PLM meets CGI: How Product Lifecycle Management benefits from CGI

Product lifecycle management (PLM) is a crucial tool for companies that want to optimize their product development processes and maximize their business success. The integration of Computer Generated Imagery (CGI), 3D rendering and the digital twin opens up new dimensions in PLM. These technologies offer significant benefits for marketing and sales and make a significant contribution to increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of companies. In this article, we take a detailed look at the latest developments in PLM and the role of CGI and digital twins.

What is Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)?

Product lifecycle management (PLM) refers to the holistic management of the entire life cycle of a product — from the initial idea through development and production to market launch and finally disposal.

There are different ways of looking at a product life cycle in terms of PLM and therefore different levels of detail and depth.

A typical product lifecycle can be described as follows:

1. Ideation (idea generation): Collection and evaluation of product ideas. Innovation processes and creativity techniques are used to generate a variety of ideas.
2. Concept (concept development): Detailed preparation of the best ideas. Feasibility studies and market analyses help to select the most promising concepts.
3. Design (design and development): Transformation of concepts into concrete product designs. CAD software and prototype construction play a central role.
4. Development (product development): Technical details are worked out and the product is made ready for series production. Testing and validation are crucial to ensure quality.
5. Production (production): Start of mass production. Efficient production processes and quality controls are essential here.
6. Launch (market introduction): The product is launched on the market. Marketing and sales strategies are implemented to successfully position the product.
7. Sales & Marketing (Sales and Marketing): Continuous marketing and sales activities keep customers aware of the product and promote sales.
8. Service & Support (service and assistance): Customer service, maintenance, and support keep customers happy and the product running smoothly.
9. End-of-life (end of life cycle): The product is withdrawn from the market, recycled or discarded. This is also where insights for future product developments are collected.

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Integration of CGI and digital twins

CGI and digital twins are revolutionizing the way companies develop, test, and market their products. A digital twin is an exact virtual representation of a physical product that exists in a digital environment and whose behavior and properties can be simulated. Through 3D rendering, these models are presented in a visually appealing and realistic way.

Impact on marketing and sales: CGI and digital twins enable marketing teams to present products in impressive visualizations before they are physically completed. These visual representations can be used in marketing campaigns, on websites, and in presentations to inspire potential customers and influence their buying decisions. The use of 3D renderings significantly improves product visualization and makes complex products more understandable and attractive. This is also increasingly true for the Content marketing in mechanical engineering.

Digitalization and automation

The digitization of processes and the automation of repetitive tasks are central components of modern PLM systems. CGI and digital twins complement these systems perfectly by enabling detailed and realistic simulation and analysis of products.

Impact on marketing and sales: Automated systems enable marketing and sales teams to react more quickly to market changes. CGI can be used to create personalized and targeted promotional materials in real time. This improves customer contact and increases the conversion rate. In addition, by simulating products, potential errors can be identified and corrected at an early stage, which shortens time to market and increases product quality.

Sustainability and circular economy

Sustainability is not just a trend, but a necessity. Digital twins and CGI contribute to sustainable product development by monitoring and optimizing the entire life cycle of a product, from production to disposal.

Impact on marketing and sales: A sustainable approach can be used as a strong selling point. CGI makes it possible to visually represent the environmental footprint of a product and thus address the environmental awareness of customers. Companies that offer environmentally friendly products and communicate this through compelling visualizations can clearly set themselves apart from the competition and tap into new customer segments.

Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

AR and VR are on the rise and are fundamentally changing product development and customer experience. With CGI, products can be tested and presented in a virtual environment before they go into mass production.

Impact on marketing and sales: Interactive and immersive product experiences create an emotional connection with customers. AR and VR, supported by CGI, make it possible to impressively present products at trade fairs or in retail. This improves the buying experience and can significantly increase sales figures. Virtual showrooms and interactive product demonstrations offer customers the opportunity to experience products in a new and innovative way.

Cloud-based PLM solutions

Cloud technology has revolutionized PLM. Cloud-based PLM systems offer flexibility, scalability, and accessibility that traditional on-premise solutions cannot offer. CGI and digital twins also benefit from the cloud by providing a centralized and accessible platform for managing and using these technologies.

Impact on marketing and sales: With cloud PLM, marketing and sales teams can access up-to-date product information and data, making it easier to plan and execute campaigns. CGI data can be stored in the cloud and accessed at any time, improving collaboration between different departments and locations. This agility increases competitiveness and improves time-to-market.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about PLM and CGI

What is Product Lifecycle Management (PLM)?

‍PLM is the management of the entire life cycle of a product, from initial idea to development and production to market launch and disposal.

How can PLM increase business success?

‍Through more efficient processes, lower error rates and faster time to market, companies can save costs and increase their competitiveness.

What is a digital twin?

‍A digital twin is an exact virtual copy of a physical product that exists in a digital environment and can simulate its behavior.

What is the role of CGI in PLM?

‍CGI enables realistic visualizations and simulations of products, which improves product development and marketing.

Why is sustainability important in PLM?

‍Sustainability not only reduces environmental impact, but can also be used as a sales pitch to appeal to environmentally conscious customers.

How does cloud PLM impact marketing?

‍Cloud PLM enables marketing teams to access up-to-date product data and react agilely to market changes, increasing the effectiveness of campaigns.

What are the benefits of AR and VR in PLM?

‍AR and VR make it possible to virtually test and present products, which improves the customer experience and can increase sales figures.

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