29 Years of Collaboration, a New Era of Innovation: Reflections from the Maximo Utility Working Group

From a system of record to a platform of innovation. That was the theme of this year's Maximo Utility Working Group (MUWG), and after spending time with utility leaders, practitioners, and fellow Maximo partners, I can confidently say innovation was more than just a theme. It was on full display!

Great River Energy hosted this year's conference in Bloomington, Minnesota, bringing together hundreds of Maximo users and partners to share experiences, challenges, and innovative approaches to asset management. I was particularly impressed by the Great River Energy team, whose leaders and practitioners demonstrated just how essential Maximo has become to their business.

While asset-intensive industries share many common challenges, utilities operate in an environment where the stakes are particularly high. Aging infrastructure, geographically dispersed assets, increasing reliability expectations, and constrained resources are compounded by stringent regulatory requirements, public safety responsibilities, and the need to deliver essential services without interruption. 

A Community Built on Collaboration

One of the things that makes MUWG so special is its history. For nearly 30 years, this community of Maximo users has gathered twice a year to share best practices, learn from one another, and help shape the future of a solution that has been around for more than four decades.

What makes this group unique is that it's run by clients, for clients. The agenda is driven by the real-world needs and priorities of utility organizations, creating an environment where collaboration and knowledge sharing take center stage.

More than 30 partners, including Interloc Solutions, helped sponsor this year's event. These partnerships are important because many of us have been part of the Maximo community since the 1990s. We bring not only technical expertise but also decades of industry experience helping organizations solve their most critical business challenges.

For me, that's what makes this community so valuable. It's not simply about technology. It's about the relationships, shared experiences, and commitment to helping one another succeed.

Innovation in the Field: Mobility Remains Essential

One area that continues to be a priority for utility organizations is mobility.

When technicians are working in remote locations, reliable connectivity isn't always an option. Whether they're inspecting assets, performing maintenance, or responding to service issues, they need access to critical information and the ability to complete their work regardless of network availability.

Offline-first mobility isn't simply a convenience for utilities. It's a business requirement.

At Interloc, we've been helping organizations address these challenges with our Informer UX Suite for Mobility. During MUWG's Vendor Night, we had the opportunity to demonstrate how our solution supports field teams working in connected and disconnected environments.

And in keeping with the conference's innovation theme, we're excited about the next evolution of Informer UX Suite. We're introducing advanced capabilities this fall that will make it even easier for technicians to interact with technology and accomplish their work in the field.

We'll be showcasing these innovations in an upcoming Informer UX Suite webinar, and I encourage you to join us to see what's next.

Looking Ahead: The Next Chapter of Maximo Innovation

After 27 years of working with Maximo clients, one thing continues to impress me: the willingness of this community to share, collaborate, and embrace new ideas.

Maximo has come a long way from its beginnings as a maintenance management system. Today, the conversation is increasingly about how organizations can use their asset data, mobility, automation, and AI to work smarter and improve reliability.

The evolution from a system of record to a platform of innovation is an exciting one, and I look forward to seeing how this community continues to lead the way.

A special thank you to Great River Energy, the MUWG organizers, and all the clients and partners who make this user group such a valuable part of the Maximo ecosystem.

Here's to nearly 30 years of collaboration and the innovation still to come!