Survey of Autodesk PLM 360 customers shows benefits of cloud

For a majority of respondents, Autodesk PLM 360 represented their first time using PLM technology. Previously, 61.1 per cent of respondents were using Microsoft Office tools to handle their PLM needs, and 27.8 per cent had no PLM system at all prior to PLM 360.

Available for the first time earlier this year, PLM 360 represents a flexible, easily customisable, next-generation alternative to traditional PLM systems, which have historically been expensive, complicated, and difficult to both deploy and configure.

Karl Osti, Business Development Manager Manufacturing EMEA at Autodesk, says: "We believe that PLM is for everyone. When employees in a range of roles can better access product and project-related information, it helps them continuously improve the products they design and manufacture. We welcome this feedback and ability to learn from a broad cross-section of users in multiple industries."

Nearly two-thirds (63.6 percent) of the survey respondents - whose functional positions ranged from engineering warehouse quality control, to legal and accounting - indicated that they were experiencing improved flexibility and responsiveness as a result of the product's cloud platform.

Andrew Armour, President and Founder, Pura Medical LLC, says: "Autodesk PLM 360's cloud-based functionality was absolutely a key factor in our purchasing decision. Having the benefits associated with universal connectability and minimal IT maintenance requirements allow us to focus our resources on running our business as opposed to managing a software program."

Additionally, more than two-thirds (68.8 percent) of respondents praised the accessibility of the cloud platform, citing the promise of immediate access to data anywhere in the world as one of their key reasons for selecting PLM 360. Other key reasons for purchase included simplified IT and deployment (56.3 per cent of respondents) and ease of configuration (50 per cent of respondents).

Tailored to fit

Richard Noriega, Design Engineer, VACCO Industries, says: "At VACCO, we design and manufacture specialty valves, filters and advanced fluid control products used in critical missions for Aerospace, space markets. There is no room for error in our product development, and the fact that we can tailor Autodesk PLM 360 to fit our business helps us ensure consistency and quality of our products."

The Autodesk PLM 360 Customer Survey was conducted between 9-17 October 2012, using an email invitation and an online survey. Survey findings reflect insights from 20 organisations in more than nine industries and six global markets. Follow the link to find out more about the cloud-based product lifecycle management (PLM) software Autodesk PLM 360.