Introduction
Maximo Integration Framework MIF is for businesses struggling with integrating data, inventory management, business operations, etc. It is an integral part of the Tivoli process automation engine. It delivers several web services that assist in the synchronization and automation of businesses. With Maximo Integration Framework, numerous companies based around the globe enables have observed an exciting change in the way their company operates.
Once Maximo Framework integrates into your external applications, you can relax and let it do all the job. Integration work can seem intimidating, but many users have used Maximo for years.
What is Integration Systems?
Integration systems can be integrated with your application to automate the processes and monitor the import and export of application data.
The systems are essential to ensure the security and accountability of all the data in your application. Integration systems provide secure web services that assist in this matter. They also use JMS queues and interface tables to monitor the data.
What is Maximo Integration Framework?
Maximo Integration Framework MIF is also known as IBM Maximo and is an effective asset management software. This Integration Framework has several services, business objects, channels, etc., that are used alongside business applications. These architectural components ensure the smooth operation of all the systems.
With the Framework, you get multiple options to design custom operating systems and develop better integration points as per your business requirements. One can also create a cron task with MIF. The framework ensures you meet all the business objectives.
The architecture of the Maximo Integration Framework
The Integration Framework MIF has a well-defined architecture. It includes data, transfer routes, security components, communication channels, etc. The three main components of the architecture of the MIF are services, object structure, and channels. All of these components are discussed in detail below.
Services
Services are in charge of importing data into the system. Some of the commonly used services are enterprise services and standard services. Enterprise service in Maximo Integration Framework is synchronous and asynchronous.
Businesses use JMS queues to achieve this dual nature. It enables business managers to quickly process, transform, export, and import data. To complete all the necessary actions, the enterprise services use secure web services, XML messages, HTTP servlets to process, transform, export, and import data quickly, flat files, email listeners, database tables, etc.
The enterprise services use processing layers such as processing rules, XSL map, and user exit and processing classes. Processing rules are provided by the rule engine of the Maximo Integration Framework. With the help of processing rules, one can transform and filter the XML messages.
An XSL map is used to map the XML message. An XSLT stylesheet is used to transfer data from XML messages to other formats with the purpose of mapping.
The user exit and programming classes are Java classes that can transform and filter data and implement business logic. A web service in Maximo provides SOAP envelopes and headers. Such web services create connections between two systems.
Object Structure
The object structure in Maximo Integration Framework is the most uncomplicated service, which is an asynchronous type of service. It is a collection of business objects. These business objects and other relationships can define messages for services and channels. One can create, delete, query, and update data in the Tivoli Process Automation Engine’s database tables with object structures.
Channel
The channels in Maximo Integration Framework are responsible for data export from the system. Some of the standard channels in the Maximo Framework that create continuous outbound queues are Publish channels and Invocation channels.
A publish channel is an asynchronous channel. It is triggered when a transaction is completed on a primary object in the system. A transaction can be achieved only by exporting data from the system or enabling an event listener.
An invocation channel is asynchronous.0
channel. This channel gets triggered when an escalation, workflow, or user interface control calls an action class.
Your company can use Maximo for Transportation to create component codes for assembly parts of a vehicle. With component codes, users can track asset performance and maintenance costs (the component code will enable easy cost estimates).
Maximo for Transportation also allows your company to create and define position codes for a part or component to streamline maintenance operations and optimize parts management. Position codes identify individual parts of a vehicle and allow users to associate them with component codes. Come maintenance time, position codes enable quick identification of the problem and an easy resolution.
Periodic Inspection and Repairs
Maximo for Transportation can create recurring recording inspections, servicing schedules, and preventive maintenance activities. Additionally, users also have access to detailed information of recent recording inspections and maintenance work at their fingertips.
Manage Fuel Issues
Maximo for Transportation now has an application to help companies with fuel tank management and fluid management. Fuel tank management and fluid management are primarily achieved through monitoring and tracking fuel and fluid consumption. Additionally, fluid management enables to control the issuing of fuel and fluids to assets.
Why Do You Need Maximo Integration Framework for External Systems?
External systems cannot perform all the required operations by themselves. It can function only to a limited capacity. But if one integrates an external system with this Integration Framework, all the necessary operations can be automated. The external systems can then start importing and exporting data, deal with interface tables, organize information, etc., in a synchronized and continuous manner.
External applications can be streamlined to meet the requirements of one’s business. IBM Maximo Integration Framework is a competency framework for such tasks.
Your external system may input data into and retrieve data from another system, ensuring that all of the information your business requires is available in all systems. Purchase requisitions are one method this can assist in simplifying your business items. Send reference data directly from your external system to this Integration Framework to fulfill a purchase request effortlessly.
Data Consistency
Several applications are used simultaneously, especially in large-scale organizations. All these applications work independently. It is challenging to keep all the systems by each other manually. A change in one system should be visible in all the systems instantaneously for a business’s smooth conduct.
This Integration Framework integrates all the external systems. All the data from different systems can be automated and mapped. One can start importing data and use it with all web services available on the framework and any device. Data consistency can be ensured throughout all the systems integrated with the Maximo.
Efficient Access to Data
External systems store data at different locations. Accessing this data from any system is possible due to the Maximo Integration Framework. The processing rules and JMS queues keep the interface tables up-to-date. One can access data on any system that is not even integrated with the Maximo, and information can be validated and viewed efficiently.
Synchronization of data takes place automatically. Automation scripts also create continuous outbound queues and transfer data from the ERP system to integrated systems.
Better Analytics
Maximo Integration Framework MIF has reliable analytical tools. The business intelligence framework does preventive to predictive analysis. It is easy to integrate data and message tracking with this framework. Critical Performance Indicators KPIs can be tracked and used to maximize sales and traffic to applications and websites. Business and exploration can be improved through thoroughly detailed business analytics reports.
How To Integrate Maximo With External Systems?
Integrating IBM Maximo with system properties is a huge task. Inexperienced people cannot do it. It is suggested to hire a professional developer to integrate Maximo into external systems. Once the integration framework is installed successfully, maintenance becomes relatively easy.
It becomes easy and flexible to communicate with external systems. To integrate data, create a continuous outbound queue and event template. Maximo has inbuilt adaptability to ERP systems, including SAP, Oracle, ESRI, etc.
There are several approaches to creating the interface to and from Maximo, depending on the business operations. The events can be initiated by the user or automatically triggered. A launch-in context option is also available to interact with operational management systems. This is done to enable the possibility of externally opening a window and providing data to include in the context of that window.
Maximo can be integrated into external systems in various ways. The most common configuration options are given below.
One: MIF can track inventory when the ERP maintains accounts and purchases.
Two: When the ERP maintains accounts and inventory, MIF can be used for work management and asset management.
Three: When the ERP only manages accounts, MIF can do all the maintenance, manage purchases and inventory. For example, an external system such as Ariba keeps requisition records while a purchase request is placed in Maximo.
Apart from these common configuration types, interface tables exchange data asynchronously. This can be achieved through JMS queues. The representational state transfer application programming interface REST API helps to expose the Maximo business object for enabling data updates and queries. The best thing about Maximo is it supports numerous data formats.
Communication Modes Supported By Maximo
Maximo easily adapts to multiple communication modes. Some of the standard communication modes supported by Maximo are JMS queues, Interface Tables, ERP systems, REST API, Flat Files, SOAP headers, and envelopes. The error handling is done by the developers and the support team at the time of cron task setup and afterward whenever an error is encountered.
The support team handles errors regarding HTTP servlets, TPAE applications, email listeners, field setting restrictions, JMS messages, etc. A support team is assigned to anyone who purchases TPAE applications. This support team is available round the clock to support you at any endpoint.
Bottom Line
MIF integrations require an effective support system for proper implementation, maintenance, and reliability. Banetti is a leading Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) that offers top-quality Maximo products and integration solutions to businesses. It provides premium strategic and consulting integration to several industries, large and small.