English
Français「Aras Connect Osaka 2026」9月16日(水)に大阪で開催
The Natural Successor to Agile 9
For more than a decade, Oracle Agile 9 has been the trusted backbone of engineering and product lifecycle management. It shaped how teams manage change, control revisions, and maintain compliance.
But with 2027 approaching and Oracle ending Premier and Extended Support, business leaders face a pivotal moment: remain on a system that can no longer evolve—or move to a platform that builds on what Agile 9 did well, without its limitations.
Aras is that successor.
It delivers the same structured, process-driven logic Agile users value—while introducing a modern, model-based foundation that’s open, flexible, and upgradeable. You keep your familiar processes and data models, but gain a platform designed for today’s pace of business and tomorrow’s innovation.
This isn’t starting over. It’s carrying forward what already works—and making it stronger.
1. Why Standing Still Is the Greatest Risk
Waiting until the last minute to move off A9 may feel like a cautious choice, but in reality, it magnifies risk—not just technical, but business risk. As Agile 9 nears end-of-life, the danger extends beyond outdated software. It’s the risk of falling behind.
Every month on A9 makes it harder to stay secure, compliant, and connected. Unsupported technology introduces vulnerabilities, but the greater threat is operational drag—the loss of agility, efficiency, and visibility that competitors are already addressing through modernization.
When teams rely on spreadsheets, manual workarounds, and disconnected tools, decisions slow, errors multiply, and opportunities slip away. Over time, this inertia translates into lost market share, delayed launches, and an inability to respond when disruption hits.
Standing still may seem safe, but it quietly erodes competitiveness. The true risk isn’t just system failure—it’s losing momentum while others move forward.
2.
From A9 to Aras: Familiar Foundations, Modern Capabilities, and Investment Protection
For organizations running on Agile 9, Aras feels like a natural step forward, not a disruptive leap. The structures, processes, and workflows your teams rely on—items, BOMs, and change control—are organized in a familiar way, so users can transition with minimal training and zero productivity loss.
What changes is the foundation behind it. Aras replaces aging, version-locked technology with a modern, model-based platform designed to grow with your business. This means continuous upgrades, seamless integrations, and the flexibility to evolve processes without the re-implementation headaches of the past.
With Aras, you protect years of investment in data, processes, and user expertise while unlocking new capability:
Continuity
Teams work within a familiar environment, reducing resistance to change.
Scalability
The platform adapts easily as products, teams, and markets expand.
Integration
Connects effortlessly to ERP, quality, and manufacturing systems to create a true digital thread.
Upgradeability
Every enhancement and customization carries forward automatically.
Future Readiness
Built to support emerging technologies—AI, digital twins, sustainability reporting—without costly re-platforming.
Aras delivers modernization without disruption—protecting what works, while positioning you for what’s next.
3. Proven Migration Track:
The Aras Rapid Implementation Path to Value
Many organizations hesitate to leave A9 because they fear complexity and downtime. Aras removes that risk with a proven, repeatable migration path refined through nearly two decades of successful Agile transitions.
Rapid Implementation delivers a production-ready environment in as little as 30 days, including:
- Parts and BOM management
- Change control (ECO/MCO)
- Document management and CAD integration
- Collaboration and traceability
It mirrors Agile’s familiar processes, but operates on modern, upgradeable technology. From that foundation, companies can expand at their own pace—adding quality management, supplier collaboration, or full digital thread connectivity when ready.
Fast start. Full future.
4. The Safe, Phased Path off A9
Aras enables a phased coexistence strategy that allows Agile 9 and Aras to run side by side, minimizing disruption and ensuring every stage of the transition is validated before the next begins.
This is not a “rip and replace” project—it’s a managed evolution, guided by the Aras Professional Services Organization (PSO), whose proven methodology has supported hundreds of successful Agile migrations.
Below is a representative example of how a typical transition might unfold. Actual timelines vary depending on scope, system complexity, and customer readiness.
- Phase 0 | Snapshot & Validation (~0-2 months)
PSO begins by mirroring Agile 9 data into Aras for verification and field-by-field comparison. This phase establishes a clear mapping strategy for configurations, workflows, and integrations while validating data integrity.
- Phase 1 | Go Live on Essentials (~3-4 months)
Through Rapid Implementation, core PLM capabilities—parts, BOMs, documents, change control, and collaboration—can go live in as little as 30 days. Teams begin working in Aras immediately while Agile remains accessible for history and audit.
- Phase 2 | Gradual Expansion (~5-12 months)
Once the essentials are running smoothly, additional modules such as CAD, Quality, and Supplier Collaboration are introduced in planned increments. PSO manages testing, user enablement, and integration with ERP or manufacturing systems.
- Phase 3 | Confident Retirement (~12-18 months)
When all workflows and data are fully validated, Agile transitions to a read-only archive. All records, signatures, and approvals remain intact for audit and compliance.
Planning now is critical.
With Oracle Agile 9 support ending on December 31, 2027, organizations that begin preparation in 2025 can execute a phased, low-risk migration comfortably within a two-year window. Starting early provides the time to validate, train, and optimize—without pressure or disruption.
It’s a smooth handoff—not a cliff jump.
Every customer’s path is unique, but the goal is the same: preserve continuity while building a modern foundation for future growth.
5. Familiar Flexibility:
Configurable Without Rework
One of Agile 9’s strengths was its configurability. Aras carries that forward—and removes the re-implementation burden that came with every upgrade.
Its model-based architecture keeps custom objects and workflows upgradeable by design. Service-led upgrades preserve configurations automatically, so your team can focus on innovation, not rework.
Changes to forms, attributes, or lifecycles happen directly in the browser—no compiled code, no client rollout.
You keep the freedom to tailor PLM to your business without creating technical debt. Everything you liked about Agile 9—without the limits.
6. Proof in Action: From Risk to Measurable Results
The move from A9 to Aras isn’t theory—it’s proven.
Organizations across industries have made the transition and are seeing measurable improvements in performance, quality, and efficiency.
Parata Systems, a leader in pharmacy automation, achieved:
92%
faster inspection updates (6.5 days → 0.5 day)
30%
fewer defects per million opportunities
Zero
Reduced IT costs and zero downtime during migration
These outcomes mirror what many A9 customers experience: rapid performance gains, lower maintenance effort, and a stable, modernized environment that delivers results from day one.
7. The Aras Effect: The Successor That Keeps Evolving
Aras doesn’t just replace Agile 9 – it extends its legacy into the future. The Aras Effect ensures your PLM environment keeps evolving, while your configurations remain fully upgradeable.
What defines the Aras Effect:
Connection: A single source of truth that connects every phase of the product lifecycle.
Openness: Seamless integration with ERP, MES, and analytics systems through an open architecture.
Adaptability: Built to evolve with changing business and regulatory demands.
Scalability: Supports growth across portfolios, divisions, and markets without re-platforming.
Community: A global network of users, partners, and developers driving continuous improvement.
Where A9 reached its limits, Aras keeps growing – ensuring your technology always aligns with your strategy.
By leveraging Aras Innovator, companies gain more than a PLM platform—they gain a strategic advantage. With a connected, adaptable environment, engineering leaders can accelerate decisions, strengthen compliance, and empower teams to innovate effectively.
8. Executive Takeaway: The Next Step Is Simple
2027 isn’t a cliff—it’s a checkpoint. Acting now avoids last-minute risk and positions your organization ahead of competitors still waiting.
With Aras, you get:
- A platform built on the same logic as Agile 9—familiar and low-risk
- Rapid Implementation that delivers value in 30 days
- A phased migration path proven across industries
- Customizations that remain upgradeable
Aras is the natural successor to Agile 9—familiar, secure, and ready for what’s next.
Start mapping your migration plan now and go live faster than you thought possible.