Getac Technology
The Future of Rail Maintenance Is Digital
This article first appeared in the Railway-News Magazine Issue 4 2023.
The rail industry has rapidly evolved in the wake of several exceptionally tough years.
In particular, a growing number of organisations tasked with maintaining critical rail infrastructure are shifting their focus towards digitalising field operations. Doing so is enabling frontline engineers to carry out work orders, complete inspections and conduct repairs as quickly and efficiently as possible. In many cases, they are using rugged mobile technology to achieve this objective successfully.
Digital Transformation Has Moved to the Frontline
Digital transformation isn’t a new phenomenon in the rail industry. Many organisations have already spent significant time and resources implementing technology that is helping transform existing processes to meet resurgent post-pandemic service demand and ever-increasing customer expectations.
However, over the last few years, the focus has shifted from the backend to the frontline. When implemented correctly, advancements in mobile technology are leading to better communication between field teams and management, faster inspection and repair schedules, higher customer satisfaction ratings, and better ROI. A key part of this is the evolution of the frontline landscape itself. New connectivity technologies such as 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT) are completely changing the way technology can be used in these environments.
The Rail Industry Is in a State of Flux
Of course, with change come challenges. In order to fully capitalise on digital transformation, the frontline workforce needs to become more tech-savvy, which is still a work in progress for many organisations. On top of this, the rail industry is facing a massive wave of experienced field engineers and technicians retiring, resulting in much younger, less experienced (but often more tech savvy) workers taking their place.
