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Why Your IT Teams Struggle With Your Big-Vendor EAM — and How To Win Them Over

Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS) and Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software have become almost ubiquitous in industrial organizations.  

Recent research by Hexagon and Foundry in France, Germany and the UK found that 4 out 5 large organizations say they have fully implemented them, for example. And they rate them particularly highly: 84% of decision-makers say they have a highly positive perception of them.  

Yet, not all CMMS and EAM platforms are created equal. Analyst comparisons highlight stark differences in features, pricing and time-to-value. When we work with companies exploring a switch to HxGN EAM from larger competitors, we frequently encounter IT teams that feel sidelined—facing lengthy configuration processes and mandatory migrations they had little control over. 

In this article, we’ll break down these challenges and explore how you can transition to an EAM platform that delivers results and empowers your IT team. 

Challenge #1: Cost Overruns and Forced Migration 

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has led many companies to the cloud. The move has often come with clear benefits for companies, especially those leaving behind underoptimized on-premise applications. 

However, the past two years have seen major vendors impose steep double-digit price increases—sometimes as high as 26% year on year—putting significant strain on IT budgets. According to CIO, three out of five organizations have experienced rising costs, with nearly 40% reporting increases exceeding 25%. Worse yet, some vendors have made cloud migration mandatory, leaving IT teams feeling trapped in costly contracts with little room to negotiate. 

At the same time, AI has surged to the top of the executive agenda, but its resource-intensive workloads have made these price hikes even more painful. 

So, how does HxGN EAM stand apart? First, we give clients full flexibility in both implementation and licensing options. Second, our pricing model offers significantly better value than big-name competitors, with equal or superior functionality. And third, we’ve integrated AI solutions that give you greater control—more on that later. 

Challenge #2: Endless Configuration and Integration 

It’s sometimes hard to believe that all EAM systems belong to the same product category. The stories we hear from clients and prospects in the same industry are so vastly different, it’s as if one company bought a car while another is trying to build a spaceship. 

Many of our case studies are of the first kind: clients who implemented EAM within months, on a controlled timeline - for example, a two-month pilot on one crucial site or activity and a rapid global rollout shortly after. Our clients often underline two factors that help fast-track implementation: The ability of our teams and partners to offer precise and effective guidance and the fact that HxGN EAM comes with industry-specific editions that cover the vast majority of use cases. 

These sector-specific software editions remain surprisingly rare, and that’s unfortunate. If you are, say, a retailer in need of a facility management solution or a transportation company looking to optimize your fleet, choosing a big-name one-size-fits-all platform can mean years of configuration and integration to make things work for you. In short, you’re building a spaceship to commute to work. 

And IT teams are likely less equipped than ever to build that spaceship. Recent surveys show that three in four IT professionals say their workload has gotten worse and nearly 90% struggle with integration between applications. 

Challenge #3: Rigid Systems That Lead to Lock-in and High TCO 

The reason your IT teams spend so much time on these tasks often traces back to the software provider. Large vendors frequently employ tactics to make changes as difficult as possible—mandating the use of their services for hard-coding, restricting data exports, or requiring their own additional software instead of third-party solutions. 

These practices have two major consequences for your IT teams. First, they lead to what’s often called the TCO trap (Total Cost of Ownership): IT budgets are strained by unforeseen yet unavoidable costs. Second, IT teams are caught between a rock and a hard place, with executives blaming them for delays and cost overruns, even though the root issue lies with the software itself. 

Hexagon can help you break out of that spiral. Our comprehensive portfolio of industrial solutions is designed for seamless integration with key enterprise software, such as ERP systems. Additionally, with HxGN EAM Databridge Pro, powered by Apache NiFi, you gain full control of your data landscape. This powerful solution ensures smooth data flow between HxGN EAM, external systems, suppliers and IoT devices. 

Giving you great functionalities and greater control is central to our approach. Let’s circle back to AI capabilities: HxGN EAM provides top-notch built-in features, like predictive maintenance and asset performance management, along with the HxGN EAM Python framework. This framework is a fully integrated scripting environment that lets you develop custom scripts with extensive flexibility and access to a wide library of APIs, all while maintaining minimal impact on system performance. In short, you don’t have to choose between cutting-edge features and retaining control. 

The Kicker: Better Functional Coverage 

HxGN EAM doesn’t just make your IT teams happier—it ensures you gain, not lose, on functionality.  

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. 

If you’re considering a change, take a close look at these key capabilities. If your current big-brand solution falls short, it’s time to explore alternatives. Making the switch may be easier than you think—let’s talk! 

Core EAM Capabilities 

HxGN EAM 

Competition 

Planning and Scheduling 

  

Work Management 

  

(but varies in depth) 

Asset Management 

  

Inventory Management and Optimization 

  

(but some vendors offer basic capabilities) 

Procurement 

  

Condition-Based Maintenance 

  

(but capabilities vary; Check IoT and real-time capabilities)   

  

  

  

Industry Extension 

  

  

Industry Extensions 

  

Somewhat rare 

Facility Management 

  

Rare outside of specialized software  

Linear Assets 

  

Rare  

Fleet Management 

  

Common in specialized markets, less so in general-purpose EAM systems 

Other APM 

  

  

RCM (Reliability-Centered Maintenance) 

  

Somewhat rare 

Predictive Analytics 

  

Somewhat common  

Calibration 

  

Rare  

AI Framework 

  

Rare