Blog by Jos van der Stelt
I understand that expressing this viewpoint might attract criticism. But I feel compelled to share it regardless: a STO software alone doesn’t always hold the key to solving problems.
We frequently discuss this with clients who wish to learn how to use STO software solutions. Whether it’s for scoping, planning, or execution management. Naturally, individuals and companies seek remedies for their challenges, and technology frequently presents itself as one.
However, if your turnaround performance is lagging or experiencing significant cost overruns, relying solely on technology won’t suffice. Some of the common challenges faced by new turnaround software users during the execution are:
- Collaboration issues (between projects and maintenance)
- Limited scope discovery
- Unplanned tasks for recurring scope items
- Materials missing
- Managing changes and QAQC during execution
The belief that technology is a holy grail can lead to execution setbacks. Often, when faced with issues, people hastily turn to technology for a quick fix. All without fully grasping the root of their problems.
It is tempting to blame the new software solution rather than examine the underlying issues. Before implementing technology to expedite or enhance a process, it’s important to conduct a thorough analysis and identify additional measures necessary to achieve the desired outcome.
To avoid disappointment, we at Cleopatra Enterprise always make sure to cover the following seven areas.
1) General Knowledge
Understanding the client’s industry, specific challenges, and historical context lays a solid foundation for tailoring solutions effectively. Subsequently, it allows us to advise on training needs. That is since it starts with the general knowledge of users on turnaround projects and the respective disciplines.
2) Governance Structure
Establishing clear roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes ensures smooth execution and accountability throughout the project lifecycle.
3) Process & Maturity
Assessing the maturity level of existing processes helps identify areas for improvement and creates a sketch for workflows in the solution.
4) Current Automation Landscape Data
Seamless integration of data across systems and platforms (e.g. scheduling, ERP, CMMS) is crucial for ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and informed decision-making.
5) Data Integration
Integrating data from legacy systems poses challenges because of their outdated formats. Our team excels at overcoming these obstacles using advanced migration, cleansing, and transformation techniques. We seamlessly transfer data into modern platforms, ensuring continued insights using the latest technologies.
6) Lessons Learned
Drawing from experiences, both successes and failures equips us with valuable insights. Those help refine strategies and avoid common pitfalls.
7) Training Requirements
Identifying system training needs and providing comprehensive training programs empowers users to leverage STO digital solutions effectively and drive tangible results.
Being a solution provider and telling clients that all their problems would disappear would be a lie. Instead of claiming to be the solution to all your problems, it is better to confront the elephant in the room.
Cleopatra Enterprise is here to help clients become more successful overall. Not just successful at deploying software solutions. We believe organizations benefit greatly from relying on industry experts, who can help them achieve more than just good implementation.
