solutions

management of fixed assets. GIS-based systems can greatly improve operations, support business processes, and enable risk-based management of assets.

However, ICT tools are helpful only if reliable, consistent, and up-to-date asset information is uploaded. In other words, the best use of ICT and GIS tools still requires field verification of all technical, legal, and financial details of each fixed-asset item. These all, in turn, require a proper AM framework, standard operating procedures, and trained staff. Therefore, establishing a reliable AM system should start with establishing a framework and then acquiring adequate ICT that fits the framework and local circumstances. For instance, a large county like Nairobi City County (NCC) may opt for a large-capacity, sophisticated, and integrated ICT system; in contrast, most other Kenyan counties may run their small AM systems well with the support of a few simple ICT tools.

Today, adequate AM systems cannot be established without ICT support and solutions, not only because computerized systems provide faster and more reliable information and can be procured with affordable investments, but also because they can be and should be connected to other important ICT systems such as the IFMISs, which have been deployed in Kenyan counties. The market supply of offthe-shelf AM software solutions is abundant; although most of the systems are designed for private production or commercial companies, they have modules or modalities applicable to municipalities. A growing number of systems are designed specifically for municipalities and are increasingly supported with affordable GIS and GPS tools. Box 1.3 summarizes advanced solutions that are in harmony with the ISO (International Organization for Standardization) qualification.

ICT options should be considered carefully, but establishing AM systems should start with establishing a robust governance framework and an internal AM system with well-allocated functions across municipal units and clear standard operation procedures integrated into the business processes of the local administrations. Experience suggests that software-driven solutions eventually are either inadequate or too expensive (or both) and take a long time to become operational. The main reason is that the software modules are simply passive tools that remain useless without uploads of reliable, complete, and consistent information and updates daily.

BOX 1.3

Information and communication technology asset management solutions

Life-cycle asset management (LCAM) software solutions help ensure that all data regarding each major individual asset be housed in a single repository— from engineering through construction and operations to maintenance (sometimes called a technical asset register). This enables LCAM to comply with the requirements of the ISO 55000 quality control standard applied for municipal utilities.

Modules may include the following:

• Computerized maintenance management that includes cost management, operation and time

management, vendor and inventory management, resource management, and safety and security management • Plant engineering to capture operation costs and asset data • Document management to capture changing asset specifications and unstructured data • Project management for plant shutdowns, refits, and life-cycle extensions • Contract management to capture the cost of external engineering, construction, and maintenance contractors

Note: ISO = International Organization for Standardization.