The Maxlogic Upgrade Factory Playbook: A Game-Winning Strategy for IBM Maximo Upgrades
Christiaan Pieter Lok
IBM Champion | Software Solutions Expert | COO, Co-Founder at MaxLogic Group
Picture this: You’re in the 4th quarter, 10 yards away from a touchdown, and the pressure’s on. Your team huddles up, everyone knows their role, and the quarterback steps up to the line. This is the defining moment where all your practice, preparation, and teamwork come together. The same is true in Maxlogic’s Upgrade Factory, where we systematically take IBM Maximo clients to the end zone by upgrading them to new versions with precision and efficiency.
In American football, every team has a playbook, and each player has a specific role. In our Upgrade Factory, it’s no different. We break down the complex, sometimes overwhelming process of upgrading into easy-to-follow plays, ensuring success every time. Here’s how it works:
The Game Plan: Scouting the Field (Discovery Phase)
Before any game, you need to understand the playing field, the conditions, and the opposition’s weaknesses. In our case, the “field” is the current environment: IBM Maximo 7.x versions that need to be upgraded to MAS 9.0 before September 2025, when the existing deployment model runs out of support. We do a deep-dive analysis, gathering information on all the customizations, integrations, data models, and potential blockers.
This is like watching game film before kickoff—by studying everything in detail, we prepare our playbook for the upcoming upgrade challenge. If the upgrade doesn’t happen before September 2025, you could be running your asset management without the safety net of official IBM support. That’s why scouting the field early is essential.
The Offensive Line: The Core Team (Execution Phase)
The offensive line is the backbone of any successful play—without them, the quarterback gets sacked. Similarly, our core team is responsible for clearing the path for the upgrade. They follow established patterns and procedures developed through years of upgrading Maximo environments. Think of this team as the linemen holding back the rush of potential roadblocks—whether they are custom scripts, outdated integrations, or resource constraints.
Core Plays:
The Quarterback: The Modular, Scalable Approach (Execution)
The quarterback in American football is like the leader in the field—making snap decisions and distributing the ball. In the Maxlogic Upgrade Factory, our modular, scalable approach plays the QB role. Each part of the upgrade is designed to fit into the next seamlessly, like a well-practiced play where each pass, block, and run is timed perfectly.
The QB sees the field and adapts, just as our approach adapts to customer needs. Whether it’s managing Java customizations, handling license considerations, or tweaking database integrations, the factory is built for flexibility—ready to change the play based on real-time conditions.
The Play Call:
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The Wide Receivers: Specialized Teams (Support & Customization)
Wide receivers are your specialists—those who can make a big play when needed. In our Upgrade Factory, we have specialized team memebers for custom integrations, testing, and support. They go long, handling the tricky bits like legacy data migration, custom reporting, and integrations with third-party applications.
This specialist team takes calculated risks, pushing boundaries to ensure every customization works seamlessly post-upgrade. They’re nimble and fast, making sure any challenge that’s thrown their way gets solved before it impacts the overall process.
The Running Back: Automation Tools (Efficiency)
Just like a running back consistently gains yards with every handoff, our automation tools steadily push the upgrade forward. These tools are designed to automate repetitive tasks like data validation, configuration checks, and health assessments. By leveraging automation, we keep the project moving smoothly, minimizing downtime and manual intervention.
The Defensive Line: Risk Mitigation (QA & Testing)
In American football, defense wins championships. No matter how strong your offense is, without a solid defense, the opposition will score. In the Maxlogic Upgrade Factory, our defense is risk mitigation through Quality Assurance (QA) and extensive testing. Before launching the upgraded system, we run through a battery of tests—stress tests, functional tests, regression tests—ensuring no vulnerabilities remain exposed.
This is like the defense reading the opposing team’s offense and adjusting, preventing them from gaining any ground. By the time we hand the system over to the client, they’re not just getting a shiny new upgrade; they’re getting a system that’s been battle-tested and fortified for long-term success.
The Touchdown: Go-Live and Post-Launch Support
When the final whistle blows and the team crosses the goal line, you can’t help but celebrate. In our case, the go-live moment is our touchdown. All the hard work, coordination, and execution come together when the customer goes live with their upgraded IBM Maximo system, well before the September 2025 support cutoff for older versions.
But it doesn’t end there—after every touchdown, there’s a point after. For us, this is post-launch support. We stay engaged, monitoring performance, providing on-demand support, and making any final tweaks to ensure everything is running smoothly. After all, a game doesn’t end with just one score—it’s about consistent, sustained performance.
The Trophy Ceremony: Lessons Learned and Next Season
Just like in football, after the game, we review our performance. We hold a retrospective with the client to identify lessons learned and how we can improve for future upgrades. This continual improvement process keeps us sharp, ensuring that our Upgrade Factory is