We use apps all the time in our daily life to stream shows, ride share, and order food. These apps upgrade without us having to worry about it. Why shouldn’t IBM Maximo work the same way?
Upgrades are important. Without them, your company misses out on the latest version, feature sets, patches and fixes. If you are running an outdated version of Maximo, you may lose IBM support. However, staying on top of upgrades is a chore.
New Maximo software releases are coming out more frequently than in the past. The right approach to upgrades is essential if your company wants to stay current.
Using software as a service (SaaS) for upgrades provides advantages over an on-premises approach. Maximo as a Service (MaaS)for upgrades delivers greater efficiency, performance, and customization through the cloud.
Maximo upgrades are necessary, but they are also resource-intensive and costly. Staff members with specialized skills are needed to keep all the software required to run Maximo current and effectively managed. Expertise in middleware, operating systems, security, integrations, mobile applications, and infrastructure is necessary. Your in-house staff may not have the certified Maximo expertise required to handle an upgrade successfully.
Upgrades can be difficult to keep track of, especially as they are being rolled out more frequently. In between major version changes, IBM often releases smaller modules of new features.
These upgrades can be a lot of work. Not only does the company need to upgrade, but employees must update their devices as well. Databases and middleware should be compatible with the latest version of Maximo, and upgrade tasks need to be sequenced correctly.
On-premises upgrades for Maximo can be a hassle. Your company is responsible for owning all the necessary hardware, which can be expensive. You also need to keep track of all the updates or risk missing out.
Some organizations may even avoid upgrades. They often lack the know-how to make and support upgrades. Not only that, but businesses want to hang on to any customizations they have made to an older version of Maximo.
Performing on-premises upgrades can be time consuming. Depending on the size of a business and the extent of the upgrade, the process could take anywhere from weeks to months.
Most companies, especially SMBs, lack the resources necessary to monitor the solution so they can achieve 99.99% availability. Maintaining business continuity for an asset management solution is crucial if a business wants to operate efficiently and profitably.
With MaaS, companies receive Maximo upgrades when most convenient for them because this service is included with their SaaS. The MaaS provider delivers all upgrades with minimal to zero downtime. The MaaS provider manages all the hardware and software needed to support Maximo, reducing upfront costs and eliminating the need for associated equipment upgrades.
MaaS ensures your Maximo solution is always available and performing optimally. The MaaS provider monitors and manages the system, keeping it up and running around-the-clock. Because the provider specializes in Maximo, it understands how to perform upgrades for the solution.
At Projetech, we do behind-the-scenes research every time a Maximo upgrade is rolled out. We try it out, test it, and give IBM feedback on how the update performs so your company doesn’t need to worry about any fixes. When we work with you, we point out what is new and why it’s a good idea to update. Projetech also develops a plan and timeline for your upgrade.
The next major upgrade for Maximo will be especially challenging for companies that run the solution on-premises. The upgrade to Maximo Application Suite (MAS) 8.x will require that users move to a new platform. MAS will run on Open Shift due to IBM’s Red Hat acquisition. Businesses that run Maximo in the cloud through MaaS won’t need to worry about this transition.
Projetech offers great options for Maximo upgrades. Our MaaS offering takes the work of upgrades away from your staff so it can focus on business objectives. Maximo Plus+ allows your company to make a lateral move to the cloud and upgrade when you are ready. We also offer MaaS Lift and Shift so your business can migrate Maximo to the cloud whether it is currently running on-premises or in a colocation.
We are flexible. Our goal is to keep your company on a supported Maximo solution in a way that is convenient for you.
See how Projetech can assist you with your Maximo upgrade by getting started here.
