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In the ever-evolving landscape of enterprise software licensing, IBM’s Maximo Application Suite (MAS) has introduced a paradigm shift with its innovative approach: the AppPoints licensing model. Departing from the conventional methods, this new model offers organizations a more flexible and streamlined way to manage their Maximo Application Suite usage, runtime, and user access.
Whether you’re a long-time Maximo user or are considering adopting the platform, this comprehensive guide will equip you with an understanding of the Maximo AppPoints model, enabling you to make informed decisions about your Maximo investment and maximize the potential of this powerful suite of applications.
What is an AppPoint in IBM Maximo?
An AppPoint represents a fundamental unit of value utilized for licensing the Maximo Application Suite (MAS). AppPoints serve as the currency through which organizations procure, allocate, and manage access to the various applications and user types within the Maximo ecosystem.
AppPoints act as a measure of entitlement, enabling organizations to regulate and optimize their utilization of Maximo Application Suite resources effectively. Each application and user type within the IBM Maximo application suite requires a specific allocation of AppPoints, ensuring that access is granted in accordance with the organization’s licensing entitlements.
Instead of acquiring entire products or modules, users can now selectively assemble their Maximo implementation by mixing and matching the AppPoints that correspond to their specific use cases and business objectives.
How Does the New MAS (Maximo Application Suite) Licensing Model Work?
MAS’ new licensing model centers around the concept of AppPoints, which serve as the unit of measure for managing application usage.
- AppPoint Allocation: App Points are allocated based on various factors, including user entitlements, access types, and the applications or capabilities being deployed.
- User Entitlements and Access Types: Users can be granted different entitlements and access types that determine their AppPoint allocation:
- Administration Entitlement: Reserved AppPoints are allocated for administrator users to ensure they can always access and manage the system.
- Application Entitlement: Users are granted application entitlements that determine their AppPoint requirements for accessing specific applications.
- Access Type: Users can have either Authorized or Concurrent access types. Authorized users have AppPoints permanently reserved, while Concurrent usage deducts AppPoints when logged in and returns them upon logout.
- Application Deployment: Certain applications, tools, and add-ons within the Maximo Application Suite require an upfront AppPoint reservation during deployment. The required AppPoint cost is displayed before deployment, and if insufficient AppPoints are available, the deployment process pauses until enough AppPoints are made available.
- Runtime Usage: As a user logs in and accesses applications, AppPoints are deducted based on his entitlements and access types. For Concurrent users, AppPoints are returned when they log out.
- Compliance and Enforcement: Organizations can configure their environment to enforce AppPoint entitlement compliance. If enforced, users will be blocked from logging in if the organization’s AppPoint entitlement is exceeded. If not enforced, users can still log in, but the organization may be charged for any overage.
- AppPoint Monitoring: IBM provides tools and documentation to help organizations monitor their entitled AppPoint balance and usage, allowing them to manage their licenses and AppPoint consumption effectively.
What are the Types of Maximo App Points?
Broadly, there are two types of AppPoints tailored to different usage scenarios and deployment models. These AppPoints cater to the needs of both customer-managed MAS installations, and MAS delivered as a service. Understanding the nuances of both these types is vital for making informed decisions regarding licensing strategy and resource allocation.
Let’s explore the types of Maximo AppPoints and their implications for users and administrators.
1. AppPoints for Customer Managed MAS
In customer-managed instances of Maximo Application Suite (MAS), the allocation and utilization of AppPoints play a crucial role in managing application usage, runtime, and user access. Businesses can also block users from logging in if the AppPoints entitlement exceeds. AppPoints are distributed to users based on their entitlement, access type, and application access, ensuring efficient resource utilization and access control within the MAS environment.
These AppPoints are deducted when deploying specific capabilities or when users log in and use the product. The allocation of AppPoints is defined by the license entitlement and can be configured to enforce entitlement limits, preventing overages and potential charges.
How do the AppPoints change with MAS Entitlement, Access type, and Application Access?
For administrative entitlement, reserved AppPoints ensure uninterrupted access for administrators, with different entitlement levels requiring varying numbers of reserved AppPoints. Application entitlement determines the App Points required for accessing MAS applications, with users having either authorized or concurrent access types.
The number of AppPoints required for each user entitlement and access type varies, with premium entitlements necessitating more App Points compared to base or limited entitlements.
Additionally, certain applications, tools, and add-ons within MAS may require upfront AppPoint reservations at installation time, ensuring proper resource allocation. If the available AppPoints are insufficient for deploying an application, the deployment process pauses until enough AppPoints are available.
This dynamic allocation and utilization of AppPoints enable efficient management of MAS resources and user access within customer-managed environments.
2. AppPoints for MAS as a Service (SAAS AppPoints)
When subscribing to Maximo Application Suite as a Service (SAAS), organizations purchase AppPoints to install and utilize applications within the suite. These AppPoints are permanently deducted from the subscription upon installation of MAS SAAS and deployment of suite applications like Maximo Manage or Maximo Monitor.
Included Manage Industry Solutions
In Maximo Application Suite as a Service (SAAS), various industry solutions are included within Maximo Manage, each with its own AppPoints cost structure. These solutions cater to specific industry needs and functionalities, enhancing Maximo Manage’s versatility and adaptability. The AppPoints cost for accessing these industry solutions may vary based on user entitlement, access levels, and usage metrics.
Maximo Manage Entitlement and Access Types
Users can be granted entitlements based on either concurrent or authorized access types, with AppPoints usage varying accordingly. For instance, concurrent entitlements deduct AppPoints based on usage within the previous hour, while authorized entitlements permanently reserve AppPoints for users.
Different access types, such as self-service, limited concurrent, limited authorized, base concurrent, base authorized, premium concurrent, and premium authorized, offer varying levels of access to Maximo Manage modules, industry solutions, and add-ons. Organizations can further fine-tune access permissions using security groups, ensuring that users have appropriate access to Maximo Manage functionalities based on their roles and responsibilities.
What are The Benefits of Maximo AppPoints?
- Flexibility and Adaptability: By enabling the mixing and matching of different AppPoints, the Maximo user community can create customized Maximo configurations that precisely align with their specific use cases and operational landscapes. This modular approach empowers organizations to adopt new capabilities or functionalities as their needs evolve without being constrained by additional or concurrent licensing structures.
- Improved Decision-Making: AppPoints licenses introduce transparency and visibility into the process, allowing organizations to make more informed decisionsabout their Maximo investments. By clearly understanding the functionality encompassed by each AppPoint, businesses can strategically optimize their resource allocation and align their investments with their goals.
- Cost-Effectiveness: The AppPoint model promotes cost-effectiveness by enabling organizations to avoid paying for additional licensing costs or capabilities that they may not immediately require. Rather than acquiring entire products or modules, businesses can selectively purchase only the AppPoints that correspond to the functionalities they need.
How to Use Maximo AppPoints for Enhanced Functionality?
- Assessing Functional Requirements: Use login tracking data to Identify the specific Maximo capabilities, modules, or features that are essential for your operations. By defining requirements, you can ensure that your AppPoint selections align with your business objectives and deliver the desired functionality.
- Exploring Standard Application Points: Familiarize yourself with the IBM offerings bundled within each AppPoint and map them against your identified requirements. This will provide a starting point for building your customized Maximo solution.
- Evaluating Customization Needs: Evaluate customization needs for your business and identify the AppPoints that provide the necessary foundation for further integration with third-party applications.
- Licensing For Multiple Environments: Maximo AppPoints can be leveraged across multiple environments, such as development, testing, and production. Ensure that you license the appropriate AppPoints for each environment, considering the usage patterns of each stage in your software development lifecycle.
- Extending Core Maximo Capabilities: Identify the AppPoints that provide the necessary interfaces or APIs to enable these integrations, enabling you to enhance Maximo’s functionality and create a more comprehensive and tailored solution for your organization.
- Enhancing User Experience: Leverage AppPoints that offer user interface customization options, personalization features, or specialized modules tailored to specific user roles or workflows. This will help you improve productivity, reduce training requirements, and foster greater adoption among your workforce.
- Optimizing Performance and Scalability: Utilize App Points that offer performance optimization features, load balancing capabilities, or scalable architectures. This will ensure that your Maximo solution can handle increasing workloads and demands without compromising performance or reliability.
- Staying Updated with New Releases: Staying updated with new releases allows you to benefit from the latest features and advancements while minimizing disruptions to your existing deployment configuration.
Can I Still Avail the Self-Service Functionality?
The self-service functionality remains an integral part of the Maximo Application Suite, and users with self-service entitlements can access a wide range of applications and features without requiring any AppPoint allocation. This approach aligns with IBM’s commitment to providing a seamless and cost-effective experience for users who primarily interact with Maximo through self-service channels.
Conclusion
The introduction of the Maximo AppPoints model represents a significant shift in how IBM licenses and delivers the Maximo Application Suite. By leveraging AppPoints, customers can now mix and match the desired Maximo capabilities, creating customized solutions that precisely align with their operational needs. This modular approach eliminates the need to acquire entire products or modules, enabling organizations to optimize their investments and avoid unnecessary expenditures.
Are you looking to navigate this transition and seek to leverage the full potential of the Maximo Application Suite? Partner with Banetti. Banetti is the leading EAM (Enterprise Asset Management) consulting company that specializes in helping businesses implement and optimize IBM Maximo.