3 things I learned from CIMdata cloud PLM research

Long time awaited(at least for me) cloud PLM research  made by CIMdata and sponsored by multiple PLM vendors was finally published last week. If you want to get a report, navigate to the following link and use free CIMdata registration.

CIMdata research was made in partnership with top PLM vendors – Autodesk, Dassault Systemes,  Oracle PLM, PTC and Siemens PLM.

Over the weekend, I had a chance to read CIMdata research results. It has lot of interesting data points, stats and information. If you’re in PLM business, this is absolutely must read research. Today, I want to share what I learned. Here are my 3 key finding.

1. Manufacturing companies are preparing to spend money on cloud PLM

The really good news – manufacturing companies are moving to spend time and invest in cloud-based PLM solutions. It is encourage, because timing is something that really hard to change. So, PLM companies better be ready with right solution when customers are coming.

2. Manufacturing companies are concerned about how to integrated cloud PLM into existing PLM and enterprise assets

The integrations are tough, complex, expensive and takes time. If you cannot integrate 2 solutions, the ROI of new solution can decrease dramatically or even disappear.  So, for cloud PLM to provide value, they need to worry about seamless integration into existing on premise PLM environment.

3. Simpler, Faster, Cheaper.

Nothing new… Cloud or not cloud, manufacturing companies still want to make it easy, faster and for half price. What is notable is the ability to scale up. Something established PLM vendors need to think about before pulling their existing infrastructures to IaaS platforms – they might not scale in the way customers want.

And one more final thoughts for people believing in one day cloud big bang. It won’t happen. Most of companies will be planning to run cloud PLM services together with existing on premise solutions with little integration.

What is my conclusion? The most interesting part of the research is a confirmation that manufacturing companies are indeed planning to spend time, money and effort into cloud PLM solutions in the next 12-18 months. Timing is everything and it is especially important in the large enterprise business, which is essentially not very much in hurry to make changes when it comes to process organization and existing habits. So, last 5-7 years were actually warm up for cloud PLM race and the next 12-18 will be an interesting sprint for companies looking how to change PLM status quo. 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.