What Next? Evaluating Modern PLM Alternatives | Life Beyond Agile

For Agile PLM users concerned about the system's imminent end of life, here’s your chance to hear from experts in the space. Learn the key factors to consider as you explore the modern PLM solution landscape and begin preparing to move off Agile.

Our expert panel, featuring Jim Brown (President of Tech-Clarity), Greg Yow (Director of R&D, Digital Data, and CAD at Zoetis), and Tom Shoemaker (VP of Product Marketing at Propel) delves into the strategic benefits, practical implementation, and technological advancements of PLM systems. 

Learn how a comprehensive, cloud-based PLM solution can drive product innovation, enhance quality, and accelerate time-to-market. 

Key Insights & Takeaways:

1. Evaluate PLM solutions holistically: Consider not just the technical capabilities but also how the solution engages all stakeholders across the product lifecycle.
2. Transition to cloud-based PLM: Leverage the benefits of seamless upgrades, enhanced security, and reduced IT overhead by moving to a cloud-based solution.
3. Emphasize product innovation and compliance: Ensure your PLM system drives product innovation, accelerates time-to-market, and meets regulatory requirements.
4. Adopt a future-proof PLM strategy: Choose a PLM solution that supports your current needs and is adaptable to future requirements and technological advancements.
5. Involve all stakeholders: Ensure that the PLM system you select provides relevant information to all roles involved in the product value chain to enhance collaboration and decision-making.
6. Prepare for seamless upgrades: Plan for regular, seamless upgrades to stay current with the latest functionality and security features in your PLM system.
7. Consider a phased implementation: If a Big Bang approach is not feasible, explore phased implementation strategies to minimize disruption and ensure a smooth transition.

What The Experts Say:

JIM BROWN:

• "PLM’s top business benefits are product innovation and faster product development, which drive faster time to market. Many think of PLM as a cost saver and engineering efficiency. But these top two are strategic to drive top-line revenue, not just save costs.”
• “We talk about PLM expanding to more people, to more processes up and down the life cycle, and a richer view of the product. When you're dealing with a supply chain-centric kind of business, you need all of those aspects. It's not just about managing CAD and technical specs. To get that value, you need to have the right kind of PLM system.”

GREG YOW:

• "When I deployed Propel at Zoetis, it was my first cloud PLM experience. I will tell you now that I'm here, I would never, ever go back to on-prem."
• “Why is PLM important to the bottom line? What's the return on investment? Better, faster, cheaper. You can achieve all three with an effective rollout of PLM. It's one of the few things for which you can actually say that, and have the data behind it.”
• “If it's been a long time since you've had to justify the value of PLM, and now you're going to have to justify it again with a new one, start thinking about your metrics that you can extract from your system, where you think you can improve above and beyond what your system provides you today. Because when you move into a new platform, it can enable a bunch of other new capabilities you may not had in the past.”

TOM SHOEMAKER:

• "It's about time to value. No one has an appetite anymore for lengthy PLM deployments. It's imperative the vendor gets you to where you want to go quickly, brings your data there, gets you up and running, and can help you achieve quick time to value. That's why we think Propel has a leg up in the space.”
• “Think through not just the technology platform that you might be going to, but the business platform that you might be going to, if there is such a thing. When you're looking at a new cloud system, not all solutions are equal. For example, are you looking for something that is part of a large ecosystem with a lot of applications built around it, and a lot of skilled professionals that support it?”
• "Propel engages the value chain, whereas other solutions might overemphasize the engineering collaboration piece of it. There are a lot of other players involved in the value chain—upstream, downstream, and all around."

Considering the switch from Agile PLM? Compare your system with Propel’s best-in-class cloud solution.