Home > Blog > The Perfect RFP to Choose PLM Software

Table of Contents

1. Why PLM Software is a Game Changer
2. Big Brand Examples: How PLM Transforms Businesses
3. How to Choose the Right PLM Software
4. How an RFP can Help
5. Comparing PLM Vendors 
6. The Benefits of the Right PLM Software
7. Avoiding Common Pitfalls
8. Further Reading

Managing a product’s lifecycle—from ideation to market—is no easy feat. As businesses grow, outdated tools like spreadsheets and email chains often lead to chaos: missed deadlines, errors, and miscommunication. That’s where Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software steps in.

PLM software isn’t just a tool; it’s the foundation for better collaboration, faster processes, and higher-quality results. But with so many options available, how do you choose the right one?

Why PLM Software is a Game-Changer

Disconnected tools lead to data silos, making it difficult for teams to collaborate. PLM software brings everything into one platform, ensuring data is accessible and actionable. Surefront bridges the gap between design, sourcing, and sales, enabling all teams to work from a single source of truth, reducing delays and driving better decision-making.

1. Breaking Down Silos
Disconnected tools lead to data silos, making it difficult for teams to collaborate. PLM software brings everything into one platform, ensuring data is accessible and actionable.

2. Accelerating Time-to-Market
With automated workflows and streamlined communication, PLM software helps you get products to market faster, staying ahead of competitors.

3. Reducing Errors
Centralized data ensures consistency, minimizing costly mistakes in design, production, and delivery.

Big Brand Examples: How PLM Transforms Businesses

	Streamlining Collaboration Across Teams Just as Adidas transformed its processes with PLM software to enhance collaboration, Surefront empowers retail and fashion businesses to achieve similar efficiencies. Its tailored tools are designed for the unique demands of these industries, helping businesses streamline workflows and bring products to market faster.
	Ensuring Global Consistency For Coca-Cola, maintaining consistent packaging design across 200+ countries was a logistical challenge. PLM software provided a centralized platform for managing packaging specifications, ensuring that designs met global branding standards. The system also streamlined collaboration between design, marketing, and production teams, reducing delays and maintaining Coca-Cola's iconic look worldwide.
	Accelerating Product Development Procter & Gamble (P&G) adopted PLM software to tackle inefficiencies in product development across its vast portfolio of brands. With a unified system, P&G reduced its product development timelines by 25%, enabling faster launches for new products. This allowed the company to respond more quickly to consumer trends and capture market opportunities.
	Cutting Time-to-Market with Centralized Data Nike faced challenges in managing design iterations and supplier communication for its extensive footwear and apparel lines. By adopting PLM software, Nike centralized product data and improved visibility across teams. This streamlined the handoff between design and production, cutting time-to-market and ensuring their products stayed at the forefront of consumer demand.

How to Choose the Right PLM Software

While every business has unique needs, some features are universally important: centralized data storage, real-time collaboration tools, and customizable workflows. Surefront excels in these areas, offering highly customizable workflows that adapt to your business processes, ensuring seamless integration into your operations.

Step 1: Identify Your Goals
Before exploring solutions, define what you want to achieve:

• Are you looking to reduce errors?
• Do you need better collaboration tools?
• Are manual processes slowing you down?

Step 2: Focus on Scalability
Your PLM software should grow with your business. Whether expanding product lines or entering new markets, your system needs to adapt.

Step 3: Prioritize Must-Have Features
While every business has unique needs, some features are universally important:

• Centralized data storage
• Real-time collaboration tools
• Customizable workflows

How an RFP Can Help

A well-crafted RFP ensures you identify the features and functionalities most important to your business. Surefront not only provides a free RFP template but also offers tailored guidance to help businesses select the most impactful features for their PLM needs.

What to Include in Your RFP

Questions for Vendors:

• • How does your software integrate with ERP or PIM systems?
  • What onboarding and training support do you offer?
  • How does your system handle external collaboration?

Expert Tip: Use a template to ensure your RFP covers all essential areas. Surefront offers a free RFP template to get you started.

Comparing PLM Vendors

Seeing the software in action is essential. Pay attention to how well it aligns with your workflows and whether it feels intuitive for your team. Surefront’s user-friendly interface ensures rapid adoption, empowering teams to streamline their processes without a steep learning curve.

1. Create a Scoring System

Assign weighted scores to criteria like functionality, user experience, and price. This ensures you compare vendors objectively.

2. Request Demos

Seeing the software in action is essential. Pay attention to how well it aligns with your workflows and whether it feels intuitive for your team.

3. Check References

Speak with other businesses that use the software to understand their experience and results.

The Benefits of the Right PLM Software

When you choose the right PLM software, the benefits extend beyond operational efficiency.

Enhanced Collaboration
Teams can work together seamlessly, whether in the same office or across the globe.

Faster Decision-Making
Real-time data and automated workflows enable quicker, more informed decisions.

Higher-Quality Products
Early error detection and better communication lead to products that meet or exceed expectations.

Increased ROI
Efficiencies gained from PLM software translate into measurable financial benefits over time.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Even with the best intentions, choosing the wrong PLM software can lead to wasted resources and frustration. Avoid these common mistakes:

• Ignoring Scalability: Ensure the system can adapt to your business’s growth.

• Overlooking Usability: A complicated system can deter adoption, limiting ROI.

• Skipping Training: Without proper onboarding, teams may struggle to use the system effectively.

Conclusion

The right PLM software transforms your operations and improves team efficiency. Surefront’s free RFP template and comprehensive solutions are designed to help you confidently choose the best PLM system while transforming your Product Lifecycle management.

Ready to simplify your PLM selection process? Download Surefront’s free RFP template and start your journey to finding the perfect fit today.

The RFP Playbook 1: Selecting the Best PLM
The RFP Playbook 2: Best PLM Step-by-Step
The RFP Playbook 3: A Blueprint for PLM Success

Further Reading

PLM vs PIM: Which Do You Need?

PLM Software

PLM vs PIM: Which Do You Need?

May 31, 2024 2:00:00 PM 11 min read

What are Tech Packs?

Apparel & Fashion

What are Tech Packs?

Sep 10, 2024 2:20:52 PM 6 min read

The Ultimate Guide to a Perfect Line Sheet

Line Sheet

The Ultimate Guide to a Perfect Line Sheet

Nov 20, 2024 8:46:32 AM 4 min read

The Complete Guide to Product Development and Merchandising

Merchandising

The Complete Guide to Product Development and Merchandising

Sep 19, 2024 10:00:00 AM 4 min read

Surefront is flexible. It works seamlessly when the buyer and vendor are meeting in-person or discussing products remotely. 

You don’t want your data to be siloed. Your company’s CRM, PIM and PLM solutions shouldn’t operate in a vacuum, either. Surefront is a unified product collaboration platform to power growth and ROI. Our patented PIM, CRM, and PLM solutions streamline the omni channel sales, merchandising and product development processes. By combining these essential functionalities, Surefront creates a single source of truth throughout your Product Lifecycle, sales and listing processes. 

The results? Up to 150% more revenue per employee and a 40% shorter product development cycle is just the beginning. Try our 10x ROI calculator to see your company’s potential profits. Or, skip the noise and book a custom demo with one of our unified product collaboration management experts today. The retail industry evolves quickly and has a lot of moving parts. We do all of the research, so you don’t have to. Stay ahead of market fluctuations, trends and new features by subscribing to our Unified Product Collaboration Management Blog.

References

1. Concurrent Engineering PLM Case Study: Adidas

2. The Coca-Cola Company Packaging Design
   
   
3. Consumer Goods Technology Adidas Group Achieves High-Performance Innovation
   
   
4. Harvard Business School How Adidas is Utilizing Industry 4.0 to Reduce Time to Market
   
   
5. SpringerLink Product Lifecycle Management (PLM): A Key Enabler in Implementation of Industry 4.0
   
   
6. Deloitte Deloitte Product Lifecycle Management (DPLM) Pre-Configured Solution
   
   
7. SpringerLink PLM: a case study in the fashion industry