Windchill vs Upchain

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

Upchain Software Tool

Product Basics

Windchill is a product lifecycle management and supply chain system that utilizes the latest developments in technology to optimize operations. Automation and AR capabilities are some of the modern technologies that can be included in the system. The program increases the visibility of product concepts as they move throughout the lifecycle by collecting real-time CAD data.

Its automation capabilities also allow for changes made downstream to be reflected in other areas, such as in technical documents and promotional materials. These changes can also be reflected in graphical representations of a product to ensure accuracy. Windchill works to reduce duplicate work and communication errors as a product moves throughout the lifecycle.
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Upchain is a cloud-based product management solution that superintends every stage from start to finish. Gain efficient operational modules to streamline production. Leverage three modes such as professional, team and participant.

Its main inclusions are CAD storage, revision control, comparison overlays, change management and automated part numbers. Access required information, compare two file versions and automatically track revisions.
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$1,000/User, Monthly
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$150/User, Monthly
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Product Assistance

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Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
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Product Insights

  • Increased Visibility: Look at products as they move from one aspect of the lifecycle to another. Components of this include the ability to look at quality aspects and feature changes. 
  • Boost in Productivity: Boosts productivity among workers. Centralization and a single view of data can reduce the amount of time that employees spend looking for information. 
  • Use the Latest Tech: Can integrate with Vuforia, an AR tool. This allows users to look at their designs in a real-world setting and to use that information to inform aspects of a product. As technology advances and more features become available, it can be helpful to stay up-to-date on the latest and greatest tools. 
  • Reduced Costs: Cost is an essential factor to consider when looking at different software solutions. Reduces costs through the efficient creation of product variants, which is typically time-consuming and costly. 
  • Automation: Leverages automation to help update content and users as features and definitions are altered. This ensures consistency and reliability of information. 
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  • Merge CAD Tools: Integrate with existing CAD accessories to streamline designing and simulation processes. This integration saves money on buying a brand-new compatible system and keeps everything digital. 
  • Maintain Product Development: Obtain complete product visibility during all stages to stay in the loop and catch bottlenecks early. 
  • Smooth Collaboration: Perform hassle-free collaborations by reducing hurdles and strengthening productivity. 
  • Easy Stakeholder Relaying: Provide stakeholders with up-to-date information and the relevant context details without disturbing engineers. This feature keeps everyone on the same page without delays. 
  • Efficient Feedback: Allow others to mark up and comment on CAD designs to avoid allocating multiple licenses to access these files. 
  • Three Versions: Choose from three different versions of this solution. Professional caters to project managers and engineers to establish operations. Team mode is for creators and those offering feedback to comment CAD files. The participant mode serves followers and information seekers to see workflows, dashboards and other files. 
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  • Product Design and Visualization With AR:  Offers integration with Vuforia, an augmented reality (AR) platform. Design 2D and 3D objects not only on a screen, but also in a real-world setting. Collaborate with others across the world on these designs. 
  • Change Management: The change management can make alterations during the product life cycle in a centralized location so that other users can access the most up-to-date information. This tool also provides visibility of how change impacts an organization throughout the product life cycle. 
  • Product Quality Monitoring: Integrates quality measures into product development. This allows employees to see what type of quality issues occur and to work to solve them for future and ongoing iterations of a product. 
  • BOM Management: Digital Bill of Materials (BOM) is provided through this system. A parts-centric approach to BOM is available with a single source of truth for all organizational product data. This program is closed-loop throughout the entire lifecycle from conceptualization to product release. 
  • Product Variation: Developing a product variation can be time-consuming and expensive. This system works to assist in the complete production process of product variants to ensure customer satisfaction and cost-effectiveness. 
  • Unified Data: Windchill centralizes data from multiple aspects of a business into a single view to make access easier and less time-consuming. Real-time CAD and product data are some of the sources included in this feature. 
  • Automatic Content Updates: When changes are made to a product during the development phase, Windchill allows for the automatic update of content in accordance with these changes. This tool can also manage content that is gathered from multiple sources. 
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  • Multi-CAD Data: Implement systems that work efficiently without giving up features or keeping suppliers in the dark. 
  • CAD Software Plugins: Ensure developers keep innovations with assorted product information integrated into their preferred solutions. 
  • Revision Control: Trace all changes as they occur and keep up with who made them, when they made them and why. Revert to original designs as necessary. 
  • Rapid Upload and Download: Input and export information via the cloud swiftly. 
  • Secure CAD Storage: Protect data and avoid building and maintaining a hardware stack. 
  • File Import and Export: Input and download all files, including Excel, XML, PDF and images. 
  • Comparison Overlays: Conduct two-file version comparisons effortlessly. 
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Product Ranking

#2

among all
PLM Software

#18

among all
PLM Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

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Bill of Materials Management
Change Management
Compliance Management
Design Management
Document Management
Change Management
Document Management
Platform Capabilities
Platform Security
Project Management

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Windchill
Upchain
+ 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 100 100 100 100 100 8 100 100 100 100 57 100 92 99 87 100 94 95 100 5 98 100 100 89 43 100 92 100 0 25 50 75 100
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Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

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User Sentiment Summary

Good User Sentiment 112 reviews
Great User Sentiment 61 reviews
78%
of users recommend this product

Windchill has a 'good' User Satisfaction Rating of 78% when considering 112 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

88%
of users recommend this product

Upchain has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 88% when considering 61 user reviews from 2 recognized software review sites.

4.8 (8)
n/a
3.8 (61)
4.4 (60)
n/a
4.0 (1)
4.0 (30)
n/a
3.4 (13)
n/a

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Windchill and concluded it earns best-in-class honors for Bill of Materials Management, Design Management and Quality Management.

Bill of Materials Management Award
Design Management Award
Quality Management Award

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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Integrations: All reviewers who mentioned integrations said that the system has robust integration options with a helpful set of integrated tools.
Functionality: Approximately 90% of users who talked about the system’s overall functionality noted that its suite of features and automation tools were stable and capable of handling critical daily processes.
Searching Tools: About 66% of reviewers who referred to search features noted that they were intuitive and helped find specific documents quickly.
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Unified Platform: Streamlines data management, eliminating silos and enhancing collaboration among engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teams.
Agile Workflow Management: Facilitates efficient project execution with customizable workflows, automated notifications, and real-time progress tracking.
Enhanced Product Traceability: Provides a comprehensive history of product development and manufacturing processes, enabling quick identification and resolution of issues.
Robust Data Analytics: Delivers insights into product performance, quality, and supply chain metrics, empowering data-driven decision-making.
Flexible Customization: Allows businesses to tailor the software to their specific needs, accommodating unique processes and industry best practices.
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Ease of Use: Nearly 60% of reviewers who mentioned the system’s usability noted that the system required a steep learning curve with training requirements to master.
Support: Complicated issues took long periods of time to solve, with the overall support process being hit or miss, according to all reviewers who mentioned support.
Customization: All users that talked about customization said that customizing the system wasn’t easy and there wasn’t much room for customization in the first place.
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Limited Integration: Upchain's integration capabilities with other enterprise software, such as ERP and CAD systems, can be limited, requiring additional effort and resources to establish and maintain seamless data flow.
Steep Learning Curve: Some users report that Upchain's interface and functionality can be complex, requiring significant training and onboarding time for users to become proficient in utilizing the platform's features.
Data Security Concerns: Concerns have been raised regarding Upchain's data security measures, with some users expressing skepticism about the platform's ability to safeguard sensitive product and business information.
Limited Customization Options: Upchain's customization options may be perceived as restrictive, limiting users' ability to tailor the platform to their specific business processes and workflows.
Pricing Model: Upchain's pricing structure may not align with the budget constraints of some organizations, especially for those with complex or large-scale PLM requirements.
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Windchill’s PLM and supply chain management features are robust and help optimize and streamline daily operations. Powerful integrations with popular applications like CAD boost efficiency and add value to the product as a whole. Its automation features help users overcome manual tasks and streamline their tasks. While its features are impressive, it required significant time and training investments to familiarize users with the system. Customization options are available, but customizations were hard to implement without help. Support was often described as slow, especially when more complex problems occurred. Some reviewers also mentioned that the monthly maintenance costs were on the high side.

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Users have praised Upchain's robust feature set, which includes a wide range of tools for product development and management. These tools have been lauded for their ease of use, even for non-technical users. Additionally, Upchain's ability to integrate with other software programs has been a major selling point for users who want a comprehensive solution. However, some users have noted that Upchain can be expensive compared to similar products, and its reporting capabilities have been criticized for being somewhat limited. In comparison to similar products, Upchain is often praised for its ease of use and its wide range of features. Users have also noted that Upchain's customer support is excellent, which is important for businesses that need help getting started or troubleshooting issues. However, some users have found that Upchain's reporting capabilities are not as robust as those of other products, and its pricing can be a deterrent for some businesses. Overall, Upchain is a powerful PLM software solution that is well-suited for businesses of all sizes. Its ease of use, wide range of features, and excellent customer support make it a great choice for businesses that need a comprehensive solution for product development and management. However, businesses that need robust reporting capabilities or are on a tight budget may want to consider other options.

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