In my last article, I laid out the urgent security risks facing Agile PLM users, making it clear that delaying migration is both risky and untenable.
But beyond security, there's another crucial aspect to consider—staying on Agile simply doesn't make financial sense.
I have managed the Agile PLM Business Unit at GoEngineer for the past 16 years, so I have deep expertise on the costs incurred by users. Most IT leaders don’t fully understand how these costs stack up, so I’m going to break it down in this article.
The Expensive Reality of Staying on Agile
Let’s start with the root issue: Agile is fundamentally outdated.
The last major release was in 2016. It wasn’t built for the cloud. It wasn’t built for modern workflows, integrations, or AI-powered productivity. And now, it’s riddled with critical security vulnerabilities.
All this bears the question—what exactly are you paying for?
Cost Breakdown
If you're still on Oracle Premier Support, you're paying 22% of your original license cost each year. And in return? You get quarterly security patches—nothing more. No new features, no innovation, and no real ROI. That’s the best-case scenario.
If you’ve allowed your Oracle maintenance and support to expire—but now you’re thinking the security risks are too severe to dismiss—get ready to be walloped. The standard true-up penalty is 50% of the support you've missed.
Let's look at a real-world scenario.
Example: 40 PC and 2D AutoVue user licenses, off support for four years.
- Annual support is roughly $25,000.
- Four years of missed support = $100,000.
- True-up penalty = an additional $50,000.
That's $150,000 upfront just to return to Oracle maintenance. Then, factor in an ongoing annual fee of $25,000 plus CPI increases each year. Between now and 2027, the total climbs past $225,000. This hefty price tag doesn't even factor in the additional costs of managing your own infrastructure and ongoing internal support.
Upgrading Won’t Solve Your Problems
If you’re on an older version, you might think upgrading to Agile 9.3.6 RU 29 is your solution. Think again.
Upgrades require significant investments—typically between $40,000 and $60,000. And Oracle’s patches are only provided for the most recent release updates, meaning your ongoing costs will spiral upward, with no long-term security guarantees.
No matter how you look at it, you're paying top dollar for reduced value.
So Why Are Companies Still Clinging to Agile?
One answer is that many folks simply don’t know these numbers. They may not be seeing the whole picture or thinking in the long term. So if these costs alarmed you, that’s exactly how you should be feeling.
For others, it’s an inflated concern about the complexity of migrating. The truth is the process is much easier than you think. Dozens of companies have already made the move with proven repeated success, thanks to support from the technology provider.
Either way, the facts are clear: staying on Agile means continuing to spend heavily on a system that no longer serves you.
Why Pay Oracle for Less? SaaS is a No Brainer
Instead of spending over $225,000 for a minimal support option, why not invest those funds in a secure, SaaS-based solution? And that’s without even considering the lower total cost of ownership, which is usually lower for SaaS versus on-premise.
Modern SaaS PLM solutions deliver more than just cost savings. They unlock entirely new levels of productivity: automatic security enhancements, integrated AI, seamless cloud connectivity, scalable architecture, and regular feature enhancements. Migrating isn’t just about escaping risk—it’s about accelerating your business.
The financial logic here is straightforward—why spend more to stay vulnerable when you can spend wisely to secure and enhance your business?
Make the Logical Choice Today
Agile's vulnerabilities and exorbitant maintenance fees are financial red flags you can't afford to ignore. The sensible path is clear: transition now, avoid massive penalties, and channel your investment into a secure, future-proof SaaS platform.
At GoEngineer, we've done the math. You’ll have guidance every step of the way through your migration to a cloud-native PLM like Propel Software, ensuring you maximize your budget, minimize risk, and achieve true security and stability.
Don’t waste your resources on maintaining vulnerabilities. Migrate to Propel to stop growing your expenses and start growing your revenue.
