THE BPD Blog

The IBM Maximo UK & Ireland User Group event, held in the heart of York on December 4-5, was the largest ever, with over 120 attendees from various industries. The atmosphere was festive, and the vibrant user community made it a standout event.

Among the highlights was a once-in-a-lifetime tour of Drax for a lucky few registrants, showcasing the practical applications of Maximo in one of the UK’s leading energy providers. The Networking event was a huge success as ever, in the lovely Hooting Owl Distillery – a place close to Mr Barber’s heart!

Opening Presentation: Mitie’s Maximo Application Suite 9 Upgrade 

The first presentation was from Mitie, a facility management leader, who shared their upgrade journey to Maximo Application Suite ('MAS', or ‘not MAS’ as they preferred) for their central government contracts - the project was completed in just 90 days.

Helio Ries (Head of CAFM, Mitie) emphasised that the upgrade was ‘more than just an upgrade’—the inclusion of the *Suite* part of MAS was a game changer for Mitie. In a future phase, they will conduct a gap analysis to identify opportunities to replace legacy systems with components of MAS, which is expected to deliver significant cost savings. The integration of Asset Lifecycle Management (ALM) has also paved the way for increased operational efficiency and improved service delivery. 

Currently, Mitie is working with calendar-based maintenance, a common approach in the industry. However, their ultimate goal is to transition to predictive maintenance, leveraging MAS’s advanced capabilities to forecast asset needs and optimise maintenance schedules. 

Across the Pond: Oglethorpe Power

Next, we turned our attention across the Atlantic to hear from Oglethorpe Power. Their presentation delved into Maximo’s supply chain capabilities and their use of the P2Insight Order Hub Solution. This was an exciting look at how Maximo can streamline the RFQ process through e-sourcing, a topic of great interest to the audience. 

The session brought an international perspective to the event, with attendees even receiving Canadian goodies to mark the occasion! Oglethorpe’s insights underscored the global reach of Maximo, showcasing how its features can address supply chain complexities across industries. 

Andrew Foster’s IBM Update 

Andrew Foster from IBM presented next, though it was unusual not to see the Maximo Roadmap occupy this slot. Instead, Andrew emphasised the importance of European perspectives in shaping Maximo’s development. He called for more participation from the community to ensure a balanced and representative view. 

Andrew highlighted IBM’s efforts to foster collaboration through innovation days and design discovery sessions, such as the EMEA Exchange. He encouraged attendees to submit ideas for Maximo developments via ideas.ibm.com, noting that over 300 suggestions have already been actioned. This collaborative approach reinforces IBM’s commitment to user-driven innovation. 

ERTO: Seamless MAS Upgrade and First Mobile Implementation 

After a welcome coffee break, we heard from Amanda Nevin, Asset Lead at EGIS Road and Tunnel (ERTO) about their MAS 8 upgrade and the implementation of Fingertip, BPD Zenith's mature and user-friendly mobile solution. This project was a collaboration between ERTO, BPD Zenith, and Nucleo, with Nucleo providing a project manager on the ground to assist with the cloud migration. 

ERTO upgraded from on-premise Maximo version 7.5 to a cloud-hosted MAS 8 system. The upgrade was seamless, with no unexpected challenges, thanks to their thorough preparation and execution. The process began with a system review of existing customisations versus out-of-the-box functionality, followed by a comprehensive testing phase that minimised teething issues. Scheduled downtime was strategically aligned with tunnel closures to ensure minimal disruption. 

This was ERTO’s first step in going mobile for in-house technicians, and they are already planning to extend Fingertip’s use to their patrollers and operations staff. The benefits of this mobile-first approach include: 

• Capturing real-time data directly in the field. 
• Access to inventory data on-site. 
• Elimination of paper processes. 

While the lack of Wi-Fi in the tunnel environment posed challenges, the offline mobile capability of Fingertip has been a game changer. However, a significant change in mindset was required to move technicians away from completing updates at the end of the day on desktops. ERTO is aiming for more work orders to be closed directly via the mobile app, ensuring timely and accurate data capture. 

(View the case study using the link below to learn more about the project)

CASE STUDY LINK - https://www.bpdzenith.com/case-studies/egis-transport-fm

Breedon’s MAS Upgrade Journey 

Next, we heard from Breedon, a leading producer of cement, aggregates, and ready-mix concrete, about their transformative journey from Maximo version 7 to the Maximo Application Suite. With operations spanning quarries, asphalt plants, and cement facilities, their aim was to make a *material difference* with the upgrade, enhancing service delivery to their customers. 

Breedon’s MAS project was completed in just two months, an impressive timeline achieved by adopting a strategic deployment pattern. This approach involved pushing back certain elements and addressing them later, ensuring that the critical components of the upgrade were delivered efficiently. 

Breedon’s journey underscores the importance of tailoring upgrade projects to meet specific business and customer needs while maintaining agility to adapt to challenges along the way. 

Interactive Discussions: Table Topics 

After a lovely lunch, attendees returned for the much-anticipated Table Topics portion of the event. This interactive session allowed presenters to join user tables for 20-minute Q&A discussions, providing a unique opportunity for attendees to engage directly with industry experts and dive deeper into the topics that resonated most with their own Maximo journeys. 

The format fostered vibrant conversations, with questions ranging from technical challenges and project management tips to exploring advanced MAS features. Attendees appreciated the chance to exchange ideas and gain insights tailored to their specific industries and use cases. 

These smaller group discussions underscored the collaborative spirit of the Maximo community, offering valuable takeaways and sparking connections that will undoubtedly continue beyond the event. 

A Community of Innovators and Problem Solvers 

This year’s Maximo UK & Ireland User Group was a resounding success, blending festive cheer with insightful discussions and a strong sense of community. With breakout working groups planned for the new year and an ever-growing user base, the future looks bright for Maximo enthusiasts across the region. 

 Join BPD Zenith at the next Maximo UK&I User Group, planned for 7-8th May 2025 in the Isle of Wight!

Remember to use the links below to sign up for the latest updates on Maximo User Groups and other industry events in 2025 and beyond!