‘Nobody wants to fail’ it is just human nature. But failing in your daily life differs significantly from failing to spot a bad investment. And when it comes to Product Lifecycle Management software (PLM), the scales could tip either way. The last thing you want is to spend millions of dollars on a solution that will not bring in significantly better results. On the other hand, you definitely do not want to miss all the benefits a well-integrated PLM system could bring. That is why you need to learn how to spot the warning signs, as well as understand why PLM integration fails sometimes.
That being said, you should know that implementing a new PLM system is definitely never easy. It is not like you bought a new desk for your cubicle, rather you are bringing in a huge change into your business model, so some adjustment period is in order. If you want to cross the finish line as a winner that has successfully integrated a PLM system, you need to be wary of a couple of things.
PLM projects usually fail because they are not properly integrated
One of the biggest risks corporations with global operations face is that of important information being siloed within different teams. Let us say that information concerning the flaw in the development of a product gets stuck in the engineering team and it does not get to the marketing team on time. In that case, we have the risk of product launch tasks taking place too soon, ultimately resulting in the loss of time and resources. That is why it is important to properly store data and migrate it among teams.
One of the greatest benefits of PLM is its ability to store data in one place, making it accessible to every person involved in the project. In order for that to happen, a PLM system needs to be integrated properly so that it collaborates well with the organization’s other key systems, such as:
- ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)
- CRM (Customer Relationship Management)
- SCM (Supply Chain Management)
In order to become a valuable investment that will bring success, a PLM system needs to receive information from other key systems. But here is the catch; all of these systems emerged over time. With technology changing as fast as it does, this means you might have to try to integrate two systems that belong to different generations. If you fail, there is a real possibility that your PLM integration will fail as well.
PLM integration fails if you do not choose a suitable vendor
Lately, business owners with global operations are not the only ones who use PLM software anymore. Smaller companies are realizing the potential of automation, there is a higher demand for these solutions. And you know that means emergence of a plethora of PLM vendors. There is only one problem; not all of them are completely focused on your needs instead of their gains. In translation, it might be much easier to find a PLM vendor, but it is not as clear whether you will get a PLM solution that corresponds to your needs from them.
On the other hand, the good news is that now you have more than one adequate option for your business. Some of them, like frontecheu.com, focus on a specific market; others, like Upchain, focus on cloud-based PLM solutions. If you want a well-integrated PLM that will bring results, you need to be diligent when choosing a vendor. A good recommendation is definitely hiring an outside consultant to deeply assess the needs of your business. After that, he or she will be able to make a good recommendation.
The traditional PLM might come with more than one risk
These days, those in need of a PLM solution have two main choices at their disposal on-premise PLM and cloud PLM. And there is a lot of controversy about whether one of the two PLM systems integrates better than the other. If you are spending millions of dollars on a tailored PLM solution, you definitely want to spend your money wisely and make a good choice.
Could moving your data to the Cloud be a better choice for your business? Experts say that it just might be! Traditional, on-premise PLM integration fails due to many different reasons. For starters, these solutions are usually too customized for their clients’ needs. That is great in a way, as it shows great customer care from the vendor. On the other hand, it brings in a world of problems, such as higher costs and long project timelines. Not to mention the set-up time and space required by these solutions.
Yet another problem on-premise PLM the owners have is the difficulty maintaining those complex systems. They usually require hiring a server expert for maintenance, and finding one is not so easy. And let us not even get started on how difficult it is to afford one in the long-term. Without an expert to maintain an on-premise PLM solution, you might as well count on PLM integration failure. This is just one of the many complications you would not have to face with a cloud PLM system.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that PLM integration fails and it fails often. It is completely understandable why some business owners weigh in whether or not to get one for so long. After all, no one likes to make a dent in their budget only to afford something that might work eventually. Emphasis on might. But if you take the necessary measures of precaution and choose the suitable solution and vendor, you stand a good chance of avoiding common PLM integration failures. And those who manage to be on the winning side of PLM know just how much it ends up turning into a worthy investment.
Source: Reasons Why PLM Integration Fails
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