At AIMMS, we’re committed to continuously improving our software to help you get the most out of your supply chain modeling and decision-making. With every release, we introduce new features, performance enhancements, and security updates. But we also understand that AIMMS is enterprise software, often integrated into critical business processes and maintained by internal IT or implementation partners.

So how can you stay current without disrupting your operations? Here are some best practices we recommend for managing upgrades in enterprise environments:

1. Plan for Upgrades from the Start

Upgrades of AIMMS versions work best when they’re part of your long-term roadmap. We encourage you to include AIMMS version upgrade planning during onboarding and align it with your internal innovation or maintenance cycles. Maybe a good practice would be to take the latest AIMMS version every time you are working on a new release of the project/solution.

2. Understand the Value

Each new release brings tangible benefits—whether it’s faster performance, new modeling capabilities, or improved usability. We share detailed release notes and highlight key improvements so you can assess the impact and decide when to upgrade.

3. Know What’s Supported

To help you plan ahead, we maintain clear support timelines (typically supporting the current and two previous versions). If you're using an older version, we’ll work with you to plan a smooth transition.

4. Start Small, Then Scale

We recommend piloting upgrades with a small group of users first. This allows you to test compatibility, gather feedback, and build confidence before rolling out more broadly.

5. Make It Part of Maintenance

Upgrades shouldn’t be treated as one-off projects. Instead, consider them part of your regular maintenance or continuous improvement process. This includes budgeting time and resources for testing, training, and rollout. Experience shows that staying more or less up to date with the latest AIMMS versions adds up to less work than infrequent updates that involves lots of new features and changes in AIMMS.

6. Use the AIMMS Community

We regularly share upgrade guides, customer stories, and best practices here in the community. It’s a great place to learn from others and ask questions.

Upgrading isn’t just about staying current; it’s about staying competitive. If you’d like help planning your next upgrade or want to explore what’s new in the latest release, reach out to your AIMMS Customer Success Manager or start a conversation right here in the community.