Switching from manual asset management processes, such as spreadsheets, to an Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) system can feel overwhelming – especially for authorities with an ageing workforce or those unfamiliar with modern technology.

However, with the right approach, this transition to an EAM can significantly improve operations by streamlining workflows, reducing energy expenses and providing real-time access to essential reporting metrics.  

Local councils in the UK face a range of challenges, from ageing road networks to rising repair costs, shrinking budgets and growing public frustration – all of which put pressure on day-to-day operations.

Spending significant time on data collation and analysis can lead to delays and to a more reactive model of asset management, with poor decision-making, inefficient allocation of resources and, ultimately, lower levels of public confidence. 

At this year’s Digital Scotland event, Siemens is highlighting how local authorities can smoothly transition to its Confirm asset management platform, which delivers tangible benefits from day one while minimising implementation risk. 

The reality is that managing the wide range of assets that shape local communities has never been more complex. With funding from central government continuing to decline, local authorities are being asked to achieve more with less, all while keeping residents informed and services running smoothly. 

The good news is that changing software providers does not need to be a lengthy or disruptive process. 

Increasingly, councils are turning to digitisation to close this gap. Modern digital asset management is offering a way forward, because it enables smarter decisions, improved efficiency and better use of limited resources.  

As noted by Siemens customer Shaun Taylor at Bristol City Council, “There isn’t an infinite amount of money or resources, so we need to make sure we’re making the right decisions at the right time to get the most out of taxpayers’ money. By using asset data to make decisions, we’re providing the best value to the community.”  

Moving on from legacy systems 

Many local authorities still operate asset management platforms that were implemented years, or even decades, ago. While these systems may have served an important purpose, they can become increasingly difficult to maintain, less intuitive for users and unable to support modern digital workflows. 

For councils looking to move beyond these limitations, Confirm from Siemens brings mobility, centralised asset data and reporting together into a single cloud-based platform. 

By giving asset managers a shared view of their assets and streamlining workflows, local authorities can work more proactively, improve service delivery and support sustainability and long-term resilience. 

An example of this is Brighton & Hove City Council. Responsible for highways assets including roads, street lighting, signs, rights of way and emerging infrastructure such as electric vehicle charging points, the council needed a modern solution to improve data reliability, support contractor collaboration and streamline operations. 

Before implementing Confirm, the council faced challenges familiar to many public sector organisations. Its existing system required numerous workarounds, presented risks around data quality and continued to rely heavily on manual processes. Staff were also concerned about losing valuable historic information during a transition to a new platform.  

Stacey Hollingworth, Highway Strategic Asset Manager at Brighton & Hove City Council, comments: “We were using a very old system and had to build lots of workarounds into it. It wasn’t user-friendly and we were concerned about losing data or not being able to rely on the information in the system.” 

The transition was carefully managed, as Siemens experts were also available during the go-live period to support users and make any final refinements required. The result was a smooth migration with no interruption to frontline operations. 

Hollingworth adds: “There was no downtime. In fact, inspectors were able to get out and identify defects within an hour of the system going live.” 

For councils considering a move away from legacy software, this demonstrates that implementation need not involve extended outages or operational disruption. 

Similarly, North Lanarkshire Council used Confirm to deliver its statutory open space assessment. Rather than purchasing new surveying technology, the council adapted its existing Confirm system and mobile capabilities to a new requirement. This resulted in them winning Siemens’ David Collett Client Award in 2025, which recognises their innovative and resourceful use of technology to improve community spaces. 

Using Confirm Connect, Green Space Rangers captured 75 observation types per site, covering areas including accessibility, quality, maintenance, safety, biodiversity and play opportunities. The council created three inspection routes in Confirm, before analysing the information using SQL scripts and visualising it through GIS dashboards and reports. 

At the time of the award win, Gerard McGrath, Technical Officer (Systems & Assets) from North Lanarkshire Council commented: “This award is a testament to the hard work and collaboration between our Park Ranger Service, Planning Team, and Confirm Admin Team, who together created an incredible but practical solution in response to legislative changes. This is where the user groups that David initiated brought collaboration between all the Scottish Councils and Siemens together to support and learn from one another.” 

This partnership shows that successful collaboration goes beyond individual councils. It enables authorities and asset managers to share approaches that can be replicated or adapted to meet different needs.  

Accepting change 

Authorities must manage growing numbers of assets, support sustainability objectives and make better-informed investment decisions, all while dealing with limited budgets.  

Changing asset management software providers does not need to be complex. With the right implementation methodology, seamless transition and a partner that understands the realities of local government operations, authorities, councils and asset managers can digitise confidently and start seeing benefits from the moment the system goes live. 

To find out more about Confirm, visit: https://www.assetmanagement.siemens.com/en-gb/products/confirm