How To Select PLM Software in 2025 (Without Getting Lost in the Noise)

Every PLM vendor has a feature comparison chart where they magically come out on top.

This sarcastic joke is everything you need to know about PLM feature comparison provided by some PLM vendors online. No matter what they compare, the left side of the comparison (the features supported by their own system) is always beating the competition. 

But I have some good news for all engineering teams and manufacturing companies that are in the market for PLM software in 2025. You have some great choices, and the opportunity to get it done was never as close as these days. 

The PLM landscape is evolving fast. The way companies design, manufacture, and manage product development is no longer about “buying a system from IBM” and installing a monolithic PLM software and calling it a day. It’s about agility, data, and a technology stack that supports your company’s growth. So, how do you choose the right PLM system in 2025 for your business?

Let’s walk through five key principles that will help you make the right decision — grounded in strategy, focused on value, and aligned with the reality of modern product development.

Separate PLM Strategy from PLM Software Selection

The first and most overlooked step is separating PLM strategy from PLM software selection. We are finally at the conclusion that you need to have an unstoppable strategy for your PLM development. 

Your PLM strategy is about understanding what problems you want to solve and what kind of product development process you want to support. It’s about the big questions:

• What kind of product data do you need to manage?
• Who needs access to it and when?
• How will you connect engineering, manufacturing, procurement, and service?

Only after answering those questions should you begin looking at software. Jumping into vendor demos without a strategy is like buying a house without knowing your budget or location.

👉 For more, check out:

• Beyond PLM – How to Build a PLM Strategy
• Beyond PLM – The Power of Halfway Projects 
• OpenBOM Blog – How to Develop PLM Strategy for 2025
• OpenBOM Blog – Not Your Father’s PLM

Know What You Need — And Why Agile PLM Services Matter

Once you have a strategy, the next step is understanding your specific needs — and why agile PLM services are often a better fit than traditional systems.

Today’s manufacturing environment is dynamic and fast-moving. Whether you’re introducing more products, coordinating remote teams, or integrating complex hardware and software, speed and flexibility are critical. This is where agile PLM services shine.

Instead of waiting months for a traditional PLM deployment, agile systems allow you to:

• Start small with essential features like cloud CAD file management,  BOM and collaboration, and grow over time.
• Adapt quickly as your needs change without complex customizations or re-implementation.
• Integrate easily with your CAD, ERP, and cloud-native tools using open APIs.
• Scale with usage, not license packs you don’t need.

These services are built for companies that move fast and want tools that work with them, not against them.

Focus on Data (Not Just Features)

In 2025, the real value of PLM is not in documents or workflows — it’s in data.

Modern product development relies on connected, structured, and accessible data. AI, analytics, digital threads, supply chain integration — all of it depends on a solid data foundation.

When evaluating PLM solutions, don’t stop at what features they offer. Instead, ask how they handle your data and support the use case you have in mind:

• Do they offer APIs that give you real-time access to your product information?
• Can you import/export your data easily in open formats?
• Are you managing actual data (Design Projects, Items, BOMs, Revisions, Orders), or are you trapped in document-based processes (Spreadsheet as a Service)?

Vendors that hide your data behind proprietary barriers or charge extra for integrations will limit your ability to grow — and keep you from leveraging future innovations like AI.

Trust, But Verify: Trials and Reviews Matter

Every PLM vendor can give you a great demo. But in 2025, that’s not enough. You should expect — and demand — to try the software yourself before you commit.

A modern PLM solution must offer a free, click-to-start trial. Anything else means the vendor is trying to control your evaluation. If you need to fill out a form, talk to sales, or attend a “qualification call” just to get started, be cautious.

Once you try the product, take a look at third-party reviews. The most trusted PLM review site today is G2.com, where you can:

• See what real users are saying — good, bad, and in between.
• Verify credibility — are the reviews detailed, consistent, and from real companies?
• Avoid red flags — like vendors with no reviews or only perfect 5-star scores.

Authentic feedback is one of your most valuable tools in the selection process.

Look Beyond Feature Comparisons

Feature comparison is a tricky path. Because some of the features have existed for a long time and no one really knows why we need them. Some others exist because of the paradigm of usage. For example, Microsoft Office Word has a “Save File” command. But Google Docs doesn’t have it, and data is always saved. 

In reality, feature lists can be misleading. They often reflect what marketing teams want to highlight, not what your team actually needs. And almost anyone can build a table that makes them look better than competitors.

So instead of asking “who has more features,” ask:

• Does the vendor show how their product solves real-world problems?
• Are they transparent about what they do — and don’t do?
• What is user experience? Can you see the product in action? 

Focus on value, not volume. The best vendors don’t claim to be everything to everyone — they show clearly how they can help you.

Conclusion and Final Thoughts: 

A new PLM era requires a new evaluation approach. Selecting PLM software in 2025 is no longer a binary choice between legacy systems and risky startups. It’s about balancing innovation, transparency, and long-term value.

You’ll need to answer some big questions:

• Should you bet on traditional vendors hoping they’ve reinvented themselves?
• Should you take a risk on new entrants with fresh tech and limited track record?
• Or should you focus on value, openness, and rapid ROI — and evaluate the tools yourself?

At OpenBOM, we believe the best way to select PLM is: 

✅ Define your strategy
✅ Evaluate with your own hands
✅ Trust real user feedback
✅ Focus on data, speed, and ROI

This is how modern companies win. Not by blindly adopting the “standard,” but by making smart, informed, and future-ready decisions.

Are you evaluating PLM software now? You can start easily with OpenBOM at no cost with an automatic trial — free trial available here. And check us out on OpenBOM G2 Reviews to hear what real users are saying. Also, check OpenBOM stories and Youtube Videos where you can hear customers speaking about their experience with OpenBOM. 

Best, Oleg