If you own or manage an enterprise with significant assets, then you’re aware that you can’t afford downtime for your most important equipment. If your business expands, the work order software can help reduce downtime and improve responsiveness to repairs. It’s because it functions as a database in which you can record tracks and organize the work orders for your assets.
Work orders can be placed either internally or externally (i.e., from within your organization or through a client or a customer). They could be composed of various kinds of maintenance work orders, such as preventive maintenance, reactive maintenance, and predictive maintenance.
There are numerous work order management software options from which to pick. We’ll take the time to review eight of the top choices, examining the advantages and disadvantages of each and particularly addressing how they handle work requests.
Benefits of Using a Work Order Software
It’s likely to be obvious that work order software, also referred to as computerized maintenance management software (or CMMS software), is the most effective solution for recording and tracking work orders for your business to ensure efficiency. But what are the primary benefits of using a work order software?
1. All Your Work Orders in One Place
This type of software will store all kinds and types of work orders in one central location that is accessible to the whole team. It replaces pen and paper work order forms and spreadsheets used by maintenance teams.
2. Improves Accountability
Users who utilize work order software can submit maintenance requests quickly. Once submitted, users can easily track progress and status within the app, and technicians receive immediate notifications whenever an order has been assigned to them. If an order is due by the due date, Reminders are automatically sent to those who need to be notified.
3. Improves Budgeting & Planning
The reporting options that come with work order software can give you a detailed how much time and money you’re spending completing work orders, which assets are constantly breaking down, and what technicians are doing or not doing. By using these data, you’ll be able to prepare a plan and budget for the future.
4. Enhanced Efficiency
In making information on work orders, such as inspection checklists and standard operating procedures ( SOPs), accessible via phone, your employees become more efficient. They can modify work orders right on the job. This reduces the paperwork they must complete.
Also read: Order Management: What It Is, Process, and Importance
8 Best Work Order Software
Eight work order software listed below offer a variety of these useful features. We have compiled a summary of the essential information you should be aware of in every work order software, and included pricing details (when available) to help you get the most value for your company.
1. Coast
Coast is a work order management software that can help businesses manage their most valuable assets by centralizing maintenance tasks. The ability to create work orders and the delegation feature make it an excellent solution for managing work orders.
Key Features:
- Mobile app for technicians to view, update, and edit work orders
- Live chat for seamless communication
- Preventive maintenance scheduling by time or usage
- Automated reminders for timely task completion
- Customizable fields for easy setup
Pros:
- Robust inventory management across the entire equipment lifecycle
- In-depth reporting and analytics to identify bottlenecks
- QR code tracking for work orders and metrics
Cons:
- Few integration options
- Reporting features are locked behind paid plans
2. Limble
Limble is a work order software that comes with an impressive set of features for managing assets, preventive maintenance, and automated work orders. It’s more complicated than businesses require. It is important to note that the mobile application may be buggy, especially when in offline mode.
Key Features:
- Vendor management with centralized information storage
- Real-time analytics and customizable dashboards
- Multilingual support with native translations
Pros:
- Automatic preventive maintenance scheduling and reminders
- Efficient spare parts and inventory tracking
- Bulk actions for faster asset and job management
Cons:
- Outdated design interface
- Alerts limited to in-app notifications (no text messages)
- Limited offline functionality on the mobile app
3. Upkeep
Upkeep is an ideal tool for easing the workflow process for companies. Its user-friendly interface allows you to create and manage work orders a ease. Similar to many comparable programs, UpKeep is a mobile-friendly software because most maintenance workers or property maintenance companies are away from their desks.
Key Features:
- Easy work request submission via app
- Time, parts, and cost tracking with insights
- Inventory tracking with low-supply alerts
Pros:
- Fast work order creation
- Task sign-off for accountability
- Preventive maintenance tracking
Cons:
- Some features don’t auto-sync
- Mobile and desktop differ slightly
- Free plan is limited
4. Fiix
FFiix maintenance and facilities employees can complete their tasks quickly, thanks to a simple process for requesting work and storing vital data in a central place. Fiix also provides an app for mobile and a free version of the program. However, its outdated interface makes important features difficult to find, particularly on mobile devices.
Key Features:
- Streamlined work order management
- Easy asset tracking and performance optimization
- Fiix Foresight for fast data analysis and trend insights
Pros:
- Strong integration capabilities across systems
- Helpful training videos for easy onboarding
- Smooth interdepartmental collaboration
Cons:
- Permission settings can be tricky
- Custom report creation is complex
- Minor differences between desktop and mobile apps
5. eMaint
eMaint enables easy work order creation, management, and preventive maintenance scheduling and parts inventory, among other capabilities. The interface is quite simple and comes with a comprehensive feature set. While the templates and forms for work orders are very extensive, they don’t offer the most flexibility in configuration or design for users, which makes it difficult to use.
Key Features:
- Efficient work order management with offline access
- Easy parts and asset tracking
- Intuitive preventive maintenance scheduling
Pros:
- User-friendly interface
- Custom asset reporting
- Excellent customer support
Cons:
- Inconsistencies between the desktop and mobile versions
- Slow report generation
- Limited customization for forms and templates
6. FMX
FMX helps you monitor and plan maintenance, specifically for those working in facilities management. With several other software alternatives that offer similar functions. The founder of FMX decided to create a CMMS that could be used by anyone. This is why FMX was created to be easy to use on mobile and desktop alike. Free trials of the software are available, and standard pricing is universal. Companies are encouraged to inquire about a custom quote.
Key Features:
- Easy work order creation and management for all employees
- Comprehensive reporting and analytics
- Streamlined facility scheduling with a schedule-request module
Pros:
- Extremely user-friendly, minimal training needed
- Responsive customer support and training resources
- Tracks employee hours and work frequency
Cons:
- Clunky mobile app experience
- Limited customization options
- No transparent upfront pricing
7. MaintainX
MaintainX is a simple maintenance software that enables companies to monitor progress on all equipment maintenance processes. The templates for work orders are so simple that users can design and assign tasks in just a few minutes. Access to all of these functions is prioritized for field service employees.
Key Features:
- Asset tracking with audits, activity logs, and barcoding
- Preventive maintenance scheduling, reminders, and inspections
- Individual and group messaging for managers and technicians
Pros:
- Intuitive design for easy work order creation
- Clear, organized dashboard for tracking progress
- Real-time updates keep everyone informed
Cons:
- No inventory management
- Limited report filtering
- Communication restricted to the app (no email)
8. Eagle CMMS
Eagle CMMS (previously Maxpanda) is an innovative work order management software. The mobile application is made to be suitable for both offline and online use. Both the mobile and desktop versions are user-friendly. Users can begin with the 14-day trial for free or opt for the paid plan to gain access to additional features.
Key Features:
- Multi-location asset tracking and monitoring
- Mobile access online or offline
- Vendor management
Pros:
- Create work orders directly from the field
- User-friendly and versatile interface
- Easy tracking of maintenance and repair history
Cons:
- Mobile app requires the latest version
- Occasional freezes and lag
- No upfront pricing
Also read: Top 10 Employee Scheduling Apps
How to Select the Best Work Order Software
Before diving deeper into our reviews, let’s first discuss what quality work order software can bring to your business. Each business will have different demands and goals when choosing its work order software, but consider these elements before choosing which work order software will meet those demands:
- User-friendliness: An ideal work order software must be user-friendly for employees and maintenance technicians to utilize effectively, especially if your small business requires smaller-sized work order software solutions.
- Mobile application: A website experience can differ from a mobile app’s experience when it comes to navigation software. Therefore, great software should be available on both. Furthermore, desktop-only software forces field personnel to record everything manually before inputting their findings when they get access to a computer.
- Alerts and reminders: Automated reminders ensure that technicians follow through on work orders on time or help employees stay on task while working on projects assigned to them.
- Reporting ability: A good work order software should provide information that lets you identify trends and track maintenance KPIs. This will provide you with more insight into which assets often suffer from problems and which team members are performing effectively, as well as which ones are not performing efficiently. Reports will help you as a manager or owner, or supervisor to make better-informed decisions regarding costs and time-saving measures for the maintenance assets.
- Preventive maintenance: Preventive maintenance features allow you to be current with important checks and updates on your assets. If you plan maintenance, your company reduces the possibility of machine downtime.
Conclusion
Investment in work order software should go beyond convenience. It should help improve asset performance, boost accountability, and save both time and money in the long run. With all these choices outlined above, you are confident of finding one to keep operations running efficiently.
FAQs
What is work order software?
Work order software is a digital tool that helps businesses create, track, and manage maintenance or service requests for assets, equipment, and facilities efficiently.
What features should I look for in work order software?
Key features include work order creation, preventive maintenance scheduling, inventory and asset tracking, reporting and analytics, mobile access, and automated alerts.
Is work order software suitable for small businesses?
Absolutely. Many solutions offer scalable plans suitable for small businesses, allowing them to manage assets and maintenance without complex IT infrastructure.
Is AI integrated into work order software?
Some modern solutions use AI to predict maintenance needs, optimize scheduling, and provide actionable insights to improve efficiency and reduce downtime.
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