What is Maintenance-as-a-Service?

And why it might be just the thing you've been looking for...

"As-a-service" explained

You may have noticed a growing trend of "as-a-service" style offerings appear over the past decade or so, particularly in software delivery models commonly referred to as SaaS (Software-as-a-Service). These are attractive because there are clearly communicated functional levels and subscription-based engagements, meaning you'll only pay for the number of users you need and the level of features required. The ability to avoid vendor lock-in is also an important component in the attractiveness of this model - it gives the purchaser the chance to retain control in the relationship.

SaaS is not a new concept in EV charging, Charge Point Management Softwares (CPMSs) and e-Mobility Service Providers (eMSPs) are established examples of how this model works for the benefit of businesses and the communities they are representing.

Likewise, Maintenance-as-a-Service (MaaS) is already commonly embedded in industries such as manufacturing production lines, building maintenance requirements like elevators or security systems, or indeed server farm maintenance which underpins the SaaS companies.

However, the idea of Electric Vehicle Charge Point (EVCP) MaaS is a relatively new addition to the mix of innovative models available to those who are adding electric vehicles to their fleets or workplaces.

Maintenance-as-a-Service powered by intelligent data

So what actually is it?

Essentially, it's a service model where a third-party provider takes on the responsibility for all aspects of charge point maintenance, rather than the owner of the charge points handling it themselves.

It is offered on a fixed-term or subscription basis providing a predictable cost and offloading the complexities of maintenance from the charge point owner or site host. It's a bit like SaaS, but for physical infrastructure.

Which elements are included?

That's part of the beauty of it - you can choose.

At Safer Charging we offer three simple base tiers which you can then add to with whichever bolt-on services meet your needs. For our clients this keeps costs down and deliverables which are meaningful. For us it means we can keep our operations lean which, in turn, delivers greater cost savings to our clients.

Typically, services may include:

Proactive maintenance: Regular inspections and servicing to prevent issues before they occur.

Reactive maintenance: Rapid response and repair for any breakdowns or malfunctions.

Software & firmware updates: Ensuring the charging software is up-to-date and functioning correctly.

Remote monitoring: Using technology to keep an eye on the status of charge points and identify problems proactively.

Parts replacement and inventory management: Handling the sourcing and replacement of any necessary components.

24/7 support: Providing assistance to both charge point owners and EV drivers.

Compliance and safety checks: Ensuring all charge points meet regulatory standards and safety requirements.

Why might it work for me?

Well, it's empowering you to be the charge point owner - giving you much greater control over how those charge points are run - but without the headache of having to pick up the day-to-day difficulties.

You get the confidence of knowing you're paying for the service level you need, not just the service level which is being offered.

You'll also benefit from a business which does nothing but care about charge point maintenance all day, everyday. If you're already familiar with an EV charging ecosystem under the Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP) - if not, we'll have another blog post diving into some detail on this shortly - then you'll know the rest of the value chain is delivered by niche specialists at every point e.g. manufacturers, installers, CPMSs etc., so why not a specialist maintenance provider.

Additionally, you are welcome to walk away at end of contract and utilise another provider if it is your preference to do so. At Safer Charging we're passionate about removing vendor lock-in and that door swings both ways. As much as we'd like to retain clients indefinitely, we will always support your ability to take your business elsewhere without upheaval.

Final thoughts...

We see MaaS becoming increasingly popular as the number of EV charge points grows, as it helps to ensure a reliable charging network, which of course is crucial for widespread EV adoption. We also think it's vital for business who do not have charge points on the public network (and therefore have little opportunity to recoup investment costs) to keep as many options around commercial control as possible.

As hardware becomes more commoditised, the future of the sector is in software capabilities. That might sound like an odd argument coming from a business which delivers boots-on-the-ground services but our role in delivering innovation in this element of the sector can only be achieved by leveraging more intelligent, data-led decision making.

If you'd like to find out how we're achieving that for our clients and whether there's scope for you to do the same, you can drop a call into my diary at this link.

As ever, thanks for reading!

Chris Cheetham

Founder & CEO-as-a-Service