In industries with complex, frontline-heavy operations—such as manufacturing, energy, and construction—compliance and efficiency are critical. As we navigate 2026, managing risk requires more than just paper forms and fragmented spreadsheets. According to recent analysis by Verdantix, modernizing Control of Work (CoW) is now a strategic necessity.
But what exactly does this mean in practice, and how can you convince your executive team to invest in the right digital solution?
The Problem: The "ERP Gap" and the Frontline Reality
Despite massive investments in ERP systems (like SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft Dynamics 365), these systems often fail to reach the deskless workforce. This creates a significant operational gap:
Frontline teams are still executing critical workflows using disconnected tools like spreadsheets, paper forms, emails, and WhatsApp.
This reliance on manual tools leads to data silos and delayed reporting.
Paper forms and clipboards specifically cause data delays and physical storage costs.
What Does Modern Control of Work Software Include?
To bridge this gap safely and effectively, Verdantix defines that a comprehensive Control of Work software must cover five core capability areas:
Job Hazard Analysis: Functionality to identify, evaluate, and record potential hazards before a task is executed.
Permit to Work: Standardizing the creation, approval, tracking, and closure of permits for high-risk work.
Isolation Management: Planning and executing the isolation of energy sources to reduce operational risk.
Shift Management: Planning and coordinating tasks and handovers across shifts.
Simultaneous Operations (SIMOPS): Identifying concurrent activities to reduce conflicts and their associated risks.
How to Secure Executive Buy-In
COOs, CFOs, and Operations Directors want to see measurable results. To get project approval, you must build a business case focused on both the financial and strategic benefits of digitization.
1. Financial Upside:
Time savings across operations.
Paper cost savings.
Significant reduction in costs related to injuries, non-compliance, and operational shutdowns.
2. Strategic Advantages:
Enhanced Safety: Core functionalities like electronic Permit to Work (ePtW) proactively mitigate risk and significantly reduce the likelihood of incidents.
Proof of Compliance: Storing incident data digitally simplifies compliance verification and supports a robust, easily accessible audit trail.
Operational Standardisation: Clear procedural tracking enables organizations to standardize operations consistently across multiple sites and global regions.
Smarter Contractor Management: Managing contractor safety and incidents is the top challenge for 28% of organizations. Electronic ePtW systems make information sharing and visibility across sites easier for contractors and joint ventures.
The Tekmon Solution: Bridging the Gap with Speed
Digital transformation doesn't have to take months. The Tekmon platform is explicitly designed to act as a "single operational layer" that bridges the gap between your core ERP and the frontline, digitizing workflows in days without requiring code.
No-Code and AI-Enabled: Tekmon allows organizations to configure processes quickly using a no-code process builder and AI-generated workflows, completely removing the technical implementation burden.
Mobile-First Experience: Built for where the work actually happens, the platform includes Android and iOS apps that work offline—a critical feature for Safety, Quality, and Maintenance teams in the field.
Immediate Results in CoW: A digitized Permit to Work (PTW) system ensures safety protocols are enforced before work begins, while frontline staff can report hazards instantly.
With modern AI enhancements—such as real-time data incorporation for dynamic risk assessments and Gen-AI assisted workflows—the future of Control of Work is already here. Firms with high amounts of operational risk should consider comprehensive Control of Work software to protect their people and their bottom line.