This Valentine’s Day, It Might Be Time to Break Up with Your Big-Vendor EAM Platform

January 28, 2025

Love can be complicated—and so can your relationship with enterprise software.

In recent years, big EAM vendors, in particular, have strained relationships with many of their customers. So, if your EAM feels more like a ball-and-chain than a helpful partner, it might be time to say goodbye. Here are three top reasons to consider.

Reason #1: It Takes You for Granted

From costly, forced migrations that strain your teams to massive price increases, many big vendors have taken their clients for granted in the past couple of years. Some companies report being hit by cloud price increases well over 20% the same year their vendor had forced them to migrate to a SaaS solution.

The situation can leave you with no good option. If you cannot migrate, you may be left using software after its end-of-support date, without bug fixes or security patches. “Custom” support might be available, but expensive.

Unless, of course, you consider another option: switching solutions. And it can be more simple than you think. HxGN EAM, for example, represents a best-in-class solution that exists either in SaaS and on-premise. And, whatever the modality you choose, we can show you it’s more advantageous that your current big-vendor solution.

Reason #2: It’s Too High-Maintenance and Won’t Grow with You

Yet, when we first meet with companies that are considering switching solutions, there can be a psychological effect at work - the sunk-cost fallacy.

They’ve invested so much time and effort in implementation, integration and configuration. Yet, several years in, they still struggle with broken workflows, siloed data and the overall rigidity of their big-vendor platform. Shouldn’t your EAM work harder to support you without demanding so much in return?

High total cost of ownership (TCO) and lack of autonomy in using and adapting your EAM platform should be red flags. They are signs that your EAM solution is not tailored to help you grow.

What do you aspire for? A solution that can be operational within months and easily connect and integrate with key applications in your ecosystem.

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.

Reason #3: It’s Stuck in the Past

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

For example, your EAM solution should empower mobile workers by connecting them with key information and processes, such as work orders, maintenance schedules, or inventory and spare parts. But what if the platform is too rigid to support modern workflows?

Big 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 kiss your technical debt goodbye, 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 provider forces you to migrate or upgrade, in a process that can take months or even years, a new solution can actually save you time, efforts and a lot of headaches.

And, by adopting HxGN EAM, you are likely to gain new features and capabilities. Don’t just take our word for it: Comprehensive research by independent research and advisory firm, Verdantix, 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.

So, this Valentine’s Day, give yourself the gift of freedom. It’s time to break up with your big-vendor EAM platform and find a partner that truly understands your needs. Modern, scalable and future-ready solutions offer the support, flexibility and innovation you deserve. Don’t settle for less—and start a relationship that works for you.