Proactive Monitoring in Health and Industry: Parallels Between Dexcom G7 and IBM Maximo Monitor.

Asset Performance Management (APM) for the human body and your critical assets.

On an early morning towards the end of April of 2025, just before 3:00 a.m., I was awakened by a notification on my phone. A close family member had shared their glucose monitoring data with me through their Dexcom G7 system—a state-of-the-art continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) device designed to help individuals with diabetes manage their blood sugar levels more effectively.

Turning Data into Action: The Power of Predictive Software

The Dexcom G7 uses a small sensor inserted just under the skin—typically on the abdomen or upper arm. The tip of the sensor is coated with an enzyme that reacts with glucose in the interstitial fluid. This reaction generates an electrical signal proportional to the glucose concentration, which is then converted into a digital glucose value. The system transmits this data wirelessly every five minutes to a connected smartphone, providing real-time glucose readings, trends, and alerts that can also be shared with caregivers or loved ones.

The notification I received was triggered because their glucose level had dropped below 4.0 mmol/L—a potentially dangerous low. Thanks to the real-time alert, my family member was able to quickly respond by taking glucose tablets, and within 15 minutes their level had risen safely to 5.8 mmol/L.

This technology is truly remarkable. The ability to detect and respond to a critical drop in glucose levels within minutes likely prevented a serious medical emergency and an unnecessary trip to the emergency room.

Imagine having this level of technology applied to your critical assets—the ability to capture real-time sensor readings to prevent equipment failure before it happens. That’s exactly what IBM Maximo Monitor delivers, one of many Asset Performance Management (APM) applications available to you with Maximo Application Suite.

Maximo Monitor: A Game-Changer in Asset Performance Management (APM)

Maximo Monitor enables continuous monitoring of asset health by integrating real-time sensor data such as temperature, vibration, and pressure. These readings can be analyzed to detect anomalies or trends that indicate potential issues—much like how a continuous glucose monitor provides critical health information to diabetic patients.

Just as patients can treat a drop in blood glucose before it becomes dangerous, maintenance teams can proactively respond to abnormal equipment readings before a failure leads to costly downtime. Once predefined thresholds are breached, Maximo Monitor automatically flags the issue, allowing remediation to begin immediately.

The diagram below illustrates a real-world example: amp readings on a pump exceed the maximum threshold, signaling that immediate attention is required. With Maximo Monitor, this type of insight turns reactive maintenance into proactive decision-making.

How Proactive Monitoring Software Prevents Downtime

In addition to capturing real-time sensor data, Maximo Monitor includes built-in anomaly detection capabilities. This functionality provides advanced analytics to identify deviations from normal operating patterns—offering valuable insights when sensor readings suggest potential issues. In situations where you might not know upper and lower limit thresholds of your incoming readings, this will help to identify anomalous readings.

The diagram below illustrates anomaly detection results, highlighting spikes that occurred simultaneously with spikes in amp readings. This correlation provides strong evidence that the asset's performance has deviated from expected behavior and warrants further investigation.

Building a Smarter Strategy with Data-Driven Monitoring

Just as the Dexcom G7 revolutionized diabetes management by enabling real-time glucose monitoring and proactive intervention, IBM Maximo Monitor brings the same level of intelligence and responsiveness to asset management. Both solutions demonstrate the power of continuous monitoring, data-driven insights, and early alerts to prevent critical failures—whether in human health or industrial operations.

Final Thoughts: Why Businesses Need Intelligent Monitoring Tools

By leveraging real-time sensor data and anomaly detection, Maximo Monitor empowers organizations to shift from reactive to predictive maintenance, reducing downtime, optimizing performance, and safeguarding critical infrastructure. In both cases, the principle is the same: timely information leads to timely action—and that can make all the difference. 

Transform your asset management strategy with real-time insights. Don’t wait for failures—predict and prevent them with Maximo Monitor. Ready to shift from reactive to proactive maintenance? Let’s talk today!