Missed opportunity: how to avoid 4 common PLM implementation regrets

Missed opportunity: how to avoid 4 common plm implementation regrets 

In today’s fast-moving fashion industry, product lifecycle management is critical to productivity and profitability. Widespread adoption of PLM software has demonstrated its effectiveness and made it accessible, allowing vendors to fine-tune their offerings and maximize value. Fashion companies that take a piecemeal approach to implementation run the risk of missing out on opportunities, however. By devising a PLM implementation strategy right from the start, fashion company CIOs can make the most of their PLM investment and ensure a smooth rollout. 

Because CIOs shoulder the responsibility of choosing the right PLM platform for their organization, they should take into consideration the solution’s operating life, as well as the long-term commitment of their software vendor. When assessing vendor added-value, the features and functionality of their solutions must be weighed, as well as their industry expertise and overall alignment with digital transformation objectives and overall business strategy. 

According to WhichPLM, an established online magazine dedicated to PLM for fashion, “There has never been a better time to buy PLM. No matter the size, shape, turnover or geographical spread of your business, almost any modern PLM solution is eminently capable of being the engine that will power the future of your business.” 

4 COMMON REGRETS IN PLM IMPLEMENTATION

• That there was more collaboration and consensus
• That we had an engaged, expert team
• That we had a fast-tracked, strategic approach for deployment
• That our vendor provided more value

As a CIO, you expect identifying and deploying new software and platforms to be challenging. It’s part of the job. But you’re driven to help your organization centralize data, streamline workflows, control costs and effectively collaborate. Software implementation is also a huge responsibility. It requires foresight, collaboration, talent and a clear plan for success. While there’s much to be gained, not all who choose to implement will get there without setbacks. When IT leaders don’t have a proper, well-thought out plan, they set themselves up for future “would’ve-should’vecould’ve” moments – things they wish they’d known during new platform integration and implementation. And perhaps that’s why some CIOs are still hesitant to adopt PLM.

Today, there’s no need to remain hesitant over PLM implementation. More widespread adoption has proven its effectiveness, made it more affordable and helped vendors fine-tune their offerings to maximize its value. But organizations that don’t follow a disciplined, strategic approach will likely miss opportunities to make the most of their platform. To prevent your organization from the same fate, we’re sharing four common regrets that CIOs have when reflecting on their PLM implementations, with insights on what you could, should and would do differently to avoid having regrets of your own.

We understand that for CIOs, the PLM implementation process can be tricky. But the benefits outweigh the costs in the fashion context. There is so much value in PLM, and the way to get the best out of this system is to avoid four main implementation hiccups along the way.