IBM Maximo Application Suite vs. Maximo Asset Management: What Businesses Need to Know Before Upgrading

IBM is encouraging customers to upgrade their Maximo Asset Management to Maximo Application Suite—but the risks may outweigh the benefits. 

For years, IBM Maximo has been a leading Enterprise Asset Management platform, trusted by countless companies to keep their operations running smoothly. Through Maximo, businesses can optimize asset performance, extend asset lifecycles, reduce downtime and operational costs, and ensure regulatory compliance across various industries, including energy, manufacturing, and utilities. It has long been a critical tool in the technology stack of many organizations, so why change what’s working?

While many organizations are satisfied with their current systems, IBM has been directing customers toward upgrading from Maximo Asset Management to the newer Maximo Application Suite. The upgrade is positioned as offering a range of benefits, but in practice, how much value does it really add and is it worth the pain of upgrading?

Maximizing Your Maximo

Maximo was developed by Project Software & Development and released back in 1985, before being acquired by IBM in 2006 and rebranded IBM Maximo Asset Management. It was designed as a system that could help companies manage their assets, such as buildings, vehicles, fire extinguishers, and specialized equipment. For decades, Maximo has proven to be a reliable system that continues to perform as intended today.
Some of the services that Maximo provides to businesses include:

• Integration: The platform can integrate with a variety of systems, including financial applications.
• Data Collection: Data is collected from assets to provide a comprehensive view of the health and performance of each.
• Workflow Automation: Help business processes to automate through configurable workflows. This includes tasks like reporting and maintenance.
• AI-powered Insights: Leverages AI to analyze data, predict outcomes, and suggest optimal actions.
• Reporting and Analytics: Offers reporting tools to analyze asset performance, costs, and health to support planning and decision-making.

Maximo Asset Management is truly a multi-faceted tool that, when fully utilized, helps organizations focus on strategic goals. However, despite IBM’s positioning that the new Application Suite is the best way to “get the most” from Maximo, many businesses find the transition disruptive and question whether it truly adds value.

Application Suite Challenges

IBM promotes the Application Suite as a way to unlock additional value, citing improved integration, new capabilities, and flexible deployment. Yet customers have reported challenges that complicate the picture.
Moreover, the subscription-based pricing model can significantly increase costs over time, and migrations are typically estimated to take six to twelve months, potentially disrupting operations. Beyond licensing fees, businesses often face additional costs for regression testing, ongoing patching, and extended maintenance efforts.

Security and operational concerns have also been raised. For example, storing user credentials directly in Maximo can create potential vulnerabilities. While the Application Suite introduces features like single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication, these may not meet the needs of all organizations.

Usability is another common issue. Many customers report that the Application Suite has a steep learning curve and reduced flexibility, especially for Java-based customizations that were previously possible.

Sticking With the Systems You Know

Upgrading to the new Application Suite may outweigh its advantages for many organizations. Whether concerns are centered on cost, security, or stability, the process of upgrading to Maximo 9 is a significant undertaking that not all businesses see as justified.

It’s worth noting that IBM has extended support for Maximo 7.6.1 through 2030—a clear acknowledgment that the platform remains widely used and effective. For organizations satisfied with their current system, continuing with Maximo Asset Management can be a practical and cost-effective decision.

That’s where Origina can help.

Origina provides independent maintenance and support for any perpetually licensed version of Maximo. This means businesses can remain on their current version, avoiding unnecessary upgrades, while ensuring ongoing performance and compliance.

The reality is simple: Maximo Asset Management works, and it continues to deliver value. With Origina’s independent support, you can protect your investment and move forward with confidence, and without disruption.

Sticking with Maximo Asset Management doesn’t mean sacrificing support. Origina helps you stay secure, compliant, and cost-efficient on the version you trust.