| Status | |
| Owner | The person responsible for driving this decision and documenting it. Type @ to mention people by name |
| Stakeholders | The business stakeholders involved in making, reviewing, and endorsing this decision. Type @ to mention people by name |
Issue
This Key Decision Document (KDD) outlines critical decisions, considerations and recommendations essential for implementing and managing an EAM Mobility solution to best support business processes and incorporate new functionalities S/4HANA will bring to Syensqo.
As part of KDD016 - Mobility Solution Direction for Enterprise Asset Management a decision was made to implement a specialized Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) mobility solution to enhance Syensqo’s Work Management process and ensure effective asset and work management.
The solution must offer a modern, intuitive user experience aligned with SAP Fiori UX principles, provide robust offline capabilities for uninterrupted field operations in remote or low-connectivity areas and support key functionalities such as Dynamic Forms, Inspection Rounds & Checklists and Digital Permit to Work.
To identify the most suitable solution, this Key Decision Document (KDD) evaluates commercially available specialized EAM mobility applications, assessing their functional, technical and usability aspects in alignment with Syensqo’s strategic objectives. The selection will focus on a future-ready solution that meets current operational requirements while ensuring scalability, compliance and digital innovation to support Syensqo’s long-term growth.
Recommendation
Summarise the recommendation being made for the reader, leaving the pro/con evaluation and exact decision-making process to the subsequent sections.
Background & Context
Syensqo is currently leveraging a custom Neptune-based application, which is deployed across 46 global plants. While this solution has served its purpose, it has reached a point where it must evolve to accommodate the evolving needs of the organization. The ERP Rebuild project is introducing several new capabilities and functionalities that require a more robust and scalable solution. Among these capabilities are enhanced Work Clearance Management (WCM), phase-based maintenance processes, and seamless integration with the SAP S/4HANA platform.
The primary goal is to modernize the mobile application environment to ensure it aligns with these emerging capabilities. The transition to SAP S/4HANA presents specific challenges that need to be addressed, particularly around integration and process optimization. In addition, the organization seeks to streamline maintenance workflows, ensuring greater operational efficiency and real-time access to data. The new solution should offer a comprehensive, user-friendly mobile experience that enables users to manage tasks and responsibilities more effectively, while also improving data visibility and supporting informed decision-making.
This evolution is aimed at ensuring a smooth operational transition during the ERP upgrade, enabling Syensqo to fully capitalize on the new features within SAP S/4HANA such as real-time asset tracking, dynamic resource allocation and other advanced capabilities.
Assumptions
SAP S/4HANA Integration: The selected solution will be fully integrated with SAP S/4HANA.
Online / Offline Capability: The EAM mobility solution must support both online and offline functionality to accommodate field operations in areas with limited connectivity.
User Experience: The user interface must align with Fiori UX to ensure ease of use for field personnel.
Scalability: Syensqo’s operations will continue to expand globally, requiring a scalable mobility solution.
Usage: The EAM mobility solution will be used across all Syensqo plants globally.
Constraints
Project Timeline: The mobility solution must be implemented within the timeline set for the ERP Rebuild project.
IT Infrastructure Compatibility: The selected solution must be compatible with Syensqo’s existing and future IT infrastructure.
Functionality & Technical Limitations: Any significant gaps in functionality or technical compatibility may delay the implementation.
Customization Requirements: There may still be a need for customization to align the solution with Syensqo's specific business processes and operational requirements.
Impacts
The selected EAM mobility solution will impact several areas of Syensqo’s operations:
EAM Processes: The selected solution will impact asset and work management processes including scheduling, work execution and time confirmation.
Data Synchronization: The solution must ensure real-time synchronization with SAP S/4HANA to maintain data consistency across systems.
Field Personnel: Training and adoption of the new solution will impact how field personnel interact with the system.
IT Infrastructure: The solution will require IT support for integration, maintenance and updates.
Compliance & Safety: The new solution must ensure that safety standards and compliance regulations are met, particularly with respect to Work Clearance Management and Permit to Work functionalities.
Business Rules
The decision may translate into business rules which enforce the decision and will require configuration. List these business rules here. For example, "An Outline Agreement cannot be created via the RFQ process. An awarded RFQ can only result in a Purchase Order".
Options considered
List the options (viable options or alternatives) you considered. These often require a longer explanation with diagrams, or references to other documents (links are best, but attachments are also possible). Use enough detail to adequately explain what you considered so that a project or business stakeholder reviewing this decision will not come back and ask "did you think about...?"; this leads to loss of credibility and questioning of other decisions. This section also helps ensure that you considered enough suitable alternatives rather than just copy/pasting SAP's recommendations.
Option A: Service and Asset Manager (SSAM) - SAP
SAP Service and Asset Manager is designed for managing enterprise assets and maintenance activities, forming a key part of SAP's comprehensive suite of asset management solutions. It offers robust functionalities for asset tracking, maintenance planning, work order management, inspection management, safety compliance and asset performance monitoring.
Maintenance technicians, supervisors and asset managers use SAP Service and Asset Manager to streamline maintenance workflows, perform asset inspections, execute work orders and track asset health and performance indicators.
As an SAP solution, it is optimized for seamless integration with S/4HANA, ensuring real-time data synchronization and streamlined workflows between the mobile app and the core ERP system. Furthermore, integration with IoT devices enables real-time monitoring and data collection, enhancing maintenance efficiency and asset performance.
SSAM Landscape
SAP Service and Asset Manager (SSAM) operates within the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) Mobile Services, which provides essential backend services to support mobile applications.
Option B: BlueWorx - Accenture
BlueWorx is a cutting-edge, fully integrated solution designed to extend SAP Plant Maintenance to both mobile devices and desktop browsers with seamless usability. Its robust functionality includes:
Key Functionalities:
- Work and Service Orders
- Notifications
- Comprehensive Asset Inspections
- Functional Location and Equipment Details
- Material Management (balances, issues, reservations, and exchanges)
- Measurement Readings, Points, and Documents
- Bills of Materials
- Document Management
BlueWorx features a responsive SAP user interface that aligns with modern SAP Fiori application designs, providing an intuitive and familiar experience. It supports offline functionality without requiring additional servers or complex configurations, ensuring consistent performance across all device types. Unlike other solutions, BlueWorx maintains a unified codebase for both mobile and desktop platforms, eliminating the need for separate versions and ensuring consistent functionality across devices.
BlueWorx System Landscape
BlueWorx operates directly within your existing SAP S/4HANA environment, built on SAP-certified Neptune Software. It runs within its own SAP namespace ensuring independence from customer-specific developments.
Option C: Mobile Enterprise Asset Management - Unvired
Unvired Mobile Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) is a flexible and feature-rich mobility solution designed to streamline maintenance and asset management processes for enterprises using SAP S/4HANA. The solution provides an intuitive user experience while ensuring robust offline capabilities, real-time synchronization and seamless SAP integration.
Key Functionalities:
Work Order and Service Order Management
Notifications (Creation, Updates, and Attachments)
Asset Inspections and Checklists
Functional Location and Equipment Details
Material Management (Reservations, Issues, and Balances)
Measurement Readings, Points, and Documents
Bills of Materials (BOMs) Management
Document Handling
Work Clearance Management (WCM) and Permit to Work (PtW)
Time Confirmation for Maintenance Tasks
Advanced Scanning Capabilities (QR Code, Barcode, RFID)
Unvired EAM Landscape
Unvired EAM operates as a cloud-based or on-premise solution that seamlessly integrates with SAP S/4HANA. It does not require additional middleware like SAP SMP or SAP Gateway, simplifying deployment and reducing IT overhead. The solution supports both iOS and Android platforms, as well as web browsers, providing flexibility in device selection and ensuring accessibility for field technicians across various operational environments.
Design and Requirement Comparison Table
| Option A - Service and Asset Manager (SSAM) - SAP | Option B: BlueWorx - Accenture | Option C - Mobile Enterprise Asset Management - Unvired | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Synchronization | PRO: Provides strong and integrated synchronization functionality with SAP backend, ensuring real-time updates and data consistency across mobile and desktop platforms | PRO: Provides synchronization functionality with advanced features, ensuring seamless data integration and synchronization across various operational scenarios. | |
| Online & Offline Capabilities | PRO: Robust online and offline capabilities, leveraging SAP's technology stack for reliable data synchronization and real-time updates | PRO: Provides online and offline capabilities with advanced offline mode features. Supports seamless synchronization of data | |
| Application | PRO: A structured and process-driven application that encompasses a wide range of functionalities, enhancing the overall user experience. Standard Fiori apps are also accessible while online on the Syensqo network. | PRO: Delivers a SAPUI5 user experience that closely mirrors SAP Fiori. A major strength of this solution, powered by the Neptune Software development framework, is its flexibility to effortlessly adapt to meet specific customer requirements and validated return on investment (ROI) criteria. | |
| Technical Objects | PRO: Provides comprehensive functionality for managing technical objects, also supports detailed management, real-time updates. | PRO: Provides functionality for managing Function Location & Equipment, also supports complex hierarchies, detailed tracking and integration capabilities. | |
| Language | PRO: Supports all required languages, including the four core languages English, French, Italian and Mandarin, along with additional languages relevant to Maintenance operations: Brazilian Portuguese, German, Spanish and Thai. | PRO: Supports majority of required languages, including the four core languages English, French, Italian and Mandarin, along with additional languages relevant to Maintenance operations: Brazilian Portuguese, German and Spanish CON: Does not support Thai | |
| Notification | |||
| Create and Manage | PRO: Offers comprehensive tools for creating detailed notifications, including templates and predefined fields. Allows for detailed updates to notifications, with seamless integration to reflect changes immediately in the SAP backend. | PRO: Offer functionality for Users to view, create and update Notifications. Only when connected, users can see previous Notifications specifically for an Equipment or Functional. | |
| Attachments | PRO: Robust attachment support, allowing various file types to be attached to notifications. | PRO: Advanced attachment capabilities, supporting multiple file types and integration, with easy access to view and manage attachments. | |
| Work Order | |||
| Create and Manage | PRO: Offers robust and integrated work order management, with comprehensive features and seamless SAP backend integration, ideal for EAM processes. | PRO: Excels in work order functionality with advanced features, extensive customization options and strong support for EAM processes, suitable for large environments. | |
| Attachments | PRO: Robust attachment support, allowing various file types to be attached to work orders and integrated within the SAP system. | PRO: Advanced attachment capabilities, supporting multiple file types and integration, with easy access to view and manage attachments. | |
| Work Order Operation | PRO: Offers a user-friendly and intuitive interface that ensures effortless access and management of work order operations. Provides streamlined functionality for executing maintenance tasks efficiently, aligned with business processes. | PRO: Offers advanced capabilities encompassing all required Work Order operation functionalities, with easy access to view and manage requirements based on processes. Design for efficient task management and enhanced user experience | |
| Task Lists | CON: No standard functionality available to view or import a task List into a Work Order. | PRO: Offers the capability for users to assign selected Task Lists to their profiles. These Task Lists can be viewed and imported into new or existing work orders. Users also have the option to refine their selected Task Lists before importing them. | |
| Spare Parts | PRO: Enables users to manually enter, search or scan materials needed for Work Order Operations. Additionally, it supports viewing and assigning spare parts linked to a Bill of Materials (BOM) associated with Function Locations or Equipment. | PRO: Enables users to manually enter, search or scan materials needed for Work Order Operations. Additionally, it supports viewing and assigning spare parts linked to a Bill of Materials (BOM) associated with Function Locations or Equipment. | |
| Inspection Round & Checklists | PRO: comprehensive and integrated functionality for setting up and managing inspection rounds, checklists and associated tasks. Integration with SAP backend ensures real-time updates and compliance. | PRO: Provides functionality with extensive features for creating and managing complex inspection rounds, checklists and tasks. Supports detailed compliance checks and reporting. | |
| Form Solution | |||
| WCM - Permit to Work | PRO: Provides comprehensive WCM Permit to Work functionality integrated with SAP backend, supporting creation, approval and compliance checks for permits. | CON: Whilst BlueWorx supports WCM functionality, it does not support the creation, approval and issuing of Permit to Work (PtW) | |
| Time Confirmation | PRO: Offers extensive functionality for time confirmation, including the ability to enter time for single or multiple operations simultaneously, operations spanning multiple days, clock in/clock out capabilities and confirmation of notification activities. | PRO: Offers intuitive functionality for capturing time confirmations, allowing users to confirm time for specific operations and add confirmations to multiple operations. Crew managers also have the capability to add time to orders on behalf of their crew, enhancing operational efficiency. | |
| Scanning | PRO: Supports QR and RF scanning capabilities for materials and equipment, enabling real-time asset tracking and efficient management. | PRO: Supports QR and RF scanning capabilities for materials and equipment, enabling real-time asset tracking and efficient management. | |
Evaluation
Outline why you selected a position. The best format could be a pro/con table (sample below), but is up to you as the author. You must consider complexity, feasibility, cost/effort to implement, but also ongoing operational impact and cost. You must consider the program principles and explain any deviations in detail. This is probably as important as the decision itself.
Option A | Option B | Option C | Option D | |
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| Criterion 1 |
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| Criterion 2 |
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| Criterion 3 |  Pro | Con | Con | Pro |
See also
Insert links and references to other documents which are relevant when trying to understand this decision and its implications. Other decisions are often impacted, so it's good to list them here with links. Attachments are also possible but dangerous as they are static documents and not updated by their authors.
