Is Switching PLM Solutions Worth It? 4 Questions to Ask

Switching PLM solutions is a big task. However, there are times when your manufacturing company’s PLM solution simply isn’t the right fit for your business needs. To know if switching PLM solutions is worth it, start by asking the following questions.

Do You Use Non-PLM Stopgaps?

One of the first way you know if you need to switch PLM solutions is if your business still uses non-PLM stopgaps as part of your workflow. This can be excel spreadsheets, emails, or even text messages.

PLM is meant to be a way of running your business, not simply a tool to mix-and-match with other less-effective tools. The right PLM solution, combined with the right training and education, can improve your PLM ROI.

Are There Features You Wish You Had (But Don’t)?

As PLM systems become more advanced, you may find other solutions have features your business needs but that aren’t provided by your current PLM. Worse, you may find your current PLM isn’t compatible with specific modules or expansions other PLMs enjoy.

Lacking key features and using non-PLM stopgaps often go hand-in-hand. By switching to the right PLM, you could solve two problems at once.

Do You Work Too Hard to Get Vendor Support?

A major sign your need to find a new PLM solution is if you have to put more effort into getting vendor support than your vendor seems to be willing to give. If you find your company has to contact your vendor multiple times just to get the first reply to a  support request, you need to start shopping around. A PLM solution provider should be proactively invested in your company’s success.

Do You Have Multiple Product Categories or an Expansion That Your Current PLM doesn’t support?

Are you planning on expanding your business’s product categories soon, or have you recently expanded your business in a  way that is not supported by your current PLM configuration? If the cost of updating your PLM configuration is nearly as much as deploying a new solution, then it’s time to look for a better PLM that will grow with your business.

There’s Never Been a Better Time to Consider Switching PLM Solutions

Making the final decision about switching PLMs obviously has to consider more than the questions above. you have to carefully review the unique needs of your business and review how a new potential solution could deliver to those needs.

If you’d like a no-pressure consultation and demo of 4G:PLM, SolidPartners’ low-cost PLM solution, get in touch with us. Our experienced consultants are willing to put the real needs of your business first when reviewing whether 4G:PLM – or any kind of PLM switch – is the right choice.