A stepping stone for the "Digital Twin” revolution, ERP+GIS integration helps organizations dismantle business silos, improve operational effectiveness, and make smarter decisions
Advanced connectivity and access to rich data has paved the way for a revolution in asset management. A key priority of asset intensive businesses such as utilities, manufacturers and petrochemical companies is to operate their infrastructure efficiently, effectively, and safely. Yet, even the most pioneering organizations often struggle to identify which elements of their digital transformation strategy to prioritize.
For companies focused on optimizing the performance of their physical assets, particularly those in the utility space, integrating GIS (Geographic Information Systems) and ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) data can be a great place to start. Integration is often the lynchpin of an effective growth strategy, and as workforces and physical infrastructures age, digitizing and documenting processes, workflows and plans in a systematic manner is more crucial to business competitiveness than ever.
Integrated enterprise data is more than the sum of its parts
GIS and ERP solutions each offer users vital productivity tools, for instance:
GIS technology improves organizations’ effectiveness by enabling them to map infrastructure and add geospatial context to assets and business processes. GIS solutions allow companies to visualize, trace, and maintain their networks, and is fundamental to improving their ability to efficiently plan, design, construct and maintain physical resources.
ERP solutions, frequently referred to as an organization’s “system of record” enable the integrated, real-time collection, storage, and management of data related to key business activities such as finance, procurement, manufacturing, supply chain and more. With the use of linked, cloud-based databases, modern ERP systems can connect regional operations with global stakeholders, giving companies the agility, speed and collaboration they need to be more competitive.
As digitizing manual processes and ensuring high quality data acquisition has become increasingly central to the operations of many companies, the business case for investing in GIS + ERP integration has become increasingly compelling.
The case for deep insight - why gaining a holistic view of asset data is so vital
At VertiGIS, we’ve seen an increasing number of organizations, particularly utilities, leveraging powerful geospatial technology beyond traditional applications such as asset mapping and infrastructure tracking. Integrating GIS data with ERP systems, such as SAP or Maximo, allows electric, gas and water utilities to share location-based intelligence across multiple departments, as well as harness the power of real-time data from other systems, including CRM and SCADA. Two real-world case studies from energy providers in the United States and Germany validate how integration, using a tool like VertiGIS Integrator, promises to unleash the full potential of both systems, while delivering tangible benefits that include:
- Seamless data consistency – synchronization and consolidation harmonize data from multiple sources, eliminating database duplication requirements, reducing manual data entry, and cutting the probability of human error, all while furthering interdepartmental collaboration.
- Streamlined workflows - improved operational efficiency with reduced manual data entry and transfers.
- An up-to-date, joint asset inventory – the exact location, condition, and utilization of each asset, provides decision makers actionable insights to help optimize operations and improve investment planning.
- Modernized maintenance processes – apply real-time data and analytics to maintenance schedules and processes to reduce downtime and extend asset life.
- Automated field data collection – provides powerful tools to improve the productivity of remote staff while helping them stay focused on critical tasks.
- Faster response times – real-time tracking of asset locations and conditions enables field workers to identify, respond and resolve critical issues more quickly.
- Enhanced reporting and analytics - identifies underperforming assets to target for maintenance, as well as more accurate reports and analytics.
- Improved risk management and compliance – integration enables organisations to centralize and standardize their data, simplifying compliance with regulatory obligations.
As asset portfolios change and business conditions shift, embedding geographic visibility into daily operations through GIS + ERP integration is a sound strategy to support people and infrastructure to adapt to changes over time.
Digital twins flourish on data integration
Interestingly, the same real-time data integration delivered by amalgamating GIS + ERP is also a foundational element for building robust digital twins. With the fourth industrial revolution, or Industry 4.0 already underway, the “digital twin” is amongst its most transformative technologies. A virtual representation of a physical asset, a digital twin provides the linkage between the built and digital worlds. It can store all available information about every asset in a network and how it relates to every other asset. It includes processes, relationships, operational status, and workflows. For the utility and infrastructure sectors, digital twins hold the promise of a more efficient and resilient network, enabling predictive maintenance that can pre-empt potential failures and optimize the use of resources. For the public sector, the technology can aid urban planning, energy management, and the delivery of high-quality living environments.
Accurate, timely data – the key to a robust digital twin
A digital twin is most valuable when it accurately reflects the actual conditions of its built counterpart, in real-time, meaning data needs to be obtained from myriad sources including IoT (Internet of Things) devices, sensors and external inputs like ERP systems or CRMs. The real challenge is ensuring all data sources are accurate, up to date, fully integrated, and synchronised within the twin – and with adjacent solutions – so they can work in harmony, while safely utilizing automation to unlock the full potential of the digital twin concept.
The pivotal role played by advanced middleware solutions
Despite its numerous benefits, not every organization is ready to fully implement digital twin technology. However, middleware platforms such as VertiGIS Integrator provide an excellent stepping stone on the journey because it can minimize the complexity of data synchronization between GIS and ERP systems today. It simplifies the handling of asset-related data and brings together existing systems, while providing a seamless, integrated view of all assets. This integration enables businesses to enhance their decision-making process with spatial context, making asset management not only more efficient but also more intuitive. This ease of data management also accelerates the adoption of digital twins when the time is right, unlocking new levels of effectiveness for businesses in the utility, telecommunications, and public infrastructure sectors.
Click to learn more about how VertiGIS Integrator can help streamline asset management and facilitate the adoption of a digital twin.