Top Tech Challenges Faced by MROs—and How Salesforce Solves Them

In today’s rapidly evolving aviation industry, Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) providers face increasing demands to deliver faster service, maintain compliance, reduce costs, and meet rising customer expectations. These pressures are amplified by legacy systems, disconnected workflows, and fragmented data that make it difficult to scale or innovate. To stay competitive and efficient, MROs must embrace digital transformation and leverage modern technology to streamline their complex operations. Businesses across various industries are leveraging digital initiatives to optimize internal processes, improve customer experience, and create new value propositions. Adopting new technologies promptly is essential for maintaining a competitive edge in this dynamic environment.

Salesforce provides a powerful platform that helps MROs address their most persistent pain points while equipping them for long-term success. Relevant and adaptable across different industries—including those with unique requirements such as aerospace, defense, and aviation—Salesforce brings digital solutions that integrate seamlessly with ERP systems, unify teams, and deliver intelligent automation across the entire service lifecycle.

Redefining Operational Efficiency in a Complex Industry

Many MROs continue to rely on outdated systems that were never designed for the speed or scale of modern aviation demands. These current systems are not optimized for complex operations, leading to further inefficiencies. These legacy systems limit the ability to access data, slow down field service operations, and create silos between departments. The inability to connect critical maintenance equipment, project management tools, and inventory systems often results in time-consuming processes, duplicated work, and miscommunication between multiple parties. Managing disconnected workflows and fragmented data can be particularly challenging for MROs.

Salesforce addresses these challenges by serving as a central location for all service data, communication, and workflows. By integrating with existing ERP systems and enabling automation through artificial intelligence and machine learning, Salesforce modernizes operations and eliminates the friction caused by outdated tools. Software engineers, technicians, and managers gain real-time visibility into systems and inventory, while leadership can track performance, costs, and compliance in a unified dashboard.

Enhancing Predictability and Precision in Field Service

Unplanned downtime and inefficient dispatching not only affect customer satisfaction but also disrupt critical maintenance schedules. For organizations servicing aging aircraft, delays in regular maintenance can have serious implications. Salesforce’s Field Service solution enables smarter scheduling, dynamic dispatching, and mobile access that keeps teams connected and productive in real-time.

This ability to optimize resources and match the right technicians to the right jobs significantly boosts first-time fix rates and operational reliability. Integrated with digital engineering tools, the platform helps reduce turnaround time, improve safety, and support regulatory compliance—all while delivering an elevated customer experience.

Inventory Management Meets Real-Time Intelligence

Managing inventory across geographically distributed facilities and supply chains presents an ongoing challenge for MROs. Inaccurate stock levels, delayed parts procurement, and poor visibility can halt even the most well-planned maintenance schedules. Effective distribution processes are essential for supporting complex supply chains, ensuring timely movement of parts and materials. When supply chain disruptions occur, they amplify these issues and put service commitments at risk.

Salesforce transforms inventory management by providing real-time insights into stock availability, part usage, and procurement workflows. It supports automated reordering and demand forecasting, minimizing manual oversight and enabling MROs to maintain availability without overstocking. Salesforce also enables accurate costing for inventory and procurement operations, helping organizations manage budgets and assess the financial impact of their supply chain decisions. As a result, sales orders are processed more efficiently, inventory costs are reduced, and parts are always on hand when needed.

Driving Proactive Maintenance with Predictive Intelligence

Traditionally, MROs have relied on reactive service models—fixing issues after they occur. But as the aviation industry evolves, predictive maintenance is becoming the new standard. With connected devices and IoT sensors generating vast amounts of data, companies need a platform capable of turning that data into actionable insights.

Salesforce enables predictive maintenance by integrating machine learning and artificial intelligence into everyday workflows. These capabilities help identify trends, detect potential issues before failure, and automate maintenance planning. This shift not only reduces downtime and tracking costs, but also extends asset life and improves long-term operational planning.

Empowering Customers with Transparency and Control

Today’s customers expect seamless service and clear communication. In MRO, where service timelines and parts availability can directly impact revenue, clients want access to real-time updates, digital records, and self-service portals that keep them informed and in control.

With Experience Cloud, Salesforce allows MROs to provide secure, personalized digital experiences. Customers can create or sign into an account to access service histories, approve quotes, communicate with field teams, and monitor progress—all from one easily accessible platform. This not only improves satisfaction but strengthens trust and builds long-term relationships.

Adapting to Technological Advances and Market Shifts

The aviation market is rapidly embracing new technologies, from AI-powered diagnostics to digital engineering platforms. MROs must keep pace with innovation to remain competitive and deliver the advanced services today’s customers demand. The focus of leading companies is on continuous innovation and adaptability, ensuring they maintain a strategic edge in a fast-evolving industry.

Salesforce supports this evolution by offering flexible, modular capabilities that adapt to changing business models. Whether adding new features, integrating cutting-edge tools, or responding to new regulatory standards, Salesforce empowers MROs to innovate confidently and stay ahead of the overall market.

The Strategic Advantage: Why MROs Choose Salesforce

Salesforce offers far more than a CRM. It is a full-suite digital ecosystem that empowers MROs to modernize their operations, improve customer experiences, and drive sustainable growth. The platform supports company-wide transformation by enabling organizations to adopt industry-leading best practices and foster a culture of innovation. With its extensive capabilities in automation, integration, and AI, Salesforce equips MROs with everything needed to manage digital transformation at scale and integrate seamlessly with ERP systems. Selecting the right ERP system is especially critical for the aerospace and defense industry, as it must address regulatory compliance, complex supply chains, and specialized manufacturing requirements.

Whether you’re looking to enhance field service performance, improve inventory oversight, or increase visibility across your supply chain, Salesforce delivers the flexibility and intelligence required to compete in a fast-moving industry. The platform supports complex manufacturing processes and embedded quality management, ensuring traceability, compliance, and safety for highly engineered aerospace parts. Additionally, Salesforce streamlines vendor collaboration and certification processes, helping companies maintain strong supplier relationships and regulatory compliance. Digital workflows within Salesforce help teams complete maintenance tasks more efficiently and accurately, reducing delays and improving operational performance.

At Inforge, we specialize in Salesforce implementations tailored to the specific needs of MRO providers. Our approach ensures alignment between your systems, your people, and your goals—so your digital journey is efficient, effective, and impactful.

Let’s Build the Future of MRO Together

As technological innovation continues to reshape the aviation industry, now is the time for MROs to take control of their digital future. With the Salesforce platform, you gain not only the right tools and capabilities but also the agility to adapt to any challenge.

Let us help you navigate your transformation. Contact Inforge today to learn how we can empower your team, improve your performance, and unlock your full potential through Salesforce.