Fiix vs Makula CMMS: Which Is Better for Manufacturing Teams?

Choosing the right Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS) is a critical decision for manufacturing leaders. This guide is built for plant managers, maintenance planners, and reliability engineers who need to weigh their options carefully. Read the TL;DR verdict below the full feature matrix, and the migration checklist follows.

Book a 30 Minute Manufacturing Focused Demo

Which CMMS is Best for Which Manufacturing Use Case?

Fiix is a strong choice for teams that need rapid OEM integrations and prefer a lightweight, enterprise-ready cloud deployment.
Makula excels in environments requiring deep multi-site inventory control, complex preventive maintenance (PM) strategies, and a superior, hands-on technician user experience.
Need a tailored recommendation? Contact our manufacturing specialists.

Quick Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Fiix	Makula
Mobile App	Functional mobile UI with barcode/QR scanning and offline capabilities.	Mobile first design for exceptional ease of use. Robust offline sync and quick access to checklists.
Offline Mode	Supports offline work order access and data entry, syncing when connectivity is restored.	Advanced offline mode designed for low coverage plant areas, ensuring seamless data capture and synchronisation.
Planned Maintenance Types	Calendar-based and meter-based PM scheduling available.	Supports calendar, meter, and condition-based PMs. Includes nested PMs and extensive template libraries for complex strategies.
Work Order Management	Standardised workflows from request to completion. Includes automation rules and approval flows.	Highly configurable work order forms with multi-step checklists, digital signature capture, and easy attachment management.
Inventory & Spare Parts	Features parts cataloguing, min/max alerts, and basic reorder workflows.	Advanced multi-site inventory, bin/location support, parts tagging, and seamless integration with procurement systems.
Reporting & Dashboards	Offers out-of-the-box reports and KPI dashboards, including downtime tracking.	Fully configurable dashboards for real-time KPI tracking. Provides scheduled reports and plant-level performance rollups.
Integrations & APIs	Provides pre-built connectors for some enterprise systems and a mature API.	A rich connector ecosystem and flexible API endpoints simplify MES, PLC, and ERP integration for a complete Makula solution.
Security & Compliance	Standard access controls and SSO/SAML support for enterprise security.	Features granular role-based access, comprehensive audit logs, and compliance-ready features for regulated industries.
Implementation Time	2–6 weeks for a pilot; 8–16 weeks for a full plant rollout.	2–4 weeks for a pilot; 6–12 weeks for a full plant rollout, accelerated by the intuitive Makula platform.
Ideal Manufacturing Use Case	Organisations needing lightweight enterprise deployments with standard integration needs.	Multi-site manufacturing operations with complex assets, high spare parts turnover, and a focus on technician efficiency.

Who Should Read This Comparison?

This analysis is for key stakeholders across the manufacturing plant floor and back office:

Plant Manager / Production Manager: Focused on uptime, OEE, and overall operational efficiency.
Reliability Engineer / Maintenance Planner: Concerned with PM strategy, asset health, and data-driven reliability improvements.
Maintenance Supervisor / Technician Lead: Needs a system that simplifies work for technicians on the floor.
IT/CIO: Evaluates integration capabilities, security protocols, and scalability.
Procurement / Operations Excellence: Validates ROI and total cost of ownership.

Feature by Feature Comparison

Mobile & Technician Workflows

Fiix: Offers a mobile app with barcode and QR scanning, offline behaviour for basic data entry, and the ability to attach documents to work orders.
Makula: Designed with a mobile-first philosophy, Makula delivers superior ease of use on the plant floor. Its offline sync is robust, checklists are quick to complete, and photo capture is seamlessly integrated into workflows.
Quick Verdict: For noisy, low connectivity plants where fast technician adoption is paramount, Makula has the edge.

Planned Maintenance (PM) Capabilities

Fiix: Supports common PM types like calendar-based and meter-based triggers and allows for the creation of PM templates.
Makula: Provides a comprehensive PM toolkit, including calendar, meter, and condition-based triggers. The platform also supports nested PMs and comes with extensive template libraries to manage complex maintenance programs.
Quick Verdict: Makula is better suited for organisations implementing complex, multi-trigger PM programs based on asset condition and usage.

Work Order Lifecycle & Ease of Use

Fiix: Follows a standard request to completion workflow with built-in automation rules and approval processes.
Makula: Simplifies the entire lifecycle with highly configurable work order forms, multi-step checklists, integrated attachments, and digital signature capture, dramatically reducing paperwork.
Quick Verdict: Makula minimises administrative burden and reduces work order cycle time on the shop floor.

Inventory, Spare Parts & Procurement

Fiix: Includes a parts catalogue, min/max stock alerts, and basic workflows for reordering parts.
Makula: Built for complex manufacturing, it offers advanced features like bin/location support, seamless multi-site parts transfers, parts tagging, and robust integration points for procurement systems.
Quick Verdict: For high-spare, multi-site manufacturing environments, Makula provides the necessary depth and control.

Reporting, Dashboards & Analytics (OEE & Downtime Focus)

Fiix: Comes with a set of standard reports and KPI dashboards, with functionality for downtime reporting.
Makula: Shines with its configurable dashboards that allow teams to track custom KPIs in real time. It also supports scheduled reports and plant-level rollups for a holistic view of performance.
Quick Verdict: Makula helps reliability teams measure OEE, MTTR, and MTBF faster and with greater flexibility.

Integrations & APIs (ERP, MES, PLC/IoT)

Fiix: Has several pre-built connectors for common enterprise systems and a mature API for custom development.
Makula: Features a growing ecosystem of connectors and well-documented API endpoints, specifically designed to simplify integration with the manufacturing stack, including MES, PLC, and IoT platforms.
Quick Verdict: Makula is architected to reduce integration friction for modern manufacturing technology stacks.

Security & Compliance

Fiix: Provides enterprise-ready security features like access controls and SSO/SAML support.
Makula: Offers granular, role-based access controls, detailed audit logs, and features designed to support compliance with industry regulations, making it a secure choice for any enterprise.
Quick Verdict: Both are enterprise-ready, but Makula’s detailed audit logs offer an advantage for teams in regulated environments.

Scalability & Multi-Site Management

Fiix: Supports multi-site operations with features for separating tenants and rolling up reports.
Makula: Excels at multi-plant management, offering unified dashboards, a centralised view of spare parts across all sites, and a proven model for phased rollouts.
Quick Verdict: Makula scales more easily for rollouts across multiple plants, providing better visibility and control.

Implementation, Migration & Onboarding

Typical Timelines: A pilot can take 2–4 weeks. A full plant rollout typically ranges from 6–12 weeks, depending on the complexity of data and integrations. With Makula, teams often find themselves on the faster end of this range.
Migration Steps: The process involves exporting assets and work orders, mapping data fields, conducting staged imports, and finally, validating the data.
Common Pitfalls: Watch out for messy data, duplicate asset names, and inconsistent meter units. Mitigation involves a thorough data cleanup phase before migration begins.
Training & Adoption Plan: We suggest a pilot scope of one production line, 3–5 critical assets, and 3 technicians. Key success milestones should be set for day 7 and day 30 to track adoption.
Suggested Downloadable: [Manufacturing Migration Checklist (PDF)]

Integrations & Ecosystem (Manufacturing Focus)

A CMMS should connect seamlessly with your core manufacturing systems like ERP (e.g., SAP, Oracle), MES, PLC/SCADA, and IoT platforms.

Fiix offers pre-built connectors for some systems, but custom middleware may be needed for others. Makula focuses on a flexible connector ecosystem, making it easier to link with diverse plant floor technologies. To minimise disruption, a recommended integration sequence is:

Sync assets and Bill of Materials (BOM).
Implement PM rules and schedules.
Go live with work order synchronisation.

Real World Manufacturing Use Cases: Who Should Pick Which?

Choose Fiix if:

You need out-of-the-box connectors for specific enterprise software.
Your primary need is a lightweight cloud CMMS for a single site.
You prioritise quick OEM integrations over deep customisation.

Choose Makula if:

You require deep inventory control across multiple manufacturing plants.
You need powerful multi-plant reporting and performance rollups.
A mobile-first, intuitive experience for technicians is a top priority.

ROI Example (Manufacturing Gross Annual Savings)

A modern CMMS like Makula delivers tangible returns. Here is a simple example of potential gross annual savings.

Inputs:

Downtime reduced: 80 hours/year
Cost of downtime: $600 / hour
Emergency incidents reduced: 30 / year
Avg. labour cost per emergency: $220
Inventory carrying reduction: $15,000 / year

Calculation:

Downtime Savings: 80 hours × $600/hour = $48,000
Emergency Labor Savings: 30 incidents × $220/incident = $6,600
Inventory Reduction: $15,000
Total Annual Gross Savings = $69,600

Note: This example shows gross savings. To calculate net benefit or ROI, you need subscription and implementation costs.

Get a Manufacturing ROI Review with Our Team

Final Recommendation & Next Steps

For manufacturing teams in complex, multi-site environments who need robust PM capabilities, deep inventory control, and a system that technicians will actually use, Makula is the superior choice. Its mobile-first design and flexible integration architecture are built for the modern plant floor.

If you are looking for a more standard, lightweight CMMS with basic enterprise integrations, Fiix remains a viable option.

Ready to see the difference for yourself?

Break Free from CMMS Myths

See how a modern, cloud-based CMMS like Makula helps manufacturers reduce downtime, simplify adoption, and unlock real ROI—without complexity or high costs.

Book a Live Makula Demo

Discover preventive maintenance, mobile work orders, inventory control, and AI-powered insights—all in one platform.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Which CMMS is best for multi-site manufacturing plants?

Makula is designed for complex, multi-plant operations with deep inventory control, unified dashboards, and phased rollouts. Fiix is suitable for single-site or simpler setups.

How do Makula and Fiix compare in mobile and technician workflows?

Makula is mobile-first with robust offline sync, integrated checklists, and photo capture, ideal for noisy, low-connectivity plants. Fiix supports QR/barcode scanning and basic offline functionality.

Can CMMS handle complex preventive maintenance programs?

Makula provides advanced PM tools including calendar, meter, and condition-based triggers, nested PMs, and template libraries. Fiix supports common PM types and template creation but is less suited for highly complex programs.

How do the platforms compare for inventory, spare parts, and procurement?

Makula offers advanced bin/location support, multi-site transfers, parts tagging, and ERP integration. Fiix provides a parts catalogue, min/max stock alerts, and basic reordering workflows.

Which CMMS provides better reporting and analytics for OEE and downtime?

Makula delivers configurable dashboards, real-time KPI tracking, scheduled reports, and plant-level rollups for a holistic view. Fiix provides standard reports and KPI dashboards with downtime reporting.

How do integrations and APIs differ between Makula and Fiix?

Makula features a growing ecosystem of connectors and well-documented APIs for ERP, MES, PLC, and IoT integration. Fiix offers several pre-built connectors and a mature API but may require custom middleware for some systems.

What is the typical ROI of implementing Makula in manufacturing?

Example gross annual savings: 80 hours of downtime avoided ($48,000), 30 emergency incidents reduced ($6,600), and $15,000 inventory reduction, totaling $69,600. Actual ROI depends on subscription and implementation costs.