3. Structure of CMMS specifications

A project manager's first step when looking for a CMMS tool is often to compare the functionalities of different software packages. Very quickly, he or she discovers a wide range of products with very different prices for apparently similar functional coverage. But don't lose sight of the fact that it's not just functionality that determines the price of a software package.

Software differs in its characteristics and properties.

Database Management System (DBMS) around which the software is designed. The "relational database" system currently remains the standard for CMMS applications. The main systems currently on offer are DBMSs such as Microsoft's SQL Server, Oracle's Oracle Database or IBM's DB2. A credible and economically attractive technical alternative is represented by Open Source systems such as PostgreSQL, Derby and MySQL. These...