What Agile PLM Users in 2022 Need to Know About Their Application

"What is going to happen to Agile PLM? And when is it going to happen?" I wish I could tell you the number of times I have been asked that question. What is going to happen, indeed?

As a PLM stakeholder, you are in some part responsible for a very expensive (and very critical) business tool but now find yourself in a limbo-like state. There have been a lot of questions, plenty of rumors, but not a whole lot of effort on the part of Oracle to put them to bed.

As a long-time Oracle partner, I can tell you is that thing are coming to a head, and a decision will need to be made. I want to make sure you are ready for it before time is up.

In a 2019 interview with Oracle's CIO, Larry Ellison, he discussed the layoffs that had been turning many heads. He explained how some of Oracle’s businesses are “melting away – specifically on-premise applications and how they will now focus on star products (all cloud-based) in order to continue improvement of the topline.

What is the latest version of Agile PLM?

Oracle Agile 9.3.6 is the most current version available (as of 9/30/2022). After 2024, this version will no longer be supported, however, Agile 9.3.7 will be released sometime in 2023 and supported through 2028.

What we know

2016 – Oracle announces end of waterfall updates in favor of Cloud SaaS
2017 - Introduction of Release Update Packs
2019 – Agile 9.3.7 release date announced

(Release Update Pack, colloquially known as "RUPs")

Oracle moved Agile PLM to a Release Update Pack “RUP” approach of product update – essentially a bug fix with “as-needed” feature additions for the latest active versions of Agile. Support documentation indicates that Agile 9.3.6 is now scheduled to end Premier Support in 2024. Extended Support is no longer available. Agile 9.3.5 is no longer active and has very limited Oracle support. 

Oracle Lifetime Support Policy December 8, 2021

Oracle has made no secret that the future lies within the Cloud. While it appears the on-premise Agile PLM’s end clock is almost out of battery, the good news is that PLM as well as an entire supporting – and integrated - suite of supply chain applications architecture specifically for the cloud are now available.

Based on the above, you might come to the conclusion that Agile PLM has indeed run its course. 

What to do? (It depends)

Agile PLM users considering moving to the cloud often ask us, "how much longer can I use Agile PLM before I lost support?"

The fact is that you will eventually need to migrate from Agile PLM, but fortunately for Agile users, Oracle keeps pushing the end-of-life date back. At the present writing (9/30/22) Agile 9.3.6 users can remain fully supported until August 2025.

But ultimately, the question is one of value. Are you getting the full value out of your Agile system? Evaluate your situation to determine whether your business is experiencing any pain and to what degree. 

The graphic below can help you take the pulse on your Agile environment:

My Recommendations

There are some common-sense next steps forward:

1. Develop an ROI strategy. Determine what is working and bringing value in Agile PLM versus the cost and effort of any alternative. A timeline should be short to mid-term in order to mitigate the long-term loss of productivity.
2. Get current. For Agile PLM owners still on support, maximizing value may include upgrading to the latest version (9.3.6) to gain full support value. Subsequently, begin an evaluation for a migration to the next generation PLM. This creates a bit of a time cushion in order to evaluate Oracle’s next-generation cloud offering against other competitive options whether on-premise or cloud.
3. Understand the industry. Consider where the future is taking PLM. There are many innovations underway or planned that compliment PLM and/or general supply chain functionality that can extend the viable life, ROI, and functional value well into the future. Check out beyondplm.com, a blog by long-time PLM authority, Oleg Shilovitsky. Join PLM interest groups. Sign up for our quarterly newsletter, where we give you our industry analysis.
   
   
   

There are many innovations underway or planned that compliment PLM and/or general supply chain functionality that can extend the viable life, ROI, and functional value well into the future.

Check out our webinar: The Oracle Agile Road Map: Plow Ahead or Time for a Lane Change?

Cloud vs. On-Premise

All major PLMs are on board in one definition or another (hosted to true SaaS) with Cloud as the platform of the future. Smaller standalone solutions like Arena, Propel, and OpenBOM are only offered via SaaS/Cloud. The traditional major PLM vendors like PTC, Teamcenter, Aras, Enovia, and others also all have a cloud offering. Some, like PTC for instance, will continue to support and offer either option with duplicating application functionality even though the Cloud offering is re-architected for true SaaS.

Get a Partner in Your Corner

Several of our Agile PLM clients have worked through these decisions and have come out on top. In all cases, clients maximize value while managing and minimizing pain as they make the transition.

Here is what has worked for them:

• Evaluate motivation & pain
• Determine the best road map with timing
• Move within Oracle applications to Cloud or even migrate outside the Oracle footprint when it best meets future innovation criteria
• Buy time by upgrading to the latest Agile PLM version 9.3.6 in order to keep all h/w and s/w compatibilities safe, ensure bug fixes/patches, and any application improvements that may come out in RUPs
• Domain Systems offers a support program that provides an upgrade to the latest version and provides a managed service for Agile PLM application support. We free the client from further investment into old technology to focus on future technologies for both personnel and application infrastructure.
• Budget/Plan/Execute the move to next-generation PLM

The key benefit to this approach is to maximize ROI on a mature PLM while securing time to make the best decision for the client over the next year or two. This balanced strategy reduces risk from hastiness and encourages corporate alignment for maximum longevity of the next investment. Costs are reduced by creating a more reliable plan that can thoroughly be examined for efficiency.

Closing Thought

From my experience- and because of the accelerated growth and innovation being seen in today's second-generation of SaaS PLM solutions, the time for most Agile customers to get off the fence has already arrived.

Updated: 09/30/2022