A technologically-driven asset management approach to managing physical assets - a literature review and research agenda for ‘smart’ asset management

Abstract

The concept of ‘smart’ is increasingly used in the commercial environment, and relates to a perception of technological intelligence. The concept of ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) has also become a reality that makes a different approach to managing physical assets necessary. With this technological intelligence come vast quantities of asset data and the analysis thereof, which has proven to add value to asset management. To capitalise on and expand this value creation, smart asset management (SAM) came into being by incorporating proven methodologies and applying these in real-time management structures. This article offers a review of the existing literature, and aims to create industry awareness about the business potential of incorporating SAM into automated asset environments for strategic management decision-making.