CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
24 January 2005
Product News
Arena Solutions Takes Major Step to Accelerate PLM Adoption; Announces Free Workgroup Edition of Its Industry-Leading PLM Solution
Arena Solutions, Inc. announced a major initiative to accelerate adoption and use of PLM among manufacturing and design teams of every size. In a first for the PLM industry, the company now offers Arena PLM Workgroup Edition, an entry-level version of its PLM solution, at no cost for the first year. Organizations can request Workgroup Edition immediately via the company's web site, http://www.arenasolutions.com .
Designed for teams of five or fewer, Workgroup Edition is built on the same on-demand PLM infrastructure as Arena PLM Professional Edition, the company's comprehensive PLM offering for larger companies and development teams. Offering full-featured product record management functionality bundled with online tutorials, sample data sets and full customer support, customers can go live within hours on Arena PLM Workgroup Edition.
"Arena Solutions continues to deliver on our vision to make PLM pervasive in companies at every stage of development," said Michael Topolovac, Chief Executive Officer of Arena Solutions. "In overcoming traditional software implementation risks and cost of ownership obstacles with our on-demand delivery model, we're confident that we've removed traditional barriers to adoption. We know that no one else in the market can streamline the registration, deployment and go live processes as rapidly and securely as Arena."
Companies of all sizes recognize PLM as a mission-critical business application given today's increased competition, pressure to reduce costs, and desire to accelerate time to market. Traditionally, the high cost and complexity of implementing and using client/server PLM applications has been a major obstacle to adoption, especially for smaller teams. With Arena Solutions' on-demand delivery model and its new Workgroup Edition, even start-ups at the earliest stages can immediately begin to realize the benefits of PLM.
"With Workgroup Edition, Arena has effectively addressed our need for product revision control and streamlined communication with suppliers," said Jaskarn Johal, Engineering Director for Threshold Corporation. "We went live within six hours of registration, and in the process of uploading BOMs, detected product discrepancies that had not been apparent in our previous Excel-based manual process. Adopting Workgroup Edition was an obvious choice, enabling us to implement PLM best practices far earlier in our company's development than we would have and generating material cost savings, before we go to production."
Ron Goodall, OVP of SpeedInfo says, "As a young company planning for success and aggressive growth, it was absolutely imperative that we implement PLM discipline from the start. To be competitive, we must concurrently engineer our products with manufacturing and design partners all over the world. With its web based on-demand delivery and ease of use, Arena was absolutely the only choice for us. With no up-front investment, and very minimal training time, we are up and running on Arena PLM and poised for the rapid growth ahead."
Designed to help early stage companies and small product teams within large companies, Arena's Workgroup Edition provides core PLM functionality for managing the complete product record. These features include core product definition capabilities, document version control and basic supplier access that enable companies to implement PLM best practices for managing product data in real-time and collaborating with global supply chains. Detailed product definition features include item and BOM management, supplier management, document vaulting and costing. Arena will provide full support options for Workgroup that parallel the best-in-class support options available with Arena PLM Professional Edition. Following the one-year free subscription period, Workgroup Edition can be renewed for $2500 per year for up to five users.
Arena PLM Workgroup Edition also offers a turnkey upgrade path to Arena PLM Professional Edition. Companies that require more advanced functionality around business processes, such as change management workflows, request and issue tracking, advanced reporting and analysis, CAD and ERP integration, advanced supplier access, or more user licenses for larger teams, can upgrade to Professional Edition.
Threshold develops and markets a comprehensive line of home server products and peripherals that will change the way users utilize their home networking. For more information contact Josie Brandis, 707-545-7600 or visit the company's web site at http://www.threshold-corporation.com .
SpeedInfo has developed a state-of-the-art traffic monitoring and driver information system, providing drivers with a color digital map in their car, updated continuously, that shows traffic speeds on every major highway in the area. At a glance, drivers can see current traffic conditions and pick the best way to go. By supplementing public traffic speed information with data from speed sensors, traffic data reaches commercial quality standards. This latest technology allows SpeedInfo to cut costs and create the first affordable system for drivers in their car. SpeedInfo, a privately held corporation, is located in Cupertino, CA. For more information, please visit http://www.speedinfo.com .
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