Analyst Insight: The past few years have seen IT systems moving away from advances in individual functionality to interoperability with complementary systems. Also, there's been a greater emphasis on "democratization" of applications - improving accessibility through cloud-based architectures, mobile computing, lower pricing models and improved user interfaces. We have also seen end products themselves becoming ever smarter through embedded software, making them able to react to their environment and transmit information back to supporting systems. -- Tony Christian, Director, Cambashi

Analyst Insight: Recent developments in PLM technology have increased substantially the potential for sharing of product data throughout the extended enterprise. Access to such technology has historically been highly variable, especially among smaller members of the supply chain. However, exploitation of cloud-based computing infrastructures, together with major strides in usability are "democratizing" PLM and making it much more accessible. As a result, accurate, up-to-date product information can be made available right across the supply chain. – Tony Christian, Director at Cambashi