简介:Overlastfewyears,webservices,Java2andXMLhaveprovidedthecheapermeansfortradingpartnerstomakeuseofEDI.ItisnowpossibletosharedatawithlessrelianceonexpensivededicatedEDInetworks.ThesecondcomestherealizationthatProductDefinitioncanbereusedbyvirtuallyallbusinessprocessesdownstream.Thishasmadecollaborativeproductdevelopmentapracticalreality.ThesetechnologieshaveenabledeffectiveimplementationofProductLifecycleManagement(PLM)Solutions.ThispaperpresentsaliteraturereviewaboutPLMsolutions,lookingatitsdefinitions,throughtoitsneedandscopeofapplications.Italsopresentsthemostgenerallyenvisagedarchitecture,explainingastohowitmaybelookedatandwhatitisexpectedtodeliver.AttheenditexaminesthemarkettrendandrevenuegrowthoverrecentyearsincludingfuturetrendsforthemostprominentvendorspitchedinthefieldofPLMsolutions.