User Experience in PLM Software: What to Look For

The need for innovation, shorter time to market, compliance, and lower manufacturing costs are compelling businesses to turn to digital transformation for their key processes. One such digital solution that is gaining traction is product lifecycle management software or PLM. According to one market research report, the market size of PLM Solutions is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9% between 2022 and 2030 and was valued at USD 28.02 billion in 2022. Secure IT infrastructure and the demand for smart products and factories are the two key growth drivers.

Benefits of PLM Software

The product life cycle requires the collaboration of several different functions, such as product designers, engineers, production managers, sales and marketing leaders, procurement teams, and customer service. Each function works with software best suited for its core function, and therefore, businesses often do not have one single solution that integrates all these different teams from a product information-sharing perspective.

This leads to data silos and poor communication and collaboration, increasing the risk of errors and deviations. To minimize the risk, implementing a product lifecycle management (PLM) solution helps unify the different functions, facilitating a single view of all the relevant data for all to see with appropriate authorization. Reviews and approvals can be faster and changes can be seamlessly notified to all key parties involved – to ensure there are no delays and defects.

The implementation of PLM can improve productivity while making the process more efficient and effective. It can optimize resource utilization, enabling innovation and faster time-to-market with better compliance, quality, and a lower cost of manufacturing.

However, this requires user adoption. Users often hesitate to change the way they work, preferring the solutions they are used to rather than trying something new. Or they may use the solution just for specific functions because it is mandated but not explore the features and fully leverage its benefits. As a result, the risk of the PLM not being used well and to its full capacity always exists.

Some of the reasons this can happen include:

• The mindset of the users, their unwillingness to adopt a new way of working
• The difficulty in adopting the new solution because it requires a learning curve

The usability of the software plays a key role in encouraging adoption, not only to make the design and development of products easier but also to improve productivity and efficiency.

Role of User Interface in Improving Adoption

User satisfaction is one of the key requirements for improved adoption of PLM software. This will increase user buy-in with minimum effort and also encourage users to exploit the tool to the fullest to improve ROI and enhance business processes.

Therefore, the key is having a user-centric design, developed using design thinking principles where user needs are central to the development process. This ensures intuitive, user-friendly interfaces, reports, and dashboards.

Some of the key user needs a PLM must address include:

• Device Agnostic: Today, users access different functions from anywhere, on any device. Therefore, the user interface must be optimized for the different sizes of devices such as computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. It must also be fast and light to function efficiently even in low-bandwidth conditions.
• Ease-of-Use: The interface must be intuitive, requiring no prior training to use. Therefore, it must conform to standard naming conventions and web practices so that the user can navigate the app without any difficulty. This will also improve the user’s efficiency and productivity by providing clear instructions and consistent design elements that reduce errors.
• Accessibility: The users will come from diverse backgrounds, with different capabilities and education levels. Therefore, the UX must be simple and straightforward, enabling diverse groups to access and leverage it without difficulty.
• Customizable: Users will also prefer some control over settings, interface appearance, and information presentation. Therefore, the PLM must be customizable to meet these needs. Users must also be able to customize dashboards and time schedules, providing clear overviews and improved planning and execution.
• Communication and Collaboration: The users must be able to leave notes and comments on the platform that is easily accessible, improving the productivity of the team. Shared editing options, real-time collaboration, and chat functions prove critical in allowing even remote teams to collaborate on projects effectively.
• Search and Advanced Search: As the project work scales and datasets expand, the ability to search and refine the search based on filters will become crucial and must be available.
• Integration with Other Enterprise Systems: One key role PLM must play is integrating multiple systems to provide a unified view of all relevant data in one place. Therefore, seamless integration with other enterprise systems such as ERP, CAD, SCM, and CRM is critical.
• Feedback and Continuous Improvement: Users must have a way to share feedback about the software, which must be incorporated if valid and reasonable for continuous improvement of the PLM solution. The solution must also come with sufficient guiding and training material for smooth onboarding.

To know more about ProductQuest from ComplianceQuest and how it enhances user experience, request a demo: https://www.compliancequest.com/online-demo/