Charting advances in asset management systems

Background: Asset management has become crucial to organizational performance over the past three decades. Implementing an Asset Management System (AMS) can be pivotal in managing the operation, sustainability, and efficiency of both tangible and intangible organizational assets. However, many organizations still underappreciate AMSs, particularly in healthcare, where poor organization, unclear processes, and a lack of control contribute to long patient waiting times, financial losses, regulatory non-compliance, and diminished credibility. Methods: This study provides a comprehensive review of the existing body of research on AMSs, discusses AMSs in the context of healthcare, and identifies the specific healthcare areas that have most frequently been the focus of AMS research. This study applies bibliometric analysis of 16,667 documents on AMSs, complemented by a focused bibliometric analysis of a subset of 248 publications specifically addressing AMSs in healthcare. All documents, published up to the end of 2024 and indexed in the Scopus database, were analyzed to investigate the evolution of AMS research, with a particular emphasis on its applications within healthcare. The research employs several bibliometric approaches, utilizing the Python and VOSviewer software. Results: The findings highlight the rapid growth of AMS research, evolving from a niche topic into a strategic discipline that enhances predictive maintenance, efficiency, and sustainability. In healthcare, the adoption of AMSs has grown substantially, supported by the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). Conclusions: The incorporation of these technologies has enabled more effective monitoring of medical equipment, improved oversight of critical infrastructure, and optimized the operational performance of healthcare providers. Nevertheless, significant research gaps remain concerning the direct impact of AMSs on the quality of patient care, provider coordination, and strategic decision-making. Addressing these gaps is essential not only for advancing academic knowledge but also for leveraging the full potential of AMSs to enhance healthcare delivery, improve outcomes, and support the evidence-based management of healthcare systems.