The use of S1000D has multiple benefits that fit into four principal areas; realization of these depends on several factors, implementation strategy, infrastructure etc. The common list of benefits are as follows:
Data benefits
- Interoperability at data level, through use of schemas etc.
- Meta Data, consistently applied across the suite of information
- Data Dictionary, standardization of naming conventions
- Non-proprietary, based on open standards
- Ease of data exchange, smaller, sgml/xml based files structures
- Can be linked with source data e.g. LSAR, can be used to enhance integrated data environment
- Permits the addition of extra documentation features such as Link mechanisms etc., enabling better end user experience
- International standard, ISO 8879
- Delimits objects of information, rather than the traditional paper bound constraints; enables more focused data
- The S1000D data module concept can be and has been applied to legacy data, enables single concept to be applied across new and legacy sources
Authoring Benefits
- Re-use of data I.e. it is modular, allows re-use up to 40%
- Reduction in update costs, due to use of data module concept of up to 30%
- Defined Document Structures, allow authoring structure to be defined within programs
- Module Uniqueness (Task /Description), allows task orientated definition
- Toolkit, standard toolkits available
- Implementation Guidance, to ease set up etc.
- Compliant Authoring tools available, multiple vendor support
Training Benefits
- Single User Interface, eases end user acceptance
- Single Document Construct, eases standardization
- Single Method of Production, eases synergy within and across organizations
Lifecycle Cost Benefits
- Reduced creation costs, due to data re-use
- Lower document distribution costs, multiple methods of delivery available
- Lower footprint costs, e.g. warehousing, multiple methods of delivery available
- Wider access and more efficient retrieval of the documentation by the end user, multiple methods of delivery available
- Easy filtering of information e.g. Search and retrieval by applicability, through use of metadata and content in searching
- Increased operational readiness through reduced MTTR, through more focused maintenance
- Increase in data integrity and the generation of better quality documents, through data integration and data module concept