Are Implementation Consulting Cycles Churning Out of Control?

Why do PLM initiatives get stuck?  FALSE STARTS

Implementations stall for lots of reasons. Some, such as politics, may be out of your control. But the biggest mistake happens before the implementation even starts and it is much easier to avoid. The problem? Choosing the wrong technology. Everyone says they want an out of the box PLM solution.  What we believe they really want is a solution that works, and is up in running in a reasonable timeframe.  They believe out-of-the box will reduce their risk and give them these results.

But most companies are unwilling to play by out of the box rules.  Unless your company is willing to change all of your business processes, a shrink wrapped product simply won’t work and you’ll need to customize anyway. If you’re still customizing the software a year or more later and haven’t rolled anything out, you probably chose a system that is never going to work the way you want it to, because it was designed to work only out of the box.

If you’re stuck: You have two choices. The first is to accept the limitations of your solution and fundamentally change your business to fit the software. The second option is to walk away. Apply what you’ve learned and pick a new solution that’s more flexible and meets your company’s real world needs.  Neither option is very appealing once you’ve invested in a technology, but if you don’t change course you will continue to spend money on a system that is never going to provide the benefits your company requires – or deserves.

Many companies think that once they’ve bought a PLM system, they’re stuck with it forever, even if it doesn’t work. The millions they’ve spent on software licenses becomes an anchor they drag around for years.  If you're not getting results move on and begin moving in a direction where your company can realize real benefits in the future.