As industry increasingly adopts automation and predictive maintenance, the demand for more sophisticated and integrated solutions has never been greater. In fact, according to Allied Market Research, the global predictive maintenance market was valued at $10.1 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $162.1 billion by 2033. The CMMS market is undergoing consolidation, with software providers merging to gain market share, improve their offering through combined expertise and resources and strengthen their portfolio whilst maintaining specialised offerings. These mergers benefit not only the businesses involved but also the software itself and, most importantly, the customers who rely on it.
Having spent years working with CMMS solutions in manufacturing and asset-intensive industries, I’ve witnessed how technology is transforming the way companies approach maintenance. When two CMMS providers merge strategically, leveraging each other’s strengths rather than merely acquiring intellectual property, customers reap significant benefits.
Strengthening the CMMS Value Proposition
Mergers drive innovation by combining expertise, accelerating development, and improving integration with technologies like IoT, AI, and predictive maintenance. Businesses gain smarter tools that anticipate failures and optimise scheduling, enhancing efficiency.
The most successful strategic mergers happen when the management of both the acquiring and acquired companies understand how their offerings and expertise complement one another. For example, if a company specialising in manufacturing maintenance acquires a provider with expertise in facilities management, these complementary solutions can expand the overall value proposition. In such scenarios it is often the case that 80%-90% of the core functionality is the same but the 10%-20% of features that do not overlap form the unique selling proposition for each solution.
Strategic M&A focuses on value enhancement by creating solution interoperability while maintaining solution specialisation, offering genuine feature and service improvements, strengthening the company and benefiting customers.
Bringing the Best Minds Together
Mergers also unite industry experienced experts, and provided that the cultures align, fostering a dynamic environment for innovation and collaboration. The merger of experts is equally important as the merger of solutions as it can accelerate the implementation of new ideas, driving the next generation of solutions that address long-standing industry challenges.
By bringing together the successful talent, companies can foster a culture of innovation and growth to the benefit of customers and shareholders.
Direct Benefits to Customers
The immediate advantage for customers comes with business stability and confidence in the solutions they have invested in. Furthermore, combined teams provide an enhancement of services, improved support, and acceleration of product development within the merged business.
Customers may also benefit from a steady stream of updates and new features. When resources are pooled, software enhancements become more frequent and impactful. Maintenance teams gain access to new tools, from mobile-friendly interfaces to automated work order scheduling. Integration with other business systems, such as hosting and ERP solutions, delivers economies of scale, deploying further focus on technology and services.
Pricing structures may also become more flexible. Larger companies often introduce scalable subscription models, allowing businesses to tailor their CMMS usage to their needs. Bundled solutions provide access to advanced features that may have previously been cost-prohibitive.
The Bigger Picture: What Customers Can Achieve with Advanced CMMS Solutions
For industries like manufacturing and asset-intensive sectors, advanced CMMS solutions deliver operational efficiency and cost savings. Predictive maintenance capabilities mean fewer unplanned shutdowns, reducing downtime and extending the lifespan of critical equipment. Optimised maintenance schedules help production lines run smoothly, improving overall asset performance.
A well-integrated CMMS streamlines workflows, automating work orders, tracking asset history, and coordinating team activities. This allows maintenance teams to focus on critical tasks rather than administrative burdens.
Data-driven decision-making is a game-changer. An advanced CMMS integrated with BI tools provides real-time insights, helping businesses refine their maintenance strategies. From identifying recurring equipment issues to forecasting future maintenance needs, data-rich CMMS solutions help organisations stay ahead of potential problems rather than constantly reacting to breakdowns.
Why Now? The CMMS Industry is at an Inflection Point
CMMS solutions are no longer just digital filing cabinets for work orders and asset records; they’ve evolved into mission critical tools for strategic maintenance planning. As industries move towards fully connected, automated ecosystems with IoT sensors, predictive maintenance tools, and BI-enabled platforms, businesses that fail to embrace innovation risk falling behind.
Mergers and acquisitions in the CMMS sector is accelerating this digital transformation. By combining resources and expertise strategically, companies can push the boundaries of what CMMS solutions can achieve, offering customers a cutting-edge technology as well as more stable, well-supported, and future-proofed solutions that evolve with their business requirements.
For companies relying on CMMS to manage critical equipment and operations, these changes signal an exciting future. Next-generation CMMS solutions will minimise downtime, boost productivity, provide a safer and compliant operations as well as empower maintenance teams with the insights and tools needed to perform at their best.
About the Author
This article, written by PEMAC Director of Sales, Donal Bourke was published in Digital Construction Week Magazine on April 8th, 2025.
Donal has over 20 years’ experience working with Manufacturing Software Systems, Consulting, and Professional Services, helping clients realise business value from their investments.
PEMAC merged with Elecosoft in January 2025. Click here to read more.
