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Building a Business Case for PLM Starts Here

10/30/2025 | 3 Min Read

For Product and Design Managers

  • Are tech packs scattered across drives and spreadsheets rather than accessible within a centralized platform?

  • Do design revisions get lost in email chains, leading to costly sampling errors?

  • Are design teams wasting hours searching for the latest product data?

  • Is duplicate work common when updating Bills of Materials (BOMs), specs or size charts?

  • Does sustainability tracking feel manual, fragmented and difficult to track, instead of automated and embedded?

Brands using Centric PLM report 50% faster BOM creation and a 93% reduction in spreadsheet reliance. These efficiency gains allow teams to focus more on designing market-winning products and spend less time firefighting errors and tracking down the latest data. the latest data.

For Operations, Supply Chain and IT Leaders

Operational leaders carry the weight of execution, tasked with balancing cost control, compliance and efficiency. In the fast-changing landscape of digital tools, legacy systems struggle to keep pace.

Consider the following:

  • Is reliance on spreadsheets leading to errors, delays and missed handoffs?

  • Do vendors access outdated attachments instead of real-time data?

  • Are integration barriers between PLM, ERP and other tools slowing decisions?

  • Do compliance and sustainability audits require scrambling to collect documentation from multiple systems?

  • Is scaling global SKUs stretching current infrastructure beyond its limits?

More than 35% of Centric PLM projects involve replacing legacy systems. Modern PLM creates a single actionable source of truth, enabling fast and smart workflows across supply chains and operations.

For Executives and Finance Leaders

Challenges at the executive level often revolve around balancing growth with margin protection. Limited visibility makes strategic decision-making difficult.

Consider the following:

  • Are manual workflows driving higher operating costs and eroding margins?

  • Does limited access to reliable product data restrict scaling across Direct-To-Consumer (DTC), wholesale or international markets?

  • Are product launches delayed because teams work in silos?

  • Is innovation constrained because IT resources are tied up maintaining outdated systems?

  • Are competitors outpacing the company with more agile, scalable tech stacks?

Centric PLM customers have reported a 174% increase in styles launched with the same headcount and annual savings of $1M.in styles launched with the same headcount and annual savings of $1M.

Take the next step – explore how to research and identify the right PLM in the next guide

The Challenge is Clear

Volatility isn’t easing. Supply disruptions, margin pressure and shifting consumer expectations will continue to test even the most established brands. Outdated tools magnify the uncertainty by slowing reaction time and draining profitability.

Modern PLMs are the foundation for speed and resilient operations. Companies that embrace a modern PLM now are setting themselves up to lead the next wave of  innovation.

This is why leading brands and retailers fuel growth with Centric PLM to bring their products to market. With the right digital foundation, companies streamline execution, embed sustainability and remain competitive in crowded markets.

Building a Business Case for PLM Starts Here | Centric Software