It’s the evening before Share PLM 2025 officially begins, and I’m sitting here in Jerez de la Frontera with a smile—and maybe a glass of something local—thinking about what’s ahead.
Even though the summit doesn’t kick off until tonight, it feels like it already started. The conversations, the comments, the messages flying back and forth online… the energy is here, and it’s building fast.
The People: “P” Stands for Personal
First, let’s talk about the people.
There’s a certain kind of magic when you bring together folks who care deeply about PLM—not just the tools, but the bigger picture. This year’s Share PLM crowd is one of the most amazing groups I’ve had the chance to be around. These are the industry veterans, customers, consultants, and even digital PLuMber, the ones who aren’t afraid to ask hard questions or rethink the way things have always been done.
Many of us have been talking online for months—commenting on each other’s posts, debating topics like digital thread, modular architectures, and even the eternal Excel dilemma. But now we get to do it in person. And that makes a huge difference.
The Place: Jerez – Far from the Zoom Meetings and YouTube
Now… let’s be honest—most PLM events happen in hotels next to airports or large Casino buildings in Las Vegas or (even worst) inside gray office buildings. Not this one.
Jerez de la Frontera is a completely different vibe. It’s sunny, calm, and slightly removed from the daily grind. There are vineyards around the corner, historic alleys to explore, and you don’t hear traffic horns—just birds, wind, and the occasional clink of glasses in a local café.
It’s the kind of place where your brain finally slows down enough to think clearly. And sometimes that’s exactly what we need to do serious work.
The Agenda: Human-Centered, Practical, and Bold
What I love about the Share PLM agenda this year is how grounded and real it is.
We’re not here just to show slides full of buzzwords. This summit is about practical things: how to make PLM more human, how to teach it better, how to actually help people do their jobs. It’s about education, collaboration, and putting people—not just systems—at the center of what we build.
And speaking of people, I’ll be presenting on Wednesday morning. The talk is called “PLM’s Missing Link: Data That Works for People.”
I’ll explore why the future of PLM isn’t just more features—it’s data that makes sense, that’s connected, contextual, and actually helpful. Because let’s face it: if your PLM can’t explain itself, it’s just another system people avoid.
Already in Motion
Honestly, it already feels like the summit started. Between the blog comments, LinkedIn discussions, and all the messages I’ve been getting, we’ve been warming up for days. And that’s a great sign—it means people care, they’re engaged, and they’re ready to do the work.
See You in Jerez
I’m really looking forward to meeting everyone here in Jerez. It’s going to be a busy, exciting three days packed with learning, sharing, and a lot of real conversations.
I’ll be posting updates throughout the summit. See you soon!
Best, Oleg
UPDATE:
The setup and rehearsal is done. Thank you for an amazing Share PLM Team. I put a few photos from the event, including a photo of the amazing Share PLM team. More articles about the event will be coming during the weekend.
Disclaimer: I’m the co-founder and CEO of OpenBOM, a digital-thread platform providing cloud-native collaborative and integration services between engineering tools including PDM, PLM, and ERP capabilities. With extensive experience in federated CAD-PDM and PLM architecture, I’m advocates for agile, open product models and cloud technologies in manufacturing. My opinion can be unintentionally biased
