Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) is and has been central to innovation-driven businesses, offering a systematic approach to managing the complete product cycle, from ideation to design, manufacture, and end-of-life.

Oracle Agile PLM has been among the most successful tools, helping businesses rapidly develop their products, enhance working collaboration, and ensure regulatory compliance. The global Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) market was valued at USD 34.7 billion in 2024, and it’s projected to nearly double to USD 70.4 billion by 2032, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.4%.

Nevertheless, as Oracle formally declared Agile PLM as being at end of life (EOL) in 2027, companies of all types are now having a crucial choice, either remain on the aged platform with scant support or move to Oracle Fusion Cloud PLM, the new-generation cloud-based platform.

This article discusses the implications of EOL in Agile PLM and explains why Oracle Fusion Cloud PLM is well-positioned to be the successor. It also highlights the importance of starting the transition sooner, as this will better position businesses to remain competitive in the long term.

The Legacy of Oracle Agile PLM ​

Oracle Agile PLM has been in existence since the early 2000s, when it started rapidly gaining momentum as companies sought more efficient methods for handling increasingly complex product lifecycles. The solution has empowered manufacturers, consumer goods businesses, healthcare providers, and high-tech enterprises to process critical PLM functions, including product data management (PDM), engineering collaboration, quality management, and compliance.

Over the years, Agile PLM has had robust, on-premise capabilities that have allowed companies to centralize product data, ensuring that multinational teams collaborate effectively, and to enhance product launch rates.

It was the support of innovations among enterprises working in the industries, which was increasing annually due to the complexity of products and the compliance norms.

Nevertheless, with the change in business dynamics and technology characteristics, some of the drawbacks of Agile PLM were more evident.

On-premises dependency: Agile PLM needs a lot of infrastructure investment, prudence and IT assets.

Minor integration capability: Agile cannot currently integrate with newer cloud-natively built ecosystems.

Delayed updates: On-premises deployments tend to lag or have lagging access to innovations, and require long periods of time to upgrade.

Changing user demands: The modern world demands sensory, mobile-based and real-time integrated systems, which old systems are not always capable of offering.

Oracle’s End of Life Announcement: Agile PLM 2027 ​

In 2023, Oracle confirmed that Agile PLM will officially reach the end of life in 2027. It is defined to imply that starting 2027, Agile PLM will stop receiving critical updates, patches and mainstream support.

The risks to businesses still using the system are very obvious:

Security vulnerabilities: In the absence of periodic patches, Agile PLM is likely to become more susceptible to cyberattacks

Compliance issues: Most industries, including the medical equipment, automotive, and aerospace industries, face compliance challenges due to constantly changing regulatory frameworks. The likelihood of non-compliance is increased by unsupported systems.

Increasing costs: Over time, the cost of maintaining legacy systems tends to rise, particularly when there is a shortage of experienced labor to support Agile development

Bottlenecks in innovation: Firms not keeping up to date will experience difficulties adopting AI-based design, the incorporation of IoT, digital twins, etc.

Why Oracle Fusion Cloud PLM Is the Future

As opposed to Agile, the PLM was created as a premise-based solution. Fusion Cloud PLM is cloud-native, the solution, specifically created to use the capabilities of cloud scalability, automated processes, and integration to its advantage.

The following are just a few of the best reasons why Oracle Fusion Cloud PLM is the logical successor:

1. Cloud Native Architecture​

Fusion Cloud PLM does not require heavy IT infrastructure and perpetual hardware maintenance. Some of the advantages that businesses gain include automatic updates, seamless scalability, and access to PLM tools regardless of their location worldwide.

2. End-to-End Digital Thread​

Fusion Cloud PLM facilitates the complete digital thread, connecting product information across design, engineering, manufacturing, and service departments. This gives it one source of truth, and it prevents more transparency and traceability across the lifecycle.

3. Sophisticated Teamwork Technology​

Fusion Cloud PLM enables real-time global collaboration in an era where teams are increasingly dispersed globally. Co-innovation between engineers, suppliers and stakeholders is also available in a single ecosystem without dealing with old versions or disjointed communication.

4. AI and Analytics-Driven Innovation​

Fusion Cloud PLM also combines artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced analytics to speed up product development and reveal design defects at an early stage and streamline cost-effectiveness. As an example, AI may propose material alternatives, foretell supply chain risks, and simulate a product performance.

5. Regulatory/Quality Management​

Fusion Cloud PLM offers powerful compliance management capabilities, catering to industries with stringent regulatory requirements. Whether it is ISO standards or FDA requirements, businesses have the confidence they can implement the same with their product documentation as well as their businesses procedures that suit emerging requirements.

6. Oracle Cloud Ecosystem Interaction​

Fusion Cloud PLM belongs to the wider Oracle Fusion Cloud Applications Suite which is composed of ERP, SCM, HCM and CX systems. This close-knit integration enables businesses to align PLM processes across the financials, supply chain, and customer experience platforms.

Why Transition Now Instead of Waiting Until 2027

Although 2027 may seem distant, businesses should not postpone their migration planning. The process of switching worth Agile PLM to Fusion Cloud PLM is not an overnight event of changing and is instead something that takes time to think, align stakeholders, and then execute.

These are some of the reasons why the transition should begin today: 

1. Don’t lead to Last-Minute Migration Bottlenecks​

With 2027 on the horizon, competition will explode in the search of qualified consultants and expansion gurus. Delays on the part of businesses would lead to issues of resource limitations, an extended duration of implementation, and high expenses.

2. Gain Competitive Advantage Early

Early migration enables businesses to begin benefiting today with the ability of cloud-native solutions to enhance the pace of innovation, decrease operational expenses, and improve collaboration. Delaying the date of the deadline implies years with no opportunities. ​

3. Minimize Migration Risk​

Migration projects are complicated, and usually require data cleansing, customisation assessment, and integration re-mapping. Early starting gives businesses sufficient room to overcome challenges, taking a systematic approach rather than interfering with current operations.

4. Future-Proof the Enterprise​

Early adoption ensures that businesses stay ahead of the latest technologies, including digital twins, generative AI, and IoT-driven product intelligence functionality already integrated into Fusion Cloud PLM.

Common Challenges in Migration and How to Overcome Them

Transitioning from Agile PLM to Fusion Cloud PLM presents challenges. Understanding these obstacles in advance helps businesses prepare effectively.

• Data Migration Complexity

The decades-old data about products stored on Agile should be cleaned, normalized and transferred. These are the BOMs (Bills of Materials), CAD files, change orders and compliance documentation. Companies should invest in sound data migration plans and capitalize on the use of Oracle-recommended data migration tools.

• Customization Overload

Many Agile PLM environments are highly complex. Businesses must determine what customizations are actually business-critical and what can be brought in by Fusion Cloud PLM native capabilities during migration.

• Users Adoption and Change Management

Employees accustomed to Agile will need to be trained on the modern interface and advanced features of Fusion Cloud. Adoption is facilitated by a strong change management strategy, which encompasses communication, training, and ongoing support.

• Integration with existing Systems

Between PLM and ERP, as well as MES and CRM systems, integrations are frequently required by enterprises. The cloud requires businesses to painstakingly remap and stress-test integrations to ensure the continuity of their processes.

A Roadmap for Transitioning to Oracle Fusion Cloud PLM

The fact that IoT across industries is approaching €1 trillion by 2025 showcases the scale of digital transformation that agile enterprises must be ready to integrate with. For businesses planning their migration journey, a structured roadmap is essential. Here is a high-level outline:

Assessment Phase: Evaluate the current Agile environment, including customizations, data complexity, and integration touchpoints. Define the goals of migration beyond simply replacing the system, such as enhanced collaboration or accelerated innovation.

Business Case Development: Build an ROI-driven business case for migration, highlighting cost savings, risk reduction, and competitive advantages.

Data Preparation: Begin cleansing and standardizing product data well in advance. This is often the most time-consuming step.

Solution Design: Define the target-state architecture in Fusion Cloud PLM, aligning with Oracle best practices.

Pilot Implementation: Start with a pilot project, migrating a limited scope of products or processes. Gather feedback and refine the approach.

Full Rollout: Gradually expand adoption across the organization, ensuring training and change management is prioritized.

Continuous Improvement: Leverage cloud updates, AI innovations, and analytics to continuously optimize PLM processes.

Conclusion

The end of life for Oracle Agile PLM in 2027 represents both a challenge and an opportunity. To companies that lag behind, security vulnerabilities, compliance violations, and steadily rising costs will become an annual burden. For those taking action, the Oracle Fusion Cloud PLM transition presents an opportunity to redefine product lifecycle management, capitalize on innovation, and gain a competitive advantage.

Migration is not fast, and it needs to be planned, stakeholder-bought, and timely implemented. The early adopters are gaining the first-mover advantage, which includes lower risk, faster innovation, and greater business stability.

Companies that prosper over the next decade will be those that read the writing on the wall and act promptly now. Moving to Oracle Fusion Cloud PLM is not simply a matter of agile replacement; it is the future of PLM. To know more, explore our innovative Oracle solutions or contact us directly.