Tech company launches platform with Caterpillar

Tech company launches platform with Caterpillar

A partial screen shot from within the Cat Wear Management System mobile app by Grand Rapids-based Modustri. Photo via apple.com

A local software and hardware maker has partnered with Caterpillar to launch a new platform to manage Cat parts and machines.

Grand Rapids-based Modustri said this week it has released the Cat Wear Management System to help dealers and customers across the globe optimize heavy equipment by Peoria, Illinois-based Caterpillar.

Now available at all Caterpillar dealers, Modustri said the platform also will begin pilot usage in several other industries in the first quarter of 2017, before its full launch in the manufacturing, heavy equipment, energy, retail and transportation industries.

Technology

The platform combines web based and mobile technologies with Modustri’s hardware to help Caterpillar dealers and customers measure wear on parts, optimize machine fleets, forecast parts needs and maximize maintenance and service performance.

"Dealers are no longer confined to relying on silos of field inspections and manual quoting and forecasting processes,” Modustri VP of Sales and Marketing David Hamady said. “Our strategic alliance with Caterpillar has created a platform that will revolutionize the industry, by providing dealers and Caterpillar the ability to utilize data efficiently and predictively, lowering the cost to serve, increase customer experience and maximizing asset uptime."

Partnership

Caterpillar initially announced its partnership with Modustri in 2015 to upgrade its parts performance ability.

“Our parts monitoring and management tool has been a leader in the equipment management industry for 75 years, but we’re always looking for ways to step up our game,” said Doug Hoerr, a Caterpillar division VP, at the time. “Our relationship with Modustri will allow us to take advantage of emerging technology that gives our customers more information on parts and components to maximize uptime. The days of being reactive are over.”

Caterpillar formed an Analytics and Innovation division, led by Greg Folley, near the time the partnership was formed. The companies said the developed technology could save Cat dealers and customers “hundreds of hours and millions of dollars.”

“Emerging technologies are changing the way we can help customers maintain a competitive advantage and achieve new levels of equipment productivity and profitability,” said Folley at the time.

In announcing the partnership, Modustri CEO Brian Stekettee said, “We’ve seen how mobile technology can change the behaviors of customers. Now we can see groundbreaking hardware and software that can help dealers interact with customers, build trust and plan ahead for maintenance and parts replacements."

Caterpillar

Caterpillar manufactures construction and mining equipment, diesel and gas engines and diesel-electric locomotives.

Modustri

Modustri said it makes "enterprise-class" software and hardware to help companies visualize, measure and analyze "performance activities."