Five Advantages of Managing Your Product Data on a Cloud Platform: Part One

What makes a whopping 94 percent of businesses use cloud technology? According to a recent survey, companies of all sizes are increasing their investment in the cloud. With the need to support faster product development cycles, many organizations are relying on cloud technology to enable better-connected teams and more-agile processes. One of the key challenges they face is making product and lifecycle data instantly accessible and shareable across multiple disciplines, remote locations and different devices.

While data and lifecycle management tools in the cloud can help you solve some of these challenges, a cloud-based platform enables you to transform the way you work. By integrating all pieces of the product development lifecycle, from CAD design to simulation and manufacturing, as opposed to using disjointed tools, you can develop new products faster and make fewer errors. Because all pieces of the process are connected, teams can easily collaborate in real time using all the available data. In this two-part blog post, we’ll review the five advantages of managing your data and product lifecycle with a platform in the cloud.

1. Connect your data.

It all starts with your data—be it 3D models, simulation results, reviews and comments, product documentation, suppliers and parts, sales targets or project tasks and key milestones. Imagine the possibilities if all of your data is stored in a secure database in the cloud. This approach means gaining a quick insight into your product development process, and even sales and marketing efforts, so you can improve designs, resolve issues, make informed decisions and ultimately accelerate product delivery and sales. You’ll be able to find the right piece of data quickly when you can search across all apps on the platform. With all applications on the platform working seamlessly together, you don’t need to worry about converting or translating data or engaging in good old manual import/export capabilities. And since you always have access to the most up-to-date and accurate information, your single source of truth, you can better manage and protect your intellectual property including CAD design data.

2. Connect your people.

Managing all your data in one place makes it instantly accessible to team members inside and outside your organization. Platforms make it easy to set up different levels of permission rights so that you can ensure secure access to the right information by the right people at the right time. This means that designers, mechanical and structural engineers, analysts, manufacturing engineers, suppliers and contractors, marketing and sales teams can all access the data they need when they need it. You can intuitively view, share, visualize, comment and annotate different types of data seamlessly on any device with a web browser. In addition to collaborating on product data and documentation, teams can manage projects by assigning tasks, getting notifications, updating status and reviewing progress. For example, designers can access simulation results, marketing can create a launch dashboard, R&D can review the development schedule, manufacturing can view 3D parts and assemblies, and sales can look at product documentation. This unparalleled collaboration crosses functions and locations in real time. It inspires and enables teams to create transformational products and user experiences.

To be continued in part two

Stay tuned for the next three advantages related to your ecosystem, operational costs and new technology. In the meantime, share the advantages of cloud-based platforms that you see for data and lifecycle management. Leave a comment below.

Mariana St. Germain

Mariana is passionate about helping businesses and business professionals to leverage the power of technology to bring their dreams to life. In her current role, she is responsible for go-to-market strategy at SOLIDWORKS. Her past contributions include technology marketing at companies like Intuit, Constant Contact, and LogMeIn. Outside of work, she enjoys hanging out with her husband and two daughters, practicing yoga, and being active outdoors.