance activities across the fleet and enables organisations to monitor KPIs, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions. Advanced analytics can also be used to for predictive maintenance purposes.

Scalability and Flexibility

One of the most significant advantages of cloud based airline MRO software is its scalability. As an organisation’s needs grow, the software can easily scale to accommodate increased workloads and additional users – without all the hassle that comes with scaling up on-premise software.

The cloud also ensures that software can adapt to the changing requirements of the business without the need for significant infrastructure investments.

Processing Power

The volume of data generated by the aviation industry is astounding, the global fleet expected to produce 98 million Terabytes per annum by 2026. Modern cloud-based solutions offer the processing power needed to handle this data effectively and perform all necessary functionality.

Better Resource Allocation

Traditional on-premise MRO software requires substantial investments in hardware, software licenses, and ongoing maintenance. However, cloud-hosted software eliminates the need for these capital expenditures.

The cloud service provider is responsible for maintaining the infrastructure and ensuring the software is always up-to-date and secure. This model helps organisations reduce their IT costs and allocate resources to initiatives that can directly increase productivity.

Integration Capabilities

Cloud-based platforms are designed with interoperability in mind. They offer robust APIs and seamless connectivity options that allow for quick and efficient integration with various third-party tools and services.

This flexibility means that organisations can easily incorporate new technologies, streamline their workflows, and adapt to changing business needs without the need for extensive IT resources or infrastructure modifications.

What’s more, these integration capabilities allow for adaptation in response to evolving standards and protocols, ensuring continuous compatibility and performance improvements​.

Streamlined Compliance and Reporting

Cloud-hosted MRO software simplifies compliance management by integrating various data sources and automating the tracking of requirements, ensuring that regulations are always being met.

The ability for cloud software to integrate with external services also enables robust customs compliance; as mentioned, on-premise software may not provide such options.

Comprehensive Functionality

Legacy systems tend to have limited functionality which in turn, limits productivity. On the other hand, modern MRO solutions have many more features to offer. From automated work order generation to automated shortage management, it’s equipped to improve processes across the entire maintenance function.

Conclusion

Cloud hosted MRO software brings many benefits including greater accessibility, scalability and performance; reduced IT costs; real-time data and analytics; and streamlined compliance. All of these attributes increase efficiency and productivity.

Ready to see how it can transform your operations? Contact us today to request a demo of OASES and experience the productivity that’s possible with the cloud.