Timing is one of the most interesting and important elements success or failure of any projects. Right technology in a wrong time will be a failure for your IT initiatives. When it comes to enterprise software, it is all about timing and company plans. And for PLM software it is even more critical component. Large manufacturing OEM are operating under the pressure of programs and product deliveries. In many situations once the technology and software is set for a specific program, it cannot be changed in the future and it can stay for a very long time. Aircraft manufacturing programs is the best example.
So, if you want to sell PLM software to OEM manufacturer, you need to see how to align your sales initiative and software adoption cycle with internal projects and IT plans. On the other side, for manufacturing companies, to watch technological trends is also very important. If you miss the the trend, you are risking not to be able to adopt new products and technology for a very long time.
Diginomica article – These 5 pivotal trends will shake up enterprise IT in 2017 outlines important technological development that can happen in enterprise and may impact manufacturing company decision about PLM technologies and products. Read the article and draw your conclusion. The following two trends caught my special attention: 1/ Applications move beyond logging data; 2/Cloud passes the tipping point. Here are my favorite passages:
Applications move beyond logging data. In 2017, analytics will enable unmatched visibility into every dollar recognized and dollar planned, and allow for critical decisions in an informed and predictable manner. Beyond ERP, enterprise applications in customer relationship management, marketing, human resources and supply chain, are all expected to go beyond acting as a simple system of record. Enterprise applications are now expected to be systems of engagement and insight. Business users will also demand their applications automate cumbersome workflows and allow real time answers, collaboration, and data-driven decision making.
Cloud passes the tipping point. Holding off on adopting cloud platforms will no longer be an option for most in 2017. Businesses will go all-in on cloud at a faster rate, as they seek new capabilities in financial management, professional services and human capital management apps over on-premise solutions. The recent acquisition of NetSuite completed one of the biggest corporate U-turns of the past decade for Oracle. Holding off on adopting cloud platforms will no longer be an option as every technology vendor looks to migrate their customer-base onto cloud infrastructure in 2017. As a critical mass of businesses begins to realize the benefits of managing their financials in the cloud, those left on-premise will run out of reasons to stay.
It occurred to me, these two trends can significantly impact PLM products and technology adoption. Here is why it might happen.
Cloud is becoming real and manufacturing companies will be able to explore variety of cloud services to add value to existing PLM implementations or to adopt PLM technologies that before was out of reach because of time and complexity. Moving beyond logging data is even more interesting. Traditional PLM concepts came with the idea of taking control and managing data. The new approach will move PLM system to the level of engagement and will allow to simplify and streamline processes without focusing heavily on data management and control. It can allow to new types of PLM systems bypass the idea of single point of truth as data management problem and improve ROI of new PLM deployments.
What is my conclusion? Cloud and new data management paradigms can change old concepts and paradigms of PLM. It will bring the change in how PLM systems can be implemented and used. ROI and user adoptions are two the most critical aspects holding PLM systems back from being used by all organizations. There is a chance in 2017 to see future improvements in PLM development. PLM architects should take a note. Just my thoughts…
Best, Oleg
Want to learn more about PLM? Check out my new PLM Book website.
Disclaimer: I’m co-founder and CEO of openBoM developing cloud based bill of materials and inventory management tool for manufacturing companies, hardware startups and supply chain. My opinion can be unintentionally biased
