Author | Dirk Janse van Rensburg, Head of On Key Software Solutions
In the high-stakes world of professional rugby, no coach worth their salt enters a match armed only with a static game plan. Teams may kick off with clear tactics, but a surprise substitution, an unanticipated play, or a sudden weather shift can force even the best-prepared side to adapt on the fly. Victory isn’t about the plan alone, it’s about the agility to evolve that plan into a dynamic, responsive strategy.”
Much like rugby, asset management operates in a dynamic, high-pressure environment. Assets age, operating conditions shift, and business priorities evolve. Yet many organisations still rely on rigid maintenance plans that fail to reflect the ever-changing realities on the plant floor.
It’s time for a new playbook.
The shift from maintenance plans to asset strategies
With global spending on enterprise asset management (EAM) software reaching £4.5 billion in 2024 and projected to grow at a 9% annual rate through 20281, asset-intensive businesses are no longer just digitising; they’re building strategic strength to stay resilient under operational, financial, and ESG pressures.
At Pragma, we believe in shifting the mindset from static maintenance plans to agile, responsive asset strategies. A plan might say, “Inspect pump X every 30 days,” but a strategy asks, “Given today’s usage, failure history, and operating context, what’s the optimal action to ensure performance and minimise cost or risk?”
That’s more than semantics. It’s a capability shift, enabled by tools like On Key.
On Key’s role in dynamic strategy execution
On Key doesn’t just digitise schedules – it provides a platform to define, manage, and adapt asset strategies in realtime. With On Key, organisations can:
- Build strategies based on real-world data and asset behaviour.
- Extract insights from subject matter experts using structured methodologies.
- Optimise strategy execution across global portfolios.
- Dynamically adjust strategies in response to new conditions.
One large OEM client, for instance, manages over 50,000 assets through On Key, each with a customised strategy grounded in realtime performance data, not guesswork.
Strategy forecasting: Seeing the game ahead
On Key’s “strategy forecast” capability enables asset managers to model future scenarios, such as deferring an overhaul or switching maintenance modes, and immediately see the downstream effects on cost, availability, sustainability, and operational KPIs.
This shifts decision-making from gut feel to model-backed foresight, giving leaders the confidence to act with clarity and precision.
From whistle to wicket: Reading the field and adapting to win
Rugby reminds us that execution requires agility. But for a longer-term analogy, consider the recent ICC World Test Championship at Lord’s, where conditions changed dramatically over four days. Teams had to adjust tactics daily, reading the pitch, the weather, and their opponents. South Africa adapted better, and they lifted the trophy.
Asset strategies are no different. Planning is essential, but conditions matter. Success comes to those who can monitor, interpret, and respond in realtime.
So, the next time someone hands you a maintenance plan, ask: Are we just following a script, or are we reading the field and playing to win?
With On Key, you don’t just manage assets. You manage outcomes.
To learn more about On Key EAM software and the On Key product suite, visit www.OnKey.com.
References
1 Verdantix, Green Quadrant: EAM Software, October 2024