CGI-Logica specializes in the transmission and distribution (T&D) subsector, and has good
client and market understanding.
Its vision for future products is consistent with industry needs, and it retains essential product
functionality for work management.
It has large, global, in-house implementation resources. Combined with CGI, Logica has the
potential to leverage CGI's mobile workforce applications (for example, PragmaCAD), in
addition to its own capable mobile workforce scheduling features.
It has ready-made integration with multiple ERP vendors and runs on multiple platforms.
It has a good industry fit through its user interface and product terminology.
Product investment is evident with the release of ARM Performance Manager (Business
Analytics Solution) and ARM Data Manager, and with the increase in dedicated staff resources.
It may be cost-attractive to some, since EAM modules are based on the number of utility
customer accounts (instead of number of users), and CGI-Logica charges relatively lower
maintenance fees.
Cautions
Although not required by all clients, there is no procurement and inventory functionality, and
only limited asset maintenance functionality (asset maintenance is an area of continuing
investment).
At its core, CGI-Logica is a system integrator and consulting company (with some software
products), not a software product company.
It has a U.S.-centric customer base and sales, resulting in few experienced resources
elsewhere.
Overlap with CGI's mobile workforce products gives more options, but creates uncertainty
regarding future plans.
There are limited, but growing, ARM-experienced resources outside North America.
List prices make ARM appear to be expensive to license, compared with the average of vendors
listed here; however, there are frequent reports of significant discounting. ARM is only available
on the Oracle Database.
Page 4 of 25 Gartner, Inc. | G00253681
IBM
IBM, with its Maximo Asset Management product, continues to have a strong EAM presence in the
utility industry. Since its beginnings at PSDI, through its time at MRO Software and continuing after
its acquisition by IBM, the Maximo product has been developed to cater to EAM needs across
multiple industries on multiple platforms. Although it is positioned in the Cloud & Smarter
Infrastructure group (formerly Tivoli) within IBM, the team is largely left to determine its own future
and leverage IBM products where relevant.
Strengths
Global support and diverse implementation resources make the solution widely available.
Combined with other software from the Cloud & Smarter Infrastructure group, IBM Maximo is
able to manage operational technology (OT) software assets with the same solution that is used
to manage physical plant assets.
High R&D investments in EAM product and the leveraging of IBM's research capabilities allow
for advanced maintenance functionality, such as reliability analytics (based on ILOG, SPSS and
Cognos) and mobility based on IBM Worklight.
Maximo supports integration with a wide variety of ERP suites and OT systems, and it has
versatility across multiple OS and database platforms.
There is an optional extension for Linear Asset Manager and strong native integration with Esri
ArcGIS.
A real-time asset locator and Health, Safety and Environment additions can be useful for some
clients.
Clients report a high degree of product satisfaction and good relations with the vendor.
Cautions
Maximo is relatively expensive to license, compared with the average of the vendors listed
herein.
Syclo, which has been IBM's preferred mobile application portfolio, continues to be an IBM
partner. However, it has been acquired by competitor SAP, thereby raising partnership risks for
IBM.
Native Maximo mobile capability lags behind the functionality of specialist vendors.
Gartner, Inc. | G00253681 Page 5 of 25
IFS
IFS, which is from Sweden, is an ERP vendor that is able to separately deliver the EAM module as a
point solution. It has had expanded sales in new geographies; however, there are still no utility sales
in the U.S. Its modular, flexible architecture continues to be an advantage for deployment options,
and functionality has been extended for construction processes.
Strengths
IFS's solution can be implemented as part of its ERP suite, or as a point solution for EAM.
The solution has innovative and rich maintenance functionality, including construction
processes, workforce scheduling and fleet maintenance functionality (for vehicles and
nonvehicle fleet assets, like transformers or substations).
It offers very competitive pricing and charges relatively low maintenance fees.
A partnership between IFS and Intergraph (owned by Hexagon, also from Sweden) to enhance
360 Scheduling is beneficial to clients for visual support of workforce optimization, scheduling
and routing.
Significant development efforts mean that linear asset management, meter reading, compatible
unit estimating and Esri integration are available now to early adopters (and generally available
before the end of the year).
An expanded partnership network (including BT, CGI-Logica, Infosys and Tech Mahindra) gives
more delivery capability.
Cautions
In our survey of users, the average response ranked IFS lower on the question, "How good is
the vendor to deal with?"
Page 6 of 25 Gartner, Inc. | G00253681
Infor (EAM)
This product, formerly known as Datastream 7i, had been focused mainly on manufacturing.
Infor has increased its EAM product focus and closed new business with utility companies (power
and water), underlining the market overlap with Infor Public Sector. A significant amount of work has
been done to improve product functionality and expand delivery capability.
Strengths
Infor has far more experience than most vendors in delivering EAM as software as a service.
It has broad functionality covering the major EAM functions within a utility-specific version.
Infor is capable of supporting a broad mix of assets (for example, linear, hierarchical, and
capabilities for fleet maintenance functionality for vehicles and nonvehicle fleet assets, like
transformers or substations).
In-house capabilities include an integration platform and tools (for example, Intelligent Open
Network [ION] and Databridge); also, it has a wide choice of platforms.
Based on survey results, it has a higher degree of product and vendor satisfaction than its
competitors do.
Cautions
Infor EAM is focused on distribution utilities, water and city infrastructure resulting in
overlaps with Infor Public Sector.
There is no inherent lockout/tag-out functionality, which many other EAM vendors provide.
It has fewer implementation partners than many other EAM products, although it is growing its
list of system integration partners.
Infor (Public Sector)
Infor Public Sector (originally acquired from Hansen) is focused on a client type (the public sector,
particularly water authorities), rather than a functional process. This creates a broader solution, but
overlaps in some functionality with its sibling product, Infor EAM. The relative positioning in this
multisector Magic Quadrant obfuscates the value this product will have for water utilities
(particularly in the public sector) in English-speaking markets.
Strengths
Infor's product has a strong focus on the public sector particularly on water utilities.
Its product includes related functionality that extends beyond EAM and is suited to a mixed
infrastructure environment (for example, pipes, roads, facilities and parks), including permitting
and billing.
Gartner, Inc. | G00253681 Page 7 of 25
Users have the ability to reflect pipe network connections, as well as linear, area, point and
other asset types.
The product has embedded Asset Management Tools and risk management tools, including
Life Cycle Analysis and financial modeling.
Cautions
Infor Public Sector has functional overlap with Infor EAM, but it is stronger in some geographies
(for example, Australia and New Zealand).
This is not a globally delivered solution, although there is a substantial presence in North
America and Australia/New Zealand. Despite attempts to grow a presence in the U.K., South
Africa and South America, this still has not been achieved.
It has fewer implementation partners than many other EAM products, although it is growing its
list of system integration partners.
Invensys
Invensys Avantis is more adept than other EAM products at the integration of IT and OT
requirements because of its Invensys family "DNA." However, for delivery utilities, it loses pace with
market demands because of the absence of compatible unit estimating. It has a Microsoft-centric
user interface and platform focus, which can be strengths for some clients, but might be seen as
limiting if this is not your technology platform of choice. (Invensys' impending acquisition by
Schneider Electric has not been factored in because the transaction was not completed at the time
of publication.)
Strengths
Avantis has a well-regarded and efficient implementation methodology with a "wizard" tool.
It has a broader asset strategy of OT system links than its competitors do, as well as support
for condition-based, predictive and reliability-centered maintenance functionality.
It has an in-house optional mobile workforce solution through the acquisition of SAT's
IntelaTrac product.
Page 8 of 25 Gartner, Inc. | G00253681
Based on survey results, there is good product functionality satisfaction, and the company is
seen as one that is good to deal with.
Invensys has relatively low maintenance fees, and has continued a steady sales rate.
There is a capital construction capability to budget and plan construction, not just repairs and
refurbishment.
Cautions
EAM and business applications are not central to the Invensys OT product portfolio (which is
primarily around process automation), so Avantis is not as highly prioritized.
Invensys' future under Schneider Electric is unknown because the (potential) new owner does
not have many business applications in its portfolio.
Invensys has fewer resources (internally) for development than other more focused EAM
providers.
The Avantis product is more focused on manufacturing and generation than on distribution.
The EAM product's pricing is at the upper end of affordability for midsize companies.
Oracle (E-Business Suite)
Oracle E-Business Suite continues a steady progression of functional improvements, and is
approaching a complete EAM/ERP suite solution for delivery utilities. There is a growing global
utility customer base. Existing clients of Oracle E-Business Suite should look first at the Oracle eAM
module and benchmark any point solution alternative against it. The advantages of built-in
integration may outweigh functional shortfalls.
Strengths
Oracle E-Business Suite's eAM functionality is approaching parity with specialist EAM solutions
after release 12, and should be on Oracle E-Business Suite customers' shortlists in any
evaluation of EAM solutions.
We are seeing a growing, global list of clients and system integration partners.
Oracle has good usability, and the product has an increasing amount of distribution utility
functionality.
There is strong project management functionality natively and with Oracle Primavera P6
integration, giving a capability to budget and plan construction as opposed to repairs and
refurbishment.
It has growing sales in Europe, not just the U.S., including power generation and T&D sales.
Oracle is leveraging Endeca (a technology platform to process, store, manage, search, and
analyze structured and unstructured information) for faster internal search capabilities, and to
provide integrated analytics EAM and inventory analysis.
Cautions
Oracle eAM has not been integrated with ERP solutions (other than E-Business Suite) as a point
solution, and is not marketed as such. For non-Oracle customers looking for an EAM solution,
Oracle eAM is not a practical candidate.
Oracle has OT integration capabilities for eAM, but a limited track record of being integrated
with OT systems.
There is no clear mobile workforce solution (Oracle Utilities Mobile Workforce Management is
not the default mobility option), nor is there linear asset management or lockout/tag-out.
Oracle also has a different point solution, Utilities Work and Asset Management (WAM),
positioned for non-E-Business Suite users. Thus, Oracle's efforts are diluted by supporting
multiple solutions for one market segment.
It is unclear how the eAM module will be positioned with future Oracle Cloud Applications
(Fusion).
Oracle chose not to provide Gartner with reference clients. In prior Gartner surveys and
interviews, product satisfaction and dealings with Oracle were below average for EAM vendors.
Oracle (Utilities Work and Asset Management)
Oracle WAM, formerly Synergen, is an EAM point solution brought in through the acquisition of SPL
WorldGroup (which itself had acquired the Synergen product). This product is Oracle's EAM
component option when E-Business Suite is not being sold. Oracle has taken steps to use the
broader family of Oracle technologies in WAM, and to extend the capability from basic EAM to
include device and network management. The perception of being focused on small, local utilities
makes larger deals difficult to come by.
Strengths
Oracle is competitive with EAM leaders in situations where a municipality is looking for lower
cost and complexity.
Page 10 of 25 Gartner, Inc. | G00253681
Open integration with multiple ERP suites and integration with other Oracle applications (such
as Primavera P6) are being progressively delivered.
The integration with network visualization and network management tools gives a much broader
solution footprint than competitors do.
There are in-house options for mobile and dispatch solutions, and Oracle WAM is able to
manage OT software assets with the same solution that is used to manage physical plant
assets (Operational Device Management).
Cautions
Oracle WAM's long heritage as Synergen acquired first by SPL WorldGroup and then by
Oracle has resulted in product overlap within the Oracle E-Business Suite. Thus, Oracle's
efforts are diluted by supporting multiple solutions for one market segment.
The countries and regions in which Oracle has qualified WAM staff and established clients are
still limited, but include North America, Europe and a growing Asia/Pacific presence.
Based on customer surveys, clients ranked Oracle WAM lower than competitors in the
questions, "Has the vendor's EAM software worked reliably and bug free?" and "How good is
the vendor at fixing problems?"
SAP
SAP Business Suite 7 (previously referred to as ERP Central Component [ECC] 6) has continued to
address functionality shortfalls. Through progressive SAP enhancement package releases since
SAP Business Suite 7, functionality is no longer a liability. SAP ERP users should benchmark any
point solution offering against the latest evolution of the SAP EAM solution.
Strengths
SAP has the most EAM functionality that the majority of utilities would require (the exceptions
being around MRO materials management and reliability-centered maintenance [RCM]
capability).
It has enhanced key performance indicators and analytics for assets, which will also form part
of the new Rapid Deployment solutions.
It has a well-developed partner program to fill functional gaps, and it is available on a wide
choice of platforms and databases.
As a combined solution, SAP Business Suite 7 provides a single view into all aspects of work
and asset management from HR to materials management, and from plan/design/construct
through decommissioning.
Gartner, Inc. | G00253681 Page 11 of 25
Clients are using SAP Manufacturing Integration and Intelligence to do OT data integration. In
addition, thanks to the Right Hemisphere acquisition, SAP offers multiresource scheduling and
a visual support tool for clients to do 3D plant modeling of assets.
The SAP for Utilities (IS-U) package extension provides further utility-specific functionality, such
as meter management.
SAP has developed productized, supported GIS integration with a number of GIS vendors,
including Esri.
It has good fleet support functionality (for vehicles and nonvehicle fleet assets, like transformers
or substations).
SAP has followed up on its acquisitions of Syclo and Sybase by renewing efforts to build out its
own mobile workforce applications.
Cautions
Clients must check to see whether their users need an improved user interface and a visual
parts selection (which require additional software products, such as Personas and NetWeaver).
SAP is midway through the integration of Syclo within the SAP Mobile Platform (SMP) (which
should be complete by the end of 2013). Continuing with alternative partners could create some
confusion. SAP supports a number of choices for mobile app development within SMP,
including jQuery Mobile, Dojo, SAPUI5 (its new HTML5/JavaScript framework) and Syclo's
Agentry, as well as partners Sencha and Appcelerator. Furthermore, SAP has released Fiori (a
suite of lightweight apps for desktop and mobile Web use) based on SAPUI5 and NetWeaver
Gateway. Fiori does not require and currently cannot leverage SMP. While offering a high
degree of choice, this broad range of technologies raises questions about the degree of support
for a given approach, as well as the future direction for SAP mobile apps in general.
Inventory and procurement designed around manufacturing and reseller needs sometime fall
short of MRO functional requirements.
Buyer objections continue concerning pricing and the negative sentiment toward the user
interface (the NetWeaver Business Client and Personas show promise, but buyer reaction is not
yet clear). These can be mitigated by a number of additions and overlays.
Ventyx is a focused utilities specialist with the EAM user interface and functionality to suit the
industry.
Clients believe Ventyx delivers good products with a higher degree of product satisfaction than
its competitors do.
Ventyx has successfully integrated the FocalPoint product from the Obvient acquisition to
create a new asset health center product. Ventyx also offers Service Suite (based on the former
MDSI product) as a complementary mobile workforce solution. There is increasing OT
integration supporting analytics and repair planning based on equipment condition and
performance data.
Cautions
Ventyx is missing some key distribution functionality, such as linear asset management.
Resourcing projects in its noncore regions, such as Asia/Pacific and Africa, will be challenging
for Ventyx.
Efforts are diluted by supporting multiple solutions for one market segment.
Ventyx has experienced a low number of recent sales in the distribution sector.
Ventyx is not as responsive to software faults as clients would like, and it can be difficult to deal
with.
Ventyx (Ellipse)
Mincom was acquired by ABB (its product is now known as Ventyx Ellipse) and reports into the
Ventyx U.S. division, thereby resolving many of the financial challenges. Ventyx offers Ellipse as
either an ERP suite or an EAM point solution, while Ventyx Asset Suite is just EAM. ABB develops
and markets the two EAM products with similar functionality in many areas although, functionally,
Ellipse is stronger in delivery utilities. Historically, they have had different geographic emphases,
and this is how Ventyx is choosing which product to propose in new deals.
Gartner, Inc. | G00253681 Page 13 of 25
Strengths
ABB ownership means financial stability after successive years of poor financial performance by
Mincom.
Historically, this product focused on asset-centric industries, such as utilities and mining.
It is capable of supporting fleet functionality (for vehicles and nonvehicle fleet assets, like
transformers or substations) and linear assets.
There has been good progress in upgrading clients to version 8, but slower progress in gaining
new clients.
There are signs of leveraging the Ventyx products (such as Service Suite, Shift Operations
Management System [eSOMS] and Asset Health Center) to work with Ellipse.
Cautions
Historically, Ellipse has done well only in Australia, South Africa and the U.K., and had a limited
presence in North America.
It is relatively expensive to license, compared with the average of vendors listed herein.
Although its financial position has been resolved, the number of new sales to utilities has been
in decline. Efforts are diluted by supporting multiple solutions for one market segment.
Customer references have been below average for the Ellipse product and for dealing with the
entity formerly known as Mincom.
Vendors Added and Dropped
We review and adjust our inclusion criteria for Magic Quadrants and MarketScopes as markets
change. As a result of these adjustments, the mix of vendors in any Magic Quadrant or
MarketScope may change over time. A vendor's appearance in a Magic Quadrant or MarketScope
one year and not the next does not necessarily indicate that we have changed our opinion of that
vendor. It may be a reflection of a change in the market and, therefore, changed evaluation criteria,
or of a change of focus by that vendor.
Added
No vendors have been added.
Page 14 of 25 Gartner, Inc. | G00253681
Dropped
No vendors have been dropped.
Note: We have frequently seen Digital Inspections' Cascade in the market for condition-based
maintenance in substations, but we do not see it as an overarching EAM solution.
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
Software products must address the majority of functional capabilities we have listed. Because
there are more than 300 vendors in the EAM/computerized maintenance management system class
of software, and because most of these are too small in company size or product scope to be of
interest to Gartner clients, we evaluated only the top products worldwide that our clients requested
via inquiries. These products have demonstrable track records in utilities (that is, a significant
portion of their license revenue is from utilities), they have estimated license fee revenue of at least
$2 million generated during the past 12 months, and they cover multiple geographies. Oracle and
SAP have been included because they are commonplace in utilities and have effective EAM
modules. Although they are rarely implemented as point solutions, they are a significant market in
themselves, so users of these ERP suites should evaluate the EAM modules offered.
We believe that the products assessed in this Magic Quadrant are of the greatest interest to our
clients. The vendors actively sell and market their products in the U.S. and at least one other
market. However, there may be reasons for other products to be included on an enterprise's
shortlist, such as prior use, price or specific geographic presence. Only products that have been
implemented and are in production have been evaluated.
Evaluation Criteria
Ability to Execute
For network/delivery utilities seeking EAM software, the Ability to Execute is primarily a combination
of factors driven by product functionality, global strength and the ability to deliver a point solution
(or BOB, as it is sometimes known) in the market.
Primary and secondary research was used, including inquiry, client visits and a reference survey.
We specifically looked at customer experience in our questions. Customers were asked about
vendor performance in four areas:
Those that offer EAM as a stand-alone point solution application (for example, CGI-Logica, Infor
EAM, Infor Public Sector and Ventyx Asset Suite)
Those that offer EAM as part of a suite (for example, Oracle E-Business Suite and SAP)
Some ERP suites have EAM modules that can't be sold easily as separate products (for example,
Oracle and SAP). This limitation of being usable only within the larger ERP suite reduces broad
demand and impacts execution and vision. We have found that two-thirds of implementations are of
an EAM point solution. It is an important buying criterion as clients avoid vendor lock-in and look to
have more limited-scope projects. SAP and Oracle continue to invest in their EAM modules as
integral parts of their ERP suite strategies. In both cases, EAM functionality has improved (for
example, SAP via the use of enhancement package releases, and Oracle by recoding the IP from
Oracle Utilities WAM, Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne and Oracle PeopleSoft into the Oracle E-
Business Suite) to the point where SAP and Oracle should always be included in EAM evaluations. If
utilities already have a significant ERP investment in Oracle or SAP, then they should include their
ERP vendor in EAM competitive procurement evaluations.
EAM point solution vendors are classed as Niche Players because of one or more of the following
factors:
A detailed asset registry combined with parts and support descriptions (internal and external)
Support for complex inventory relationships for indirect (MRO) goods that is, things
consumed internally that are not assembled and resold that are associated with the
forecasting of planned and unplanned work on installed assets
A supply chain capability for indirect goods, with demand planning linked to maintenance and
repair schedules
Probability-based, "just in case" MRO-focused inventory and procurement, rather than "just in
time" or material requirements planning based on MRP II
Human capital management capabilities to match location, skills, training and availability with
work requirements
Integration with whatever ERP (financial and HR) GIS and CIS packages are deployed
Extensive warranty tracking to component levels, and support for manufacturers' records
requirements for equipment under warranty
Capital construction planning (based on compatible unit estimating) defining linear assets and
geographic locations (integration with GISs)
Inclusion of, or partnering with, mobile workers and a field service support system
Inclusion of fleet maintenance support functionality for vehicles and nonvehicle fleet assets, like
transformers or substations