Navigating the MAS 8/9 Upgrade: Why It’s Time to Make the Move

Hey there! Let's chat a bit about upgrading to Maximo Application Suite (MAS) 8 or 9, especially if you're considering this upgrade for your business. Julio has posted some great technical blogs about MAS in recent months, but I was looking recently and realized we don’t have any blog entries where we just have a chat about MAS and some basics of what it can do for you. So here we go.

Imagine we're just grabbing a coffee, and you ask, "Why should I even bother upgrading to MAS 8 or 9?" Well, here's the thing. Upgrading isn't just about getting the latest tech because it’s new and shiny (though that's a nice perk too). It's about future-proofing your operations, making sure you’ve got the tools that can grow with your needs, and then of course we can’t forget about staying current with your IBM support.

First off, MAS 8 and 9 aren’t just the next versions of Maximo; they’re like Maximo on steroids. IBM has reimagined the whole suite to be more flexible, modular, and cloud-ready. You know how you have different tools in your toolbox depending on the job? MAS does that but for asset management. You only install and activate the applications in the suite that you need. It’s a game-changer in terms of cost and efficiency.

Now, let’s talk about AI. MAS comes with baked-in AI features that can help predict equipment failures before they happen. Think of it like having a crystal ball, but instead of seeing your future, you're seeing the future of your assets. Much less “run to failure,” and a lot more “fix it before failure.”

And the security? Upgrading from Maximo 7.6 to MAS 8/9 brings significant data security improvements, thanks to its modernized security architecture and cloud-native capabilities. You'll benefit from better encryption and enhanced identity and access management. Plus, with regular updates and built-in compliance features, your data is more secure and better protected against emerging threats.

So, if your current Maximo system feels a bit like it's just coasting along, it might be time to consider an upgrade. And anyway, you probably already know that support for 7.6.1.x ends on September 30 of next year. If you’re on anything lower than that, well, you probably already know that you’re already out of support. The jump to MAS 8 or 9 isn’t just a leap forward; it’s setting yourself up for success in the long haul.

So, let’s talk about all the applications now available in the MAS 8 and 9 suite. Now don’t be confused! The terminology is “applications” but we’re not talking about the traditional “applications” that are part of Maximo such as “Work Order Tracking” and “Assets”. These new applications at the MAS level are the specialized tools in your toolbox I mentioned earlier. Each is designed to handle a specific part of your asset management needs. Here’s a quick rundown:

1. Manage: Get used to it! The name has changed now. The traditional Maximo is the heart of the Maximo application suite and is now called “Manage”; so, when you hear us refer to “Manage” or “Maximo Manage”, this is what we mean. It handles all the core asset management functions you know and love, like work orders, preventive maintenance, inventory management, and more. If you’ve been using Maximo for a while, this is the part that will feel familiar and might be the only MAS application that you use for a while.

2. Health: Think of Health as your asset's doctor. It keeps an eye on the condition of your equipment, using data and analytics to predict when something might go wrong. It helps you move from reactive to proactive maintenance by letting you know when assets are likely to need attention before they break down.

3. Monitor: This is your real-time data tracker. It constantly monitors the performance of your assets, collecting data from sensors and other sources to give you an up-to-the-minute view of what’s happening. It's like having a dashboard for your entire operation.

4. Predict: As the name suggests, Predict unlocks a broad range of insights into your assets from trained prediction models. It uses machine learning and AI to analyze historical data and can do things like predict when failures might occur, so you can plan maintenance activities accordingly. It’s all about staying ahead of the curve.

5. Visual Inspection: This module uses AI to analyze images and videos of your assets. Whether it’s a photo taken by a technician or a video from a drone, Visual Inspection can identify potential problems that might not be obvious to the naked eye.

6. Assist: Imagine having a virtual assistant that helps your technicians in the field. Assist uses augmented reality (AR) to guide technicians through complex repairs or maintenance tasks. It’s like having an expert over your shoulder, showing you exactly what to do.

These modules together make MAS a powerful suite for asset management, each one bringing a specific strength to help keep your operations running smoothly. And we’ve prepared a demo environment with almost all of these new capabilities and can show in more detail what they do.

But…you’re not ready for the time and expense to implement any other modules than Manage? That’s ok…you’re in the majority of companies upgrading to MAS. Most are only starting with Manage. But now you’ll have those powerful tools at your disposal going forward, just screaming to be added to your Roadmap for a future project. IBM has added the ability to install these and other products right from Suite Administration which is just a few clicks away from Maximo Manage for authorized users! Okay, it’s a little more complicated than that…for example you might have to install some dependencies first such as Kafka queues or DB2 warehouse, but IBM continues to make these installations easier with every new version of their product.

Of course, Interloc would love to help you with your MAS upgrade. The RedHat OpenShift/WebSphere Liberty technology that now runs MAS 8/9 is a game-changer, buuuuuut… it's also new territory for many in-house IT infrastructure teams. OpenShift provides a robust, containerized platform that enhances scalability, security, and flexibility for Maximo deployments; buuuuuut... its complexity can be a challenge without the right expertise. That's where Interloc comes in. We've got the experience and knowledge to navigate this new technology, ensuring a smooth transition and helping your team leverage OpenShift’s full potential. With Interloc guiding your upgrade, you can focus on reaping the benefits of MAS 8/9 while we handle the heavy lifting of implementing and managing OpenShift.

And if your system is not already on the Cloud, it might be time to consider all the benefits and potential cost savings of offloading that responsibility from your in-house IT department. And we’re going to make it more tempting by offering a free upgrade to MAS 8/9 for committing to 5 years of hosting! Other restrictions apply, please click the contact button below to find out more.

We’ve done a number of MAS 8 upgrades, and I personally was on the TEAM of our first MAS 9 upgrade that went live on our Cloud just a few weeks ago. It was a large multi-org, multi-site system and the upgrade went remarkably well with very little issues. We hope to talk to you soon about what we can do for you!