The effect of the Covid-19 pandemic has been felt in many industry verticals, but particularly by the aviation industry, where over 18,000 planes had been sent to storage in just a matter of months. And due to international travel restrictions, passenger air travel has come close to a standstill, leading to a considerable airline financial loss of over $370 billion in 2020. Additionally, the pandemic has compelled many operators and MRO providers to re-think their operational realities. Some have gone digital and moved away from the traditional way of completing tasks, and paving the way for going digital to play a more important role. Digital MRO for the “New Normal” Nascent technologies such as Augmented Reality, the Internet of Things, blockchain, Artificial Intelligence, and Big Data Analytics are proving to be essential factors in transforming typical MRO services. To gain a definite competitive advantage and increase operational efficiencies, aircraft manufacturers and MRO providers should veer away from the traditional manufacturing processes. Here are some of the benefits of adopting a Digital MRO in your operations. Digital MRO improves inventory. Comprehensive dashboards and status reports help keep track of essential parts needed for repair—based on the frequency and quantity of their use. Consequently, they can prevent excessive items in storage, as well as unaccounted overhead costs by establishing a regulated replenishment cycle. Digital MRO streamlines operational workflow. Disparate systems tend to create inefficiencies in your operational processes. Having a core platform or solution to create detailed production schedules and monitor your operations can greatly help in your demand forecasting, as well as facilitate a smooth workflow. Digital MRO eases collaboration. Swift communication is key in maintenance operations. Digital MRO integrates Cloud-based and mobile solutions to simplify collaboration with your team by analyzing maintenance activity quickly, and resolving critical items faster than doing it traditionally. Now, it’s easier to have real-time insights into your aircraft status and repair requirements. Digital MRO eliminates paper mess. Go paperless with readily accessible digital reference materials and electronic task cards. With Digital MRO, it’s very convenient to create comprehensive status reports and utilize dashboards to see timelines and anticipated issues. Digital MRO complies with regulatory requirements. Equipped with electronic task cards with automatic time tracking, and electronic signatures and verifications of technician qualifications, Digital MRO ensures your maintenance program stays compliant with regulations. Despite the ongoing restrictions due to the pandemic, industry experts anticipate that the global digital MRO demand will fully recover by 2023. Leveraging a Digital MRO to optimize your critical maintenance operations, as well as maintain on-time delivery and enhance compliance will certainly put you at a competitive advantage. EmpowerMX offers comprehensive MRO Software that lets you streamline your MRO operations by giving you increased visibility into day-to-day tasks, as well as insight into inventory trends and forecasts. To learn more, request a demo today!