Handheld field maintenance tool with integration to external software application

An intrinsically-safe handheld field maintenance tool comprising:

• a process communication module configured to communicate with a field device in accordance with a process industry communication protocol;
• a controller coupled to the process communication module, the controller being configured to provide at least one maintenance function related to the field device;
• and
• program instructions embodied on a computer readable medium coupled to the controller, the program instructions causing the controller, when executed, to:
• obtain device information relative to the field device wherein the device information is obtained using near field communication between the intrinsically-safe handheld field maintenance tool and the field device, and wherein the obtained device information provides at least some diagnostic information about the field device, and wherein the maintenance tool identifies a defective component of the field device based on the obtained device information;
• access, using the communication module, an ERP host system located remotely from the field device and the maintenance tool;
• execute a query using a wireless communication with a remote ERP host system, wherein the query is based on the identified defective
• component of the field device;
• receive a remote inventory parameter relative to the field device, wherein the controller is configured to receive a user input to the intrinsically-safe handheld field maintenance tool and responsively generate an order for a unit stored in inventory, which is displayed on the intrinsically-safe handheld field maintenance tool, and wherein the remote inventory parameter corresponds to the identified defective component of the field device;
• and
• provide a display of the remote inventory parameter.