Item: IBM Maximo Application Suite
Rating: 9
Author: Jan-Willem Steur

Overall Satisfaction with IBM Maximo Application Suite

Use Cases and Deployment Scope

I Use IBM MAS as my primary EAM system to be able to track and trace my most critical assets as well as how planned and un planned work is performed.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Asset Register
LTAP / Long term Asset Planning - Maintenance Management
Work Management
Scheduling
Authorization
Reliability Engineering Support
Supporting processes like Procurement and Logistics
Asset Health
Asset Monitoring
Prediction Models

Cons

Reduce the overwhelming information in most critical applications
Easier configuration of the newer Graphite apps
Move the annoying green banner to the Header of the application instead of placing it on top of the save and search buttons

Return on Investment

Positive - Ease of use and configuration
Negative - too overwhelming that causes changes in backlog (I want to have it despite I don't have any process or data for it)
Positive - OotB already useable
Negative - it would help the customer to embed more industry specific accelerators in terms of data set based on regulation / industry specific requirements
Positive - first real ALM package that includes EAM, RCM and APM

It is definitely the Brest of breed EAM solution by far. I gave an 8 rate, since there is always room for improvement. It would help already if there were more industry specific "accelerators", not in terms of functionality but in terms of industry specific roles and data sets (and hide all functions, features and attributes that are not required for a certain industry)

Alternatives Considered

SAP PPM, IFS Ultimo EAM and HxGN EAM

IBM Maximo contains OotB much more detailed applications than HxGN and Ultimo. Regarding usability, IBM Maximo has by far a better flexible and adjustable user interface than SAP. Also the required functional breakdown in SAP is not in every industry needed. SAP lacks a sound coverage for complex asset configuration management and realtime compliance check such as the BDI feature in IBM Maximo.

Key Insights

Do you think IBM Maximo Application Suite delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with IBM Maximo Application Suite's feature set?

Yes

Did IBM Maximo Application Suite live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of IBM Maximo Application Suite go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy IBM Maximo Application Suite again?

Yes

Other Software Used

IBM Cognos Analytics, IBM Cloud Pak for Data, IBM Cloud Pak for Business Automation, IBM Watson Studio on Cloud Pak for Data, IBM Watson Discovery

Likelihood to Recommend

Asset Management, Maintenance Management, Contract Management Work Management, Supporting processes like procure to pay and logistics, SLA Management, Reporting, KPI Management

Using IBM Maximo Application Suite

Users and Roles

25 - Since we are an IBM Business Partner, selling and implementing IBM Maximo we don't may use the figures of clients. However, internally we use IBM Maximo as our time reporting, asset management and service provider solution. Within our company we have 25 active users that are using IBM Maximo for reporting and asset tracking purposes.

Support Headcount Required

20 - beside our staff and non-delivery related roles and functions, all our architects, functional- and technical consultants are IBM Maximo certified. Our core business is to implement and deploy IBM MAS8/9.

Business Processes Supported

Asset Management - a sound and reliable asset register
Work Management - get the most out of our resources / smart planning
Asset Health and Reliability

Innovative Uses

We adjusted IBM Maximo by adding extra value adding features
IBM Maximo includes an amazing development and integration framework, open to add new features / innovative solutions

Future Planned Uses

IBM Maximo Health (our core expertise)
IBM Maximo Monitor - discover the unknown
Extended features - adding smart addons by our R&D department

Likelihood to Renew

The Asset Management strategy of IBM in relation to constantly improve and extend features in IBM Maximo is commendable. Beside that we are design & development partner that gives us the opportunity to share new business trends and insights directly with the IBM Maximo Product Development teams.

Evaluating IBM Maximo Application Suite and Competitors

Products Replaced

Key Differentiators

Cloud Solutions
Scalability
Integration with Other Systems
Ease of Use

Evaluation Lessons Learned

No, because we truly believe that IBM Maximo is incomparable with other EAM products (best of breed, continuous improvement, etc.)

IBM Maximo Application Suite Implementation

Implementation Rating

Sure, but too much to write down here. I have written multiple BLOG post on both LinkedIn and the IBM TechXchange community, where I explain the do's / don'ts, +'s and -'s when implementing IBM Maximo.

Implementation Details / Implementation Partner

Implemented in-house

Implementation Phases

Yes - We strongly believe in agility and deploy small iterations. Beside that we always advice a phased approach that suits the business needs compared tot the real maturity of an organisation.

Change Management Lessons

Change management was a major issue with the implementation - Change Management is key for success. Don't think that IBM Maximo is the "magical box" that solves all your problems and challenges at once. It requires a solid change management process to ensure that "the new way of working" is adopted and accepted in your organization.

Implementation Issues

Data Harmonisation and Data collection
Business Processes not ready, existing or missing roles and responsibilities
Innovation (leverage of business features) not adjusted with Rollout strategy

IBM Maximo Application Suite Support

Support Rating

Support is good (since we are business partner and do have direct contact with product development). For customers it might be sometime difficult to address real bugs ("work as designed syndrome") and/or additions, improvements or ideas. Creating them is quite easy, but track them in terms of follow-up can be done better.

IBM Maximo Application Suite Customer Support Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Knowledgeable team Immediate help available Support understands my problem Support cares about my success Quick Initial Response	Escalation required

Premium Support

No, since we are using the latest version of IBM Maximo Application Suite (MAS9)

Bug Resolution

Yes - I think new are by far the number 1 of raising cases (PMR's) since we test the new version thoroughly before we decide to upgrade and/or after upgrade but before deploying to Production. Every identified bug is directly reported to avoid that customers / clients run into errors

Exceptional Examples of IBM Maximo Application Suite Support

Never experienced this

Using IBM Maximo Application Suite

Usability Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Like to use Easy to use Well integrated Consistent Quick to learn Convenient Feel confident using	Requires technical support

Easy Tasks

Asset Register
Basic Work Management
Basic Preventive Maintenance
Basic Service Desk
Master Data Setup

Difficult Tasks

If you never used a Gannt planning, Graphical Scheduling might be difficult when you touch it for the very first time
Maximo Integration Framework required real technical IT knowledge
As for so many things in live - if your are new in Asset Management it is a steep learning curve to discover all features and how to use them in your organization

Mobile Interface Availability and Impressions

Yes - The new Maximo Mobile solution is the first version that seems to be adopted and accepted by clients. Although the mobile solution covers a UI designer tool (MAF-Tools), it requires some IT knowledge and background to get the UI adjusted to the needs of the customer. The basics are very similar to IBM Maximo foundation, but with MAS9 new technologies are used (React / Graphite / containerisation /etc.)

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