By combining intuitive indoor maps with real-time maintenance data, the platform bridges planning and execution – enabling staff to locate assets, view spares, assess work requirements, and even initiate SAP PM work order execution through Neptune (the site’s SAP mobile interface) without ever leaving the PlantQuest environment. The result is a transformative level of visibility and efficiency in asset management and maintenance planning.

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PlantQuest deployed its OneView digital twin platform, delivering a comprehensive, interactive map of the entire facility integrated seamlessly with SAP PM data. This Google Maps-like solution provides maintenance planners and technicians with unprecedented spatial context for asset management. Key elements of the solution included:

• Digital Mapping & Twin Creation: The PlantQuest project team remotely digitised all of the sites layout drawings, before our partners Murphy Geospatial conducting extensive LiDAR and photogrammetry scanning across ~30,000 square meters of the site. Every building, floor, and corridor was mapped, creating an accurate and interactive 2D floorplan, whilst interstitials, tech spaces, plant and utility rooms where captured with 3D photography and LiDAR. This foundation is essentially a Google Maps + Street View for the facility – users can pan across floor maps or jump into 360° panoramic views of actual rooms and equipment.

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• SAP PM Integration via Databricks: Asset data, work orders, and maintenance notifications from SAP Plant Maintenance are integrated into the platform through a secure Databricks pipeline. This means the interactive map is overlaid with live maintenance information – users can search for any asset by tag or work order number (Or search by filters) and immediately see its exact location on the map, along with key metadata like status, criticality, and upcoming work orders or inspection dates. Clicking an asset reveals its SAP details and any open work notifications. Crucially, technicians can launch into action by initiating or updating work orders in the Neptune mobile app directly from the PlantQuest interface, streamlining the transition from planning to execution.

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• Intuitive Asset Visualisation: Every equipment tag and testing point is precisely placed on the digital map/virtual tour, eliminating guesswork. Color-coded icons and layers indicate asset types, work order priorities, and even safety/access requirements for each location. For example, a technician preparing a job can see if a room requires special PPE or be informed of the gowning requirements before heading there. This visual context helps teams gather the right tools and approvals ahead of time, improving compliance and reducing wasted trips.

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• User-Friendly Access Anywhere: The platform is accessible on desktop and tablets, so both office-based planners and field technicians use the same intuitive interface. On the factory floor, technicians carry an iPad with PlantQuest’s app, enabling them to navigate step-by-step to the job site. The indoor navigation guides them through buildings and between floors without needing GPS, using a rules engine to avoid restricted zones or hazards. Even in areas with limited Wi-Fi, the tablet-friendly design ensures offline functionality, so workers are never “lost” in the field.

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• Collaboration & Future-Readiness: The solution was delivered with minimal disruption – PlantQuest’s team captured data and stood up the system in a matter of weeks, working closely with site personnel whom used the PlantQuest Asset Survey & Verification tool to accurately capture asset locations and missing metadata in the field. The platform now serves as a single source of truth for asset locations and maintenance status.

Although this project has only recently been completed and quantitative results are still being gathered, the expected benefits for the facility are substantial:

• Faster Maintenance Execution: Technicians can now find and reach equipment in a fraction of the time it used to take. No more hunting for the right valve or electrical panel – a quick search on PlantQuest brings up the exact location. This is projected to cut mean time to repair and overall maintenance execution times significantly (similar deployments have seen maintenance tasks completed 30%–35% faster, thanks to better preparation and navigation).

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• Streamlined Work Planning: Planners and supervisors have gained an overarching visual view of all ongoing and upcoming work. Planners can see clusters of work orders across the site and schedule crews more efficiently, grouping jobs by area to minimize unnecessary travel and optimising equipment usage. This holistic overview enables smarter decision-making and resource allocation, reducing downtime and overtime costs.

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• Improved Data Integrity: Through the provision of a field survey tool, technicians, working alongside the SAP SME were able to capture missing asset metadata, whilst also verifying data at its source in the field.

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• Empowered & Safer Workforce: The intuitive, visual interface lowers the learning curve for new employees and contractors. Even those unfamiliar with the site and asset geography can independently navigate to job locations, which reduces the need for escorts and constant supervision. This not only saves time but also enhances safety – workers are less likely to end up in the wrong location. The system also highlights access requirements (like PPE or permits) for each task location, ensuring compliance is front-of-mind.

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• Foundation for Ongoing Innovation: Beyond immediate operational gains, the project has given the facility a robust digital infrastructure. The comprehensive 2D/3D map and integration capabilities mean the site is ready to incorporate additional systems (such as its BMS and MES). In essence, the PlantQuest platform is scalable – what started as a maintenance tool is poised to evolve into an all-encompassing “digital plant” hub as the company’s Industry 4.0 journey continues.