As technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate, the technology used to facilitate the use and distribution of technical content is still relatively outdated. This is due to the several decades of service life pertaining to aerospace assets, which directly results in the mass legacy data formats that cannot be efficiently utilized by modern tools. The next main reason concerns strict data-related regulation standards. Innovative efforts are subject to scrutiny for years until they can become mainstream, resulting in a general lack of incentives for current suppliers to add new features.
Another cause is simply the general impenetrability of the aerospace software market for newcomers who lack prior experience working with multi-spec projects and mission-critical systems of this industry. The only organizations that may make a competitive entry are the smaller software vendors who have at least several years of servicing a certain aerospace user base or business unit, usually IT service providers and custom developers. These “blue ocean” vendors are usually the ones willing to explore where innovation is needed on a granular level, bringing new values to a highly demanding market.
However, as major OEMs are requiring all vendors to be S1000D compliant, many newer commercial models are being built supported by one hundred percent modular documentation. Verticals in the aviation supply chains might be looking at more avant-garde tools to navigate both legacy and S1000D content of the current and newer fleets,and this may include a multi-format electronic display system (viewer) for all digitally exchanged content.
In fact, this is even more likely the case as the industry’s stance on the S1000D specification is becoming more positive. Along with the power to fully utilize the S1000D functionality matrix, the flexibility of modern platforms allows more configurable features to be built into the software, giving the end-users what they need to interact with the data better and accomplish their tasks more efficiently.
How to overcome scrutiny and gain a competitive edge
Generally, the biggest competitive advantage an innovative competitor may possess lies in the modern framework their solutions were built upon, where new features and customizations can be introduced quickly, as well as the capability to seamlessly integrate with any systems, including customers’ CSDB architecture. However, keep in mind that the efforts towards innovation are largely futile if the end-users do not get a better experience while interacting with the data or the accuracy of the data is somehow affected. This is why at the core of innovation should remain the improvement of processes while ensuring data integrity and accuracy. IETM / IETP applications, such as NIVOMAX, align with this concept.
An innovative software vendor should always be looking for opportunities to refine the existing ways of how end-users perform tasks, this can be accomplished by conducting mass user research to learn what are the current obstacles that can be easily overcome using tweaks of modern technologies. By slowly introducing new, well-tested features to meet immediate needs without disrupting the factor of productivity or regulations, smaller developers may have the chance to achieve a significant competitive edge in this industry. They provide some of the much needed innovation that has been overlooked by the other trusted veterans of aviation solutions implementation.
Aviation, due to the nature of its numerous responsibilities, is generally slower to adapt to the influence of disruptive technologies. Nevertheless, it is optimistic to keep in mind that just decades ago manuals used to come in thousands of physical pages. Now as the newly authored content is gradually transitioning from monolithic-based to the more dynamic, individual data module format, the required space and possibilities for user-centric innovation are created.
With that being said, if the efforts for innovation are focused on the right places to provide the right benefits, while abiding by international regulations, the next few years may mark a new era of user-centric IETM solution design. Transforming data to knowledge is key to the adoption of innovation, and this is a principle all innovators should keep in mind if they wish to make a difference in this highly-regulated industry.
Looking for the next-generation IETM/IETP technology?
A product of SYNAXIOM, the NIVOMAX Suite offers a three-in-one solution to build, use, and deliver IETMs & IETPs compliant with next-generation S1000D specifications and Air Transport Association (ATA) legacy data formats.
Licensed for mass distribution by one of the top three aircraft manufacturers globally, NIVOMAX gives a significant contribution to ensuring accuracy, compliance, and efficiency of the content delivery process for thousands of individual users and mission-critical business units in the aerospace industry.