Fashion has changed in recent years. Today’s fashionistas are more selective than in the past, driven by a determination to be different, meaning garments tend to enjoy a much shorter shelf life in retail outlets. Like the climate, fashion seasons no longer conform to traditional patterns, with social media, flexible supply chains, and digital channels prompting a faster turnover of product lines.
Apparel and footwear businesses need to stay one step ahead, develop new lines they can produce in smaller volumes, and meet constant consumer demand shifts without a large stock surplus. It’s also essential to maintain quicker production times without sacrificing garment quality.
How can PLM software support your business to keep up with higher demand?
PLM software eliminates unnecessary administrative tasks that can make the time-to-market sluggish. By creating a repository of synchronised data across the PLM system, every team has instant access to the same information. This avoids time-consuming duplications and mismatches between versions.
Visibility is central to streamlined, efficient working practices at the design, manufacture, and distribution stages of a product’s lifecycle. Even suppliers can communicate centrally via the PLM, eradicating the need to trace and migrate emails.
With multiple remote teams working collaboratively to design, manufacture, and distribute new garments, it’s unsurprising that occasional hiccups in communication can occur. PLM software promotes greater transparency throughout a product’s lifecycle, so you can see more clearly where shortcuts can be made to save time, without affecting quality or cost. Teams also benefit from improved oversight of the different processes involved, using real-time information to make split-second decisions, and enjoying a clearer understanding of their roles and responsibilities.
As your business grows, you’ll be aiming to expand your product range, sales channels, and consumer reach. But growth comes with a price: your operations become more complex and need careful management - which is where PLM comes into its own. With PLM software, you receive an overview of the entire product development process so that you can see first-hand the situation at any stage of a garment’s journey. A PLM empowers you to make rapid business decisions to ensure your new products hit the retail spaces at the right time to maximise sales.
With a centralised system that stores all relevant information, STYLEman PLM empowers your teams to work more efficiently and cooperatively, eradicate wasteful practices, and maximise cost-efficiency. At Option Systems, we offer a free demonstration of STYLEman PLM, so you can assess its suitability for your business. To arrange yours, click here.
Image: Unsplash