At a glance:
- In this third article in our series on upgrading to IBM Maximo Application Suite, and following on from our article about 'why upgrade now', we look at how.
- With IBM set to remove support for its Maximo 7.6.1.x software in 2025, now’s the time to plan your transition to IBM Manage as part of the Maximo Application Suite (IBM MAS).
- COSOL works with customers to realise the comprehensive benefits offered by IBM MAS and new IBM AppPoints licensing by guiding them through a six-step implementation approach.
- Upgrading to IBM MAS presents an opportunity to transition to a Software as a Service solution, which reduces implementation and ongoing management complexity.
IBM Maximo users face a choice. They can plan now for the transition to IBM Maximo Application Suite (and the Manage module that replaces Maximo 7.6.1.x) or risk missing out on new features and functions that can streamline operations and improve asset outcomes.
With IBM set to retire mainstream support for Maximo 7.6.1.x in September 2025, IBM Maximo users need to consider what steps to take to upgrade their existing Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) solution.
To maintain currency of support, organisations that rely on IBM Maximo must make the move now to transition to IBM's Maximo Application Suite Long Term Release versions 8.11 or 9.0 - and most critically, the Maximo Manage module. A planned transition will avoid many of the challenges that will arise if the decision is made to delay.
Changing a critical business system such as your Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) platform isn’t a small undertaking, but it does present huge opportunities, particularly if the move is made simultaneously to an EAM ‘as a Service’ model of operation.
Why make the transition to IBM Maximo Application Suite?
The benefits of IBM Maximo Application Suite (IBM MAS) are well established (see our articles 'The savvy system owners guide to moving to IBM MAS' and 'Top 5 reasons to upgrade to IBM Maximo Application Suite').
The latest version of IBM MAS provides enriched functionality that takes users on an asset management maturity journey with greater asset performance management capabilities, and AI-assisted inspection and predictive analytics.
A simplified licensing entitlement with IBM’s new Application Points (AppPoints) means users can access all the modules contained in IBM MAS according to their organisation’s needs. Ease of integration allows users to optimise the scale and availability of IBM MAS as an ‘as a Service’ solution as well as in on-premises and hybrid environments.
COSOL can help customers avoid the pitfalls associated with loss of support – if the transition process is not delayed. At the same time, we will help customers realise all the benefits of IBM MAS by implementing a needs-based, right-sized solution and an optimised approach to AppPoints licensing that can generate potentially large cost savings.
“Transitioning is essentially about enterprise risk minimisation,” says David Lestani, COSOL Principal Solution Architect. “Older versions of Maximo won’t be supported by IBM, which means patches, bug fixes, and new features won’t be deployed to older versions.
“Because IBM MAS is continually upgrading, the upgrade path from unsupported, out-of-date Maximo installations will become more difficult over time,” Lestani explains. “With the end-of-support deadline looming, and organisations not prioritising their transition plan, there is a very real risk that specialist IBM MAS systems consultants will be in high demand, resulting in a last-minute rush and a ‘transition queue’.”
How to make the move to IBM MAS
Upgrading to the latest IBM Maximo Application Suite involves what is essentially a technology paradigm shift in solution deployment, so there are certain precautions your organisation must take to ensure a successful transition process.
With IBM MAS deployed on OpenShift, organisations must consider if they have the skills inhouse to implement and support that shift. Accurate and reliable data plays an essential role in optimising asset performance, minimising downtime and maximising return on investment, so having your data ready will also ensure the full potential of the latest IBM MAS version is realised.
One of the great benefits of IBM MAS is that it can integrate with your organisation’s existing Enterprise Resourcing Planning (ERP) solution and other systems that make up your asset information ecosystem. However, upgrading to IBM MAS can alter how integrations are implemented and this can affect how third-party solutions and customised configurations operate.
COSOL’s specialist EAM Systems team can help your organisation plan for the new technical landscape that comes with upgrading to the latest version of IBM MAS. Specifically, COSOL can guide you through the new flexible licensing model of IBM’s AppPoints, which is an essential component of the IBM MAS upgrade and allows users to move seamlessly from one IBM MAS module to another as needed. For more on how AppPoints work, see our ‘Savvy system owners guide to moving to IBM MAS’ article.
To help our customers move from Maximo 7.6.1.x and below to the new Manage module and leverage the full capabilities of the complete Maximo Application Suite modules, COSOL supports customers with a 6-stage approach that enables organisations to assess and prepare for the transition:
- Ensure licensing allocations meet their business needs and are optimised for cost savings
- Ensure they are taking full advantage of IBM Maximo before using more advanced features
- Integrate IBM MAS into their asset information ecosystem effectively
- Utilise Application Managed Support for IBM MAS and related applications
- Adopt and test new modules and functionality
- Enhance their asset management capabilities through Asset Management Information System (AMIS) aligned initiatives as part of a program of continuous improvement.
COSOL's 6 step approach to maximising IBM MAS
IBM Maximo Application Suite includes nine different modules that can be implemented overtime as part of your organisations journey to predictive maintenance. Our 6-stage approach helps our clients maximise their investment of IBM MAS starting with the upgrade to Manage to replace Maximo 7.6.1.x and the immediate benefits it provides. We then work with clients through the following steps to ensure continuous improvements with reduced risk or disruption your teams and operations.
Our approach supports clients with one or all of the following steps:
- Learn - Assess opportunities for IBM MAS Readiness
- Strategise - Plan the future state with an Asset Information Ecosystem Roadmap
- Execute - IBM MAS adoption and integration
- Use - Application Managed Support for IBM MAS and associated applications
- Explore - IBM MAS Pilot Programs to test new modules and functionality
- Enhance - IBM MAS Continuous Improvement Delivery
The first and essential step in this approach is a MAS Readiness Assessment which will review licensing, functional, and technical requirements and provide actionable recommendations to prepare your organisation for the transition.
Learn more in our article 'The importance of a Readiness Assessment for IBM MAS >
A complete managed service for asset management with EAM as a Service
The latest version of IBM MAS offers users an enriched suite of applications that will facilitate your organisation’s asset management journey to a predictive maintenance state. But transitioning to COSOL’s Enterprise Asset Management as a Service (EAMaaS) is where the real advantages lie.
Using EAM as a Service instead of an on-premises deployment means organisations can break the capital-intensive software upgrade project cycle and support their operations with technologies that are always up-to-date and proactively managed.
Asset-intensive organisations have already discovered the benefits of adopting a Software as a Service (SaaS) solution. COSOL has seen an 80% increase in the adoption rates of EAMaaS across various industry sectors, with public sector, utilities and civil infrastructure organisations taking the lead.
An EAMaaS solution actively managed by COSOL offers round-the-clock support, lower cost of entry, faster time to value, reduced ongoing costs, applications accessible from anywhere, superior security, as well as assured reliability and performance. It also allows your organisation to build an EAM ecosystem, bringing together asset management with related technologies including GIS, mobility, digital engineering and technical drawing management.
With 82% of all asset failures appearing randomly and 99% of data collected from sensor-enabled assets going unused, asset-rich organisations have much to gain from implementing an EAM solution that enables them to understand and improve the performance of their critical equipment and assets.
(Source: IBM)
Undoubtedly one of the biggest benefits of a SaaS solution is that it frees up your asset management specialists and field teams from monotonous IT management so they can focus on your core business services.
Importantly, upgrading to IBM MAS with an EAM as a Service solution can be achieved in two stages to reduce risks and disruption to business operations. COSOL can first oversee your organisation’s move to IBM MAS before transitioning your enterprise asset management system to a fully managed EAM as a Service solution.
Now is the time to upgrade
Long-term opportunities and significant cost savings are available to users who transition to the latest IBM Maximo Application Suite. But there is no time to waste planning and executing a transformation program.
Delaying the upgrade will make it harder to implement successfully, even more so when the time comes for it to be done as a necessity.
COSOL are IBM Gold Partners and with 22+ years of enterprise asset management expertise, COSOL understands what it takes to build practical and effective EAM solutions to real-world challenges such as impending system obsolescence. Contact us and we’ll identify the actions your organisation needs to take to implement a successful transition to IBM Maximo Application Suite.
Get started with a consultation about your EAM transition
Request a free consultation with our EAM Integration experts to learn more about upgrading your EAM or transitioning to IBM MAS.
