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On Partners with Centric Software to Centralize Data, Enhance Collaboration and Ignite Growth

Award-winning sportswear company, On, has achieved winning results with their Centric PLM implementation — boasting record user adoption rates, optimized business processes and increased visibility

230 production team members using Centric PLM
3 operating regions onboarded

“ Our users include product managers, designers, developers, color specialists, as well as team members in materials, costing, sourcing, sustainability, and customs. By the end of 2024, we expect to have 280 team members working in PLM including suppliers ” — Steve Santoro, Product Systems Lead at On

Challenges

  • Rapid rate of growth and global expansion across more than 60 countries
  • Introduced a new line of performance clothing
  • Lacked a ‘single source of truth’ to manage product data and information

Results

  • Achieved reduced time to market and operational costs
  • Centralized data management and increased efficiencies
  • Created a collaborative workflow across product teams

Innovative Beginnings

On was founded in 2010 by former top athlete Olivier Bernhard and his friends David Allemann and Caspar Coppetti. Seeking the perfect running shoe that would provide enough cushioning to offer a soft landing, but enough firmness to propel the runner forward, they came up with a unique sole technology that combined these qualities and released their first shoe: the Cloudsurfer. Today, On is present in more than 60 countries globally and continues to develop trailblazing innovations within their Zurich-based On Lab.

In 2017, On’s rapid rate of growth and the addition of a new line of performance clothing brought opportunities for improvements and led them to begin their PLM selection process. They needed a solution to centralize data that existed across different departments and files, minimize the risk of displacing valuable product information, and make it easier for teams to operate quickly and efficiently.

Choosing Centric Software

“Ultimately, we needed a comprehensive platform designed to streamline and optimize various aspects of the product life cycle, from initial ideation to final production for all On’s footwear, apparel and accessories products,” explains Steven Santoro, Product Systems Lead at On.

Centric Software® stood apart from the competition with its fully configurable, cloud-based solution and the ability to tailor the system to meet specific business needs.

On kicked off their PLM implementation in late 2019 and by 2020 had 36 team members using Centric PLM™. They have been sprinting forward ever since. Today 230 of On’s production team members, spanning three operating regions, are using the system.

“Our users include product managers, designers, developers, color specialists, as well as team members in materials, costing, sourcing, sustainability, and customs. By the end of 2024, we expect to have 280 team members working in PLM including suppliers,” says Santoro.

The Future

Over the past three years, On has achieved exceptional results with Centric PLM, including creating a collaborative workflow across production teams, centralized data management and reduced time-to-market and operational costs – ultimately enhancing overall efficiency. They look forward to developing their partnership with Centric and continuing to push the boundaries of performance and quality in the sports apparel industry.

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