Will Europe Adopt Cloud PLM?

by Oleg on February 20, 2012 · View Comments

I’m heading to Munich tomorrow to attend PLM Innovation 2012 conference. I’m looking forward to many discussions and meetings. One question is outstanding in my discussion agenda – Cloud. Clearly, cloud is making some interesting dynamics. However, what is good for United States, can be different for Europe?

Salesforce.com is a company pioneering cloud solutions for the last decade. To learn how Salesforce is doing business in Europe can create a good association with what PLM cloud vendors and businesses can expect in Europe. I’ve been reading Salesforce blog – Europe sets course for cloud. Take few minutes and have a read. I found it quite interesting and educational with regards to what happens between Europe and cloud computing.

Building a European Cloud Partnership by NeelieKroesEU

Here is a very interesting speech by Neelie Kroes, European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Agenda, announces a European Cloud Partnership help cloud computing through public procurement.

The blog post provided some interesting numbers related to IT connection and some cloud spending.

European Manufacturers and Cloud Computing

Last week, I’ve been discussing cloud with few European manufacturing companies attending SolidWorks World. They have been quite skeptical about the speed of cloud adoption in Europe. They pointed on companies’ concern about IP and potential security-related topics.  At the same time, globalization is a reality. What if the cloud can provide some interesting advantages to relatively small, but already global manufacturing companies?

What is my conclusion? There is no conclusion today. I want to learn more about this topic during PLM Innovation 2012 during coming week and will re-connect with you later. Speak your mind, please.

Best, Oleg

Tagged as: Cloud, Cloud PLM, Europe

• Craig Rode

  The same companies that state they will never put their IP in 'the' cloud are the same that put their customer information in SF.C, and what could be more proprietary than customer information.  As people learn more about the security models, they will become more comfortable. 

  "PLM" in the cloud is not the same thing as "PDM" in the cloud.  There are many aspects of PLM which are not CAD/Geometry/IP centric. 

  One can argue that providing IP in the cloud is *more* secure than current technologies.  If an OEM sends a model/drawing to a supplier, that information is now out in the wild whereas keeping in the cloud and granting (and rescinding) access to the information may ultimately be more secure.  People in the security business will tell you that most breaches of security are not hacks into the IT infrastructure, they're employees being lazy about things like thumbdrives or disgruntled workers perniciously distributing or destoying information.

• beyondplm

  Craig, Thanks for comments! Yes, SF.com and online banking are the most widely used convincing factors about cloud PLM these days. I agree on some dynamics about cloud PDM vs. cloud PLM. In my view, it comes from Autodesk and their interest to separate PDM and PLM in their portfolio, since they don't have a replacement to Autodesk Vault on the cloud today.

• prashant bhalesain

  There is no option. If IP and security is the concern they can opt for private or hybrid cloud, but they will have to move to cloud environment, globalization will leave no choice.

• beyondplm

  Prashant, security is "red-herring" in my view. very often, people "play security card" in order to protect their jobs, gain some power... etc. IMHO.