The recent announcement from Oracle about the end-of-life phase for Agile Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) marks a pivotal moment for businesses globally. This development isn't just a signal for change; it's a call to embrace the next wave of innovation in PLM solutions.
The industry has been shifting for years toward modern, cloud-native PLM technology due to its flexibility, enhanced collaboration capabilities, and superior data integration.
Transitioning to cloud PLM allows for centralized product data management, enhancing collaboration across the supply chain. Moreover, cloud methodologies offer what’s called “innovation management,” helping product companies become leaders in their market, with the tech’s superior functionality, real-time data management, and greater scalability compared to on-premise systems. All of these capabilities are crucial to streamline business processes and make it easier to adapt to market changes.
As businesses using Oracle Agile PLM stand at this crossroads, the imperative to adopt and adapt to newer, more dynamic PLM solutions has never been more urgent.
Propel Software’s next-gen cloud PLM solution represents a strategic move towards future-forward, fail-proof capabilities, ensuring that companies remain at the forefront of innovation, ready to meet the challenges and opportunities of the digital age head-on.
Why Do Agile Users Need to Move to Cloud PLM Now?
With Agile PLM no longer receiving updates, users face increased risks around security, compliance, and operational efficiency.
Transitioning to a cloud-native solution ensures continuous innovation and support for change management, safeguarding product records, and maintaining regulatory compliance.
Ultimately, a cloud-native solution enables modern product companies to excel in a competitive landscape by leveraging the real-time decision-making and superior data visualization capabilities that on-prem systems notably lack.
Though Oracle is attempting a pivot towards cloud solutions—namely Oracle Cloud PLM—they’re ultimately forcing cloud-first capabilities into an infrastructure and interface from a bygone era. Meanwhile, Propel PLM has been developing its Salesforce-based architecture long before legacy systems started playing catch-up.
How Will Agile Users Benefit from Moving to Cloud PLM?
With the market moving in favor of digitally driven and data-rich product development, cloud PLM solutions are a foundational necessity with their inherent efficiency and collaboration across the value chain.
To this end, Propel PLM offers an integrated platform that enhances product quality through streamlined workflows and advanced data management. Its SaaS model provides scalability and flexibility, facilitating improved decision-making and faster time to market.
Users benefit from enhanced product information accuracy and easy integration with other systems like ERP or CAD, fostering collaboration and innovation across the entire product lifecycle.
Here are all the benefits Agile users can expect from a cloud-based PLM solution:
- User Interface: A modern, intuitive user interface that enhances user adoption and simplifies navigation, making the transition smoother for Agile users accustomed to older systems.
- Project Management Modules: Comprehensive project management functionalities, enabling users to efficiently plan, execute, and monitor product design and development projects, ensuring timely delivery and optimal resource allocation.
- Continuous Innovation: Being a cloud-native solution, Propel PLM provides Agile users with the flexibility, scalability, and security needed to adapt to rapidly changing market demands and technological advancements.
- Seamless Integration: Cloud-based solutions typically work with modern APIs to provide smooth integration with existing business systems. This means data flows securely across departments for informed decision-making without risk. For instance, Propel offers integration with popular CAD and ERP systems like Solidworks, OrCad, Netsuite, SAP, Rootstock, and Microsoft Dynamics.
- Connecting the Entire Value Chain: Propel isn’t just PLM — it’s a completely connected product value management (PVM) solution, meaning it connects PLM, quality management (QMS), and product information management (PIM) altogether on the same platform. The only solution of its kind on the market, this connection facilitates a truly continuous digital thread for nimble responsiveness and constant innovation.
Cloud Implementation Roadmap
Transitioning to Propel PLM involves strategic planning to ensure data integrity and process continuity. Starting with a clear understanding of current methodologies, Propel provides guidance on stakeholder engagement, data migration planning, and validation processes.
Whether you prefer to completely “Rip and Replace” your system—replace Agile all at once—or a gradual migration, one process at a time, Propel has schemes in place for either scenario, with successful customers to back them up.
Most companies opt for a gradual approach—migrating product data, optimizing workflows, and training users to leverage the solution’s full potential. This roadmap emphasizes a phased approach to adoption, ensuring businesses can rapidly benefit from enhanced decision-making capabilities and a streamlined product development process, all while minimizing disruption to ongoing operations.
Conclusion
Propel PLM distinguishes itself from traditional offerings like Agile PLM, SAP, Siemens Teamcenter, PTC Windchill, and Microsoft with its intuitive, user-friendly interface, prioritizing ease of use and collaborative functionality. Its user-friendly interface fosters high collaboration, which is crucial in fast-moving markets such as medtech, consumer goods, life sciences, and high tech.
Moreover, Propel's focus on customer-centric experiences stands out in a product-centric industry. This approach ensures that Propel PLM not only meets but anticipates the unique needs of its users, offering a tailored, responsive PLM experience that is rare in the market. This level of personalization and attention to user feedback underscores Propel's role as not just a tool, but a strategic partner in innovation, operational efficiency, and compliance.
