The CMMS is Dead. Long Live the CMMS!

What if the biggest problem with CMMS isn’t the technology, but how people actually use it?

In this episode of Gear Talk, Wes Cash sits down with UpKeep founder Ryan Chan to talk about where CMMS came from, where it’s headed and how emerging technology is changing the way maintenance teams capture information, analyze data and get work done.

Ryan shares how his own experience with cumbersome, desktop-based maintenance software led to the creation of UpKeep, and why putting technicians first can make the difference between useful maintenance data and another digital filing cabinet. The conversation also looks ahead at AI, voice interfaces, connected technicians and what these tools could mean for reliability over the next decade.

You’ll learn about:

Why traditional CMMS workflows often struggle with technician adoption

How better usability can lead to better maintenance data

Why collecting more data doesn’t automatically create more value

How AI can help teams make sense of years of maintenance history

Where AI can support RCA, FMEA, diagnosis and decision-making

How voice-driven inspections are already changing maintenance workflows

Why the connected technician may be closer than many plants realize

What maintenance teams can do now instead of waiting for the “perfect” technology