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Lucy Blackley shares her thoughts on the similarities between small and large enterprises when it comes to PLM. Lucy is a PLM and Product Development expert and sits on WhichPLM’s Expert panel.
Evolving Retail
Retail is evolving with online stores flourishing, and some online retailers testing the waters with physical stores. The failure of big department stores, specialty retailers, and sporting goods companies exaggerates the overall industry evolution.
Small independent labels offer something unique and create loyal followers, and consumers are overlooking mass-produced products for something they love.
Big companies are struggling to meet investor expectations and failing to connect with consumers. They need to review how they operate and sell their products, as their tactics can appear unethical.
Cutting back on staff while expecting the same workload is creating an unpleasant work environment. The focus should be on the functionalities of a PLM for companies of all sizes.
What PLM Has to Offer
I’ve onboarded companies to PLM in recent months and noticed a common problem: smaller companies struggle to find PLMs that meet their needs for scaling up.
Many basic PLMs are expensive, complicated, and packed with unnecessary features. Large companies face similar challenges and want an easy-to-use system with full life cycle capabilities, critical path, and range plan, among other features like Tech Pack.
Offering different versions for different company sizes seems unnecessary, as the process of working through a lifecycle remains the same regardless of growth. Upselling and showing irrelevant features are outdated tactics that can lead to disinterest in the software. Providing solutions that work for everyone is key.
People want to feel cared for and part of a team. Providers should cater to all clients and give them a sense of priority. Simplifying systems and streamlining tasks saves time.
Removing unnecessary features helps users. Small businesses face limitations and complications with complicated systems. Larger providers often ignore small companies, despite the potential for growth.
We should support small businesses and invest in their knowledge. All companies follow the same development process. We must aid small brands to achieve their end goal and secure the future of fashion.