IBM's Maximo Application Suite (MAS) continues to evolve, and with the upcoming release of MAS 9.1 in June 2025, users can anticipate significant enhancements across various applications. This release promises improved performance, expanded capabilities, and a more seamless user experience.​

Key Enhancements in MAS 9.1

Transition to Java 17

A major change in MAS 9.1 is the transition to Java 17. This update brings several benefits, including improved performance and enhanced security. However, it also means that existing customizations, such as automation scripts and Java-based extensions, will need to be recompiled to ensure compatibility with the new Java version. Additionally, the update includes an upgrade to BIRT v4.16 and the adoption of OpenJDK Nashorn libraries, which may affect existing scripts and customizations.

New Applications and Features

MAS 9.1 introduces several new applications and features designed to enhance asset and facilities management:

• Work Order Summary: Provides an alternative view to the traditional work order tracking, allowing users to monitor work order progress, edit key fields, and take actions such as raising follow-ups and advancing workflow stages.
• Inspection Form Builder: Simplifies the creation of intuitive inspection forms for both desktop and mobile use, streamlining form customization and deployment.
• Dashboards: Introduced in MAS 8 and further enhanced in MAS 9.0, Dashboards are interactive tools that enable users to focus on specific data by switching queries and performing actions directly from the dashboard interface. MAS 9.1 continues to build on this functionality, offering more tailored dashboards for different user roles.
• Maintenance Cost Rollup: Facilitates the aggregation of costs (labor, materials, tools, services) associated with completed work orders for an asset, allowing costs to be aggregated manually or automatically to the top-level asset in the asset hierarchy.

Key Mobile Enhancements for Technicians

With this update comes significant enhancements to field service management, particularly through its mobile capabilities. These updates aim to streamline technician workflows, improve asset management, and enhance overall operational efficiency.

• Rotating Asset Management and Auditing: Technicians can now manage rotating assets directly from their mobile devices, including conducting on-site audits. This feature ensures real-time data accuracy and reduces the time required to update asset information, aligning with the industry's push for real-time operational visibility.​
• Enhanced Work Order and Inspection Usability: The user interface for searching work orders, assets, and meter readings has been improved, offering faster response times. Additionally, inspection forms now support formulas, allowing for custom calculations and providing technicians with real-time feedback during their tasks.​
• Push Notifications and Centralized Administration: Push notifications enable dispatchers to notify technicians of new assignments or updates in real-time, ensuring technicians are always aware of the latest changes. Centralized Mobile Administration allows for remote device management, including preloading databases and configuring settings, reducing operational overhead.​

Enhanced Security and Performance

The March 2025 Feature Channel release of MAS 9.1 includes several security fixes and performance improvements. Notably, it addresses issues related to SCIM Group Synchronization from MS Entra ID, which previously caused race conditions and email updates on user records. Additionally, the release resolves instability issues with the pod internal API when MAS is configured with a large number of users.

Support for Red Hat OpenShift 4.16 and IBM Cloud Pak for Data 5.0

The December 2024 Feature Channel release added support for Red Hat OpenShift 4.16 and IBM Cloud Pak for Data 5.0. This enhancement ensures that MAS 9.1 remains compatible with the latest enterprise-grade platforms, providing users with a more robust and scalable environment for their asset management needs.

Installation and Upgrade Considerations

The MAS 9.1 Feature Channel releases are available via channel subscription and are intended for non-production use only. These releases allow users to access and evaluate new features before they are included in the main release stream. However, it's important to note that IBM Support will only accept cases for the latest available bundle deployed in a non-production environment, and severity must be either 3 or 4.

For those planning to upgrade from earlier versions of MAS, it's advisable to review the technical documentation and guidelines provided by IBM to ensure a smooth transition.​

Release Schedule

A reminder that IBM follows a standardized release cadence for MAS, with one major release per year. The projected release dates are as follows:​

• MAS 9.0: June 2024​
• MAS 9.1: June 2025
• MAS 9.2: June 2026 (projected)​

Each release is supported for three years with base support, followed by an additional year of initial extended support available for purchase, and ongoing extended support available for purchase for an additional three years.

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By staying informed about these changes and preparing accordingly, organizations can leverage the full potential of MAS 9.1 to drive their digital transformation initiatives forward.​ Interested in exploring Maximo Application Suite? Contact us today to get started!