Aras vs Centric PLM

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Our analysts compared Aras vs Centric PLM based on data from our 400+ point analysis of PLM Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Product Basics

Aras enables efficient control of the entire product lifecycle. It contains change management tools that can provide notifications to relevant users when adjustments are made to ensure consistency throughout the lifecycle. It also accounts for a variety of regulatory standards to help with product compliance.

The included visibility capabilities are robust, and user access is definable based on what’s relevant to each individual person. Multiple sources can be leveraged to develop insights, and multi-level bills of materials can be created as well.
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Centric PLM is a software solution designed to streamline the entire product lifecycle, from ideation and design to sourcing, production, and launch. It caters particularly to companies in fast-moving consumer goods industries like fashion, apparel, and homeware.

Centric PLM offers several key benefits. It centralizes product data, eliminating the need to search through scattered spreadsheets and emails. This fosters improved collaboration among internal teams and external partners.

The software boasts features like mobile applications for on-the-go access, visual collaboration tools, and integrations with 3D design software. These features can help companies reduce time to market, improve product quality, and gain a competitive edge.

While user experiences can vary, Centric PLM is generally praised for its scalability and modularity. Companies can choose the specific functionalities they need, making it suitable for businesses of various sizes. Pricing is typically based on a subscription model with tiers offering different features and user capacities.


Pros
  • Centralized Data
  • Improved Collaboration
  • Faster Time to Market
  • Scalable & Modular
  • Mobile App Access
Cons
  • Steep Learning Curve
  • Customization Challenges
  • Limited Real-Time Data
  • Potentially Costly
  • Subscription Model
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Product Assistance

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Product Insights

  • Control of Entire Lifecycle: Aras gives users control of the entirety of the product design lifecycle, from the time a product idea is conceptualized to final delivery. 
  • Adaptability: Users can tailor business processes within the system to adhere to their company’s unique requirements. 
  • Consistency: Information is centralized in Aras, making it easier for users to see the most up-to-date product specifications. This allows business processes and product development to become more consistent. 
  • Collaboration: With this program, users can track and manage changes while retaining visibility of product status. 
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  • Streamlined Communication and Collaboration: Centric PLM acts as a central hub for all product information, eliminating the need for siloed data and communication across teams. Imagine a designer uploading a sketch, which can be instantly accessed and commented on by product managers, engineers, and sourcing specialists, all within the same platform. This fosters a collaborative environment that reduces misunderstandings and delays.
  • Reduced Time to Market: By centralizing product data and streamlining workflows, Centric PLM helps companies get products to market faster. For instance, designers can receive instant feedback on material availability from sourcing teams, eliminating the back-and-forth communication that can slow down the development process. This allows companies to capitalize on market trends and stay ahead of the competition.
  • Improved Product Quality and Consistency: Centric PLM's centralized data repository ensures that everyone is working with the latest product specifications. This reduces the risk of errors caused by outdated information or miscommunication. Think of it as a single source of truth for everything related to a product, from materials and technical specifications to quality control procedures.
  • Enhanced Cost Management: By providing real-time insights into material costs, production processes, and inventory levels, Centric PLM helps companies make informed decisions that can optimize their bottom line. Imagine a scenario where a material cost increase is flagged within the system, prompting the sourcing team to explore alternative suppliers. This level of cost transparency empowers companies to make data-driven decisions and minimize waste.
  • Increased Visibility and Control: Centric PLM provides a comprehensive view of the entire product lifecycle, from concept to launch. This empowers managers to identify potential bottlenecks, track progress, and make adjustments as needed. Imagine having a real-time dashboard that displays the status of every product in development, allowing for proactive problem-solving and course correction.
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  • ALM Integration: Aras can be integrated with existing ALM environments to develop a singular visualization of a variety of products. This feature is also connected to processes such as change management and BOM. With this connectivity, the source code is managed within the ALM program. 
  • Bill of Materials: The program controls the bill of materials across the entire supply chain. Aras Innovator provides visibility in a centralized location and leverages information from multiple sources to aid in the development of insights. With this tool, users can develop structured, multi-level bills of materials associated with each product lifecycle stage. The system also syncs with MBOMs and EBOMs to give users visibility of cross-disciplinary change statuses. 
  • Change Management: This tool controls assessments, change requests, orders and plans. It gives all users throughout the supply chain visibility of engineering change status through the automatic capture and recording of change histories. The program also contains automated impact analysis, group voting, escalation, delegation, standard best-practice templates created using CM2 principles and more. 
  • Component Engineering: The component engineering feature streamlines the approval, selection, compliance and sourcing workflows for electronic components. The program offers real-time technical data. It contains information on obsolescence and compliance from millions of board-level components gathered from global manufacturers as well. The system includes basic and parametric search functionality along with color indicators, alerts for aspects such as EOL and PCN, IPC 1752A material declaration and compliance with RoHS and REACh. 
  • Configuration Management: The system maintains a hierarchical set of data from the entirety of a product or system’s lifecycle. The program contains configuration identification, status accounting, control and verification. It can also track baselines at different lifecycle stages, including as-built and as-designed. It also sends users email notifications and reminders to keep them updated and on-track with product developments. 
  • Document Management: Aras stores all important documents in a centralized location that is both searchable and secure. The system supports multiple file formats, and version and change control are included for all documents. Some supported file types include PDF, Microsoft Office and TIF. Full-text search mode makes finding relevant information simpler, and user access can be restricted on a user level. 
  • Manufacturing Process Planning: This solution supports MBOM, graphical and concurrent process plans and work instruction authoring. It also offers automatic real-time reconciliation of EBOM/MBOM. Process plans are version-controlled through this tool and contain information regarding parts consumed, steps, skills, resources utilized, etc. MBOMs and process plans for specific plants are available as well. 
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  • Product Data Management (PDM): Centric PLM acts as a central repository for all product information, including specifications, materials, bills of materials (BOMs), and technical drawings. Imagine a digital library containing everything a team needs to know about a product, from its initial concept to final production.
  • Sample Management: The software streamlines the sample creation and approval process, allowing designers and product managers to collaborate effectively on prototypes. Think of a digital workflow where designers upload samples, provide feedback, and track revisions, all within a single platform.
  • Calendar and Lifecycle Management: Centric PLM helps plan, schedule, and track all stages of the product lifecycle, from design deadlines to production milestones. Imagine a visual timeline that displays key development stages for each product, ensuring everyone is on the same page and deadlines are met.
  • Supplier Collaboration: The platform facilitates communication and collaboration with suppliers, enabling real-time updates on material availability, pricing, and production progress. Imagine a communication hub where companies can share specifications with suppliers, receive quotes, and track order fulfillment, fostering stronger relationships.
  • Mobile Applications: Centric PLM offers mobile apps that provide on-the-go access to product data, approvals, and communication channels. Think of designers sketching on a tablet and uploading concepts directly into the system, or product managers receiving real-time production updates while traveling.
  • Visual Collaboration Tools: The software features digital whiteboards and mood boards that enable teams to brainstorm ideas and collaborate visually. Imagine a virtual space where designers can share sketches, inspiration images, and product concepts, fostering a more creative and collaborative environment.
  • Integration with Design Software: Centric PLM integrates with popular 3D design software, allowing for a seamless flow of information between design and development stages. Imagine a scenario where a designer creates a 3D model in their preferred software, which can be directly imported into Centric PLM for further development and production planning.
  • Reporting and Analytics: The platform offers comprehensive reporting and analytics tools that provide insights into product development performance, costs, and supplier efficiency. Think of a dashboard that displays key metrics like time-to-market data, production costs per unit, and supplier performance ratings, empowering data-driven decision making.
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Product Ranking

#3

among all
PLM Software

#32

among all
PLM Software

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Analyst Rating Summary

92
62
100
46
93
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100
74
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Bill of Materials Management
Compliance Management
Deployment Options
Design Management
Document Management
Packaging and Label Management
Platform Capabilities
Change Management
Project Management
Recipe and Formula Management

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Aras
Centric PLM
+ Add Product + Add Product
Bill Of Materials Management Change Management Compliance Management Design Management Document Management Packaging And Label Management Part Management Platform Capabilities Project Management Quality Management Recipe And Formula Management Reporting And Dashboard Requirements Management Supplier Management 100 93 100 100 100 91 91 83 98 100 100 100 100 100 46 90 74 68 58 100 45 100 86 75 86 67 8 85 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

100%
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User Sentiment Summary

Good User Sentiment 29 reviews
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74%
of users recommend this product

Aras has a 'good' User Satisfaction Rating of 74% when considering 29 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

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3.9 (11)
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3.43 (7)
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4.0 (5)
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3.4 (6)
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Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Aras and concluded it deserves the award for the Best Overall PLM Software available today and earns best-in-class honors for Bill of Materials Management, Design Management, Quality Management, Recipe and Formula Management, Requirements Management and Deployment Options.

Analysts' Pick Award
Bill of Materials Management Award
Design Management Award
Quality Management Award
Recipe and Formula Management Award
Requirements Management Award
Deployment Options Award

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Centric PLM and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Packaging and Label Management.

Packaging and Label Management Award

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Centralized Platform: Aras provides a single, unified platform for managing all product data, eliminating data silos and ensuring consistency across the organization.
Customization and Flexibility: Aras's modular architecture allows users to tailor the system to meet their specific needs, providing flexibility to adapt to changing business requirements.
Enhanced Collaboration: Aras facilitates collaboration among cross-functional teams by providing a shared workspace for real-time communication and document sharing.
Traceability and Compliance: Aras's robust traceability features enable users to track changes and maintain compliance with industry regulations, ensuring product safety and quality.
Scalability and Performance: Aras is designed to handle large volumes of data and complex workflows, providing scalability and performance to meet the demands of growing businesses.
Intuitive User Interface: Aras's user-friendly interface makes it easy for users to navigate and access product information, reducing training time and increasing productivity.
Open Architecture: Aras's open architecture allows for seamless integration with other enterprise systems, such as ERP, CAD, and CRM, streamlining data exchange and eliminating manual processes.
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Centralized Product Data: Eliminates scattered information across spreadsheets and emails, fostering collaboration and reducing errors. Imagine a single source of truth for everything related to a product, accessible by all teams.
Improved Time to Market: Streamlined workflows and faster communication help companies get products to market quicker. For instance, design teams can receive instant feedback from sourcing on material availability, avoiding delays.
Enhanced Collaboration: A central platform facilitates communication and information exchange between internal teams and external partners. Imagine designers, engineers, and suppliers collaborating seamlessly on a single product concept.
Increased Visibility and Control: Real-time insights into the product lifecycle empower managers to identify bottlenecks, track progress, and make proactive adjustments. Think of a dashboard that displays the status of every product in development, allowing for course correction as needed.
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Complexity: Aras can be complex to implement and use, especially for large organizations with complex product development processes.
Cost: Aras can be expensive to implement and maintain, especially for organizations with limited budgets.
Limited Integration: Aras may not integrate well with other enterprise systems, such as ERP or CRM systems.
Lack of Flexibility: Aras may not be flexible enough to meet the specific needs of all organizations.
Steep Learning Curve: Aras can have a steep learning curve, which can make it difficult for users to get up to speed quickly.
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Steep Learning Curve: Centric PLM's comprehensive features can be overwhelming for new users, requiring dedicated training time to become proficient. Think of a complex software program with numerous functionalities that take time to master.
Customization Challenges: While offering some customization, extensively modifying Centric PLM to perfectly match specific workflows can be difficult and resource-intensive. Imagine a system that requires significant development effort to align perfectly with unique business processes.
Potentially Costly: The subscription-based pricing model, coupled with potential implementation and training costs, can make Centric PLM a significant investment, especially for smaller businesses. Consider the software cost, along with setup and training expenses, which may be a barrier for some companies.
Limited Real-Time Data: Some users report a slight delay in data synchronization across the entire system. This means information updates might not be reflected instantaneously, which is important for businesses requiring constant real-time data accuracy.
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Aras is a cloud-based PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) software solution that is trusted by users for its ability to connect people, processes, and data across the entire product lifecycle. Users rave about its strengths, such as its adaptability, ease of use, and robust capabilities. Aras outshines similar products with its ability to be customized to fit specific business needs, making it an ideal choice for companies looking for a tailored solution. It also offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies adoption and training, reducing the time and effort required for implementation. Additionally, Aras's comprehensive capabilities cover the entire product lifecycle, from design and engineering to manufacturing and service, providing a single source of truth for all product-related information. These strengths make Aras a valuable asset for businesses looking to improve collaboration, streamline processes, and drive innovation. However, some users have expressed concerns about the complexity of the software, particularly for users with limited technical expertise. Additionally, the cost of implementation and maintenance can be a barrier for some businesses. Despite these drawbacks, Aras remains a top choice for companies seeking a powerful and flexible PLM solution. Its ability to connect people, processes, and data, combined with its adaptability and robust capabilities, make it an ideal choice for businesses looking to optimize their product lifecycle management. Overall, Aras is best suited for medium to large-sized businesses with complex product lifecycles and a need for a customizable and comprehensive PLM solution. Its ability to connect people, processes, and data, combined with its adaptability and robust capabilities, make it an ideal choice for businesses looking to improve collaboration, streamline processes, and drive innovation.

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Recent user reviews of Centric PLM highlight its ability to centralize product data and streamline workflows, leading to faster time-to-market. One reviewer, a product manager at a fashion company, praised Centric PLM for eliminating scattered information across emails and spreadsheets, which previously caused delays in communication and product development. This centralized approach is particularly beneficial in fast-paced industries like fashion, where trends can change quickly and getting products to market swiftly is crucial. However, reviewers also noted challenges associated with Centric PLM's complexity. Some users reported a steep learning curve, mentioning it takes time for new users to become comfortable with the software's extensive features. This can be a hurdle for companies with limited training resources. Additionally, extensive customization can be difficult, which may not be ideal for businesses needing a highly tailored PLM solution. For instance, a small business with unique design processes might find Centric PLM's customization capabilities too cumbersome compared to more user-friendly options. Overall, Centric PLM seems well-suited for medium to large companies in industries like fashion, consumer goods, and homeware that value a centralized data repository, streamlined communication, and the ability to handle complex workflows. However, the steep learning curve and potentially high costs mean smaller businesses or those with unique process needs may want to explore alternative PLM solutions offering greater ease of use or more straightforward customization options.

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