3 Signs It Is Time to Leave Your Legacy EAM Provider Behind

In recent years, industrial organizations have been enthusiastic adopters of Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) systems to increase productivity and take asset management from reactive to predictive. 

However, clients of legacy EAM vendors have had a bittersweet experience over the past year. Many have faced rising costs, rigid upgrade paths and forced migrations to SaaS platforms—often without clear gains in functionality or flexibility. 

So how can you tell if it is time to reconsider your EAM approach, and maybe even switch to HxGN EAM, an industry-leading enterprise asset management solution? Here are three tell-tale signs: 

1. Does Your EAM Solution Strain IT and Operations? 

If your provider has imposed a combination of large increases in cloud prices and mandatory migration to the cloud, the situation can leave you feeling stuck.  

If you cannot migrate, you may be left using software after its end-of-support date, without bug fixes or security patches. As a result, “custom” support might be available, but expensive.   

Unless, of course, you consider another option: switching solutions. And it can be simpler than you think. HxGN EAM, for example, represents a best-in-class solution that exists either in SaaS or on-premises.  

2. Full Implementation and Configuration Takes Years  

However, when we first meet with clients of legacy EAM providers that are considering switching solutions, there can be a psychological effect at work - the sunk-cost fallacy.   

These companies have invested so much time and effort in implementation, integration and configuration. Yet, even after several years, they still struggle with broken workflows, siloed data and the overall rigidity of their platform.  

Two signs can tell you that your EAM solution is not tailored to help you grow: High total cost of ownership (TCO) and lack of autonomy in using and adapting your platform. No matter how hard your teams work to improve your current solution, it’s not built on a solid foundation. 

The good news? Switching to a better solution is easier than most think. HxGN EAM that can be operational within months and easily connect and integrate with key applications in your ecosystem.

Don’t just take our word for it. AES, a global leader in ground equipment services, was able to roll out two pilots with HxGN EAM and a global rollout within months. Today, the platform serves as its de facto ERP - and a key component of its worldwide growth.  

3. EAM Can Slow You Down Rather Than Powering Progress 

Lack of flexibility is not just a matter of costs or resources—it also hampers your ability to innovate.  

For example, everyone would agree that your EAM solution should empower mobile workers and connect them with key information and processes, such as work orders, maintenance schedules or inventory and spare parts.   

But a rigid platform can make it easier said than done. For example, if a field technician needs to use a mobile app that doesn’t sync in real-time or lacks offline capabilities, they may be forced to return to the office or the control room just to update a work order or check inventory levels. That kind of inefficiency adds up quickly.  

Legacy solutions are often inflexible, with upgrades requiring alignment across multiple functions and teams. Companies with dynamic operational needs may find this rigidity an obstacle to efficiency and growth.  

Customization adds another layer of complexity. While tailored features may address specific needs, they can lead to technical debt. Each upgrade risks breaking workflows or integrations, driving up maintenance costs and adding unnecessary complexity. Inflexibility in adapting to business changes slows innovation and compounds operational challenges.  

Switching to HxGN EAM is the occasion to say goodbye to your technical debt, adopt true mobility and discover our Python Framework, designed to help you use AI rapidly, on your own terms. For example, it can allow users to create and execute custom analytics, streamline workflows and automate processes without additional manual intervention.   

Ready to Move On?  

The perspective of switching EAM can feel daunting. But, if your EAM vendor forces you to migrate or upgrade, in a process that can take months or even years, a new solution can actually save you time, effort and a lot of headaches in the long run.  We have extensive experience supporting clients switching to HxGN EAM through tried-and-tested migration plans.

And, by adopting HxGN EAM, you are likely to gain new features and capabilities. Comprehensive research by independent research and advisory firm, Verdantix¹, based on a rigorous 151-point questionnaire, multi-hour live vendor demonstrations and interviews with over a dozen EAM software users, ranked HxGN EAM as a leader in the field. The platform earned best-in-market scores in several critical areas, including technical capabilities, integrations and data management.   

Are you considering a switch, or just looking for a better EAM solution? Contact us and discover what a better EAM could do for you.