Where is reliability / maintenance software headed?

I have long been a believer in on-the-web technologies. A big fan of SaaS systems myself I use them regularly in business and in delivering services. In fact most of the world runs a lot like this nowadays.

Except us..While industries from banking to consulting are more and more web based, our companies are fixated with racing towards the old SAP-style architectures of the late 1990's.

I am writing because I stumbled upon an old press release for a company that appeared back near the first internet bubble. A kiwi company called Sparesfinder.com. (Since changed ownership and now based out of the UK)

This is an absolutely great technology, a brilliant idea, and dramatically underused for some reason.

The core concept is simple, to quote their news release:

The service is totally unique in that it allows individual end-users of spares to trade their excess inventory between each other. Also, because the service is delivered through the internet, it provides all subscribers with a global choice of spares instantly and at the touch of a button.

A brilliant idea.

A way to get rid of excess inventory after taking a decision for technology reasons. Or a way to manage obsolescence, purchasing obsolete stock from other companies after upgrades.

The core idea of releasing capital from purchased inventory, easily.

The trick is though, of course there is a trick, the more people are in it - the more useful it is.  But the possibilities are really intriguing. Particularly if it could become a business line for resellers of parts and equipment.

The other is of course emaint.com. Another long lived great little company providing online CMMS to small to medium sized industries.

The benefits of these systems are reaching the "obvious choice" level I think.

• Rent rather than install. 
• The fees are generally lower
• Implementation time characteristically lower
• Functionality is between okay and really great.
• Infrastructure is often a browser
• Access is global. In an instant. 

Then there is Google Apps Engine.. This is a really great little platform. For those of us in reliability in the early 1990's - it is the Microsoft Access for this period!

A relatively easy to learn, scalable, and robust platform allowing us all to create online business applications. Google have effectively turned business applications open source and free. 

The need for data in our game is irrefutable. The means of accessing it, using it and analyzing it is where we really need to be thinking for the next big steps forward in productivity and costs I believe.