The Future of PLM Data Access – Why C-Suite Leaders Should Invest in Windchill Navigate

PLM

3HTi

May 7, 2025

As products become more innovative due to customer and market demands, efficient product data access  and organization is paramount. Engineers, designers, manufacturing, procurement teams, marketing and executives all rely on Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) systems like Windchill to retrieve product information. However, many organizations struggle with siloed data, slow retrieval processes, and cumbersome system interfaces that create bottlenecks in production and decision-making.

To remain competitive, companies must ensure their teams can quickly and securely retrieve the data they need at the time they need it—without unnecessary complexity. Windchill Navigate offers an intuitive, role-based solution that simplifies access to real-time PLM data, helping businesses accelerate workflows and improve efficiency across departments.

Key Takeaways – The Future of PLM Data Access: Why C-Suite Leaders Should Invest in Windchill Navigate

1. Inefficient PLM data access creates bottlenecks – Many organizations face delays and rising costs due to siloed product data, slow retrieval processes, and reliance on engineers or IT to provide critical information.
2. Engineers lose valuable time retrieving data for other teams – Instead of focusing on innovation and problem-solving, engineers often act as gatekeepers to PLM data, reducing productivity and stifling urgency across the organization.
3. Slow data access leads to delays in procurement and manufacturing – Without real-time access to the latest product information, teams experience slower approvals, procurement challenges, and production setbacks that affect time-to-market.
4. Windchill Navigate simplifies PLM data retrieval – By offering role-based applications, allowing users across departments to securely access only the information they need, reducing reliance on engineers and IT support.
5. Seven pre-built applications cater to different team needs – From viewing product documents and design files to measuring in 3D and tracking parts lists, Windchill Navigate ensures that each department can efficiently find the specific data needed.
6. Windchill Navigate integrates seamlessly with Windchill and enterprise systems – It connects with ERP, MES, CRM, and IoT platforms, ensuring up-to-date data across the organization without complex IT interventions.
7. Key features improve security, customization, and flexibility – Role-based access control protects intellectual property, while mobile compatibility and IoT integration enhance usability across different environments.
8. Real business results include faster approvals, reduced IT costs, and fewer errors – Companies using Windchill Navigate report 38% less time spent retrieving data, 23% faster workflows, and improved compliance tracking.
9. Investing in modern PLM access is critical for staying competitive – C-suite leaders that prioritize efficiency, will find that these role-based PLM solutions streamline workflows, minimize costly errors, and accelerate time-to-market.
10. 3HTi provides expert implementation, training, and support – As an experienced Windchill implementation partner, 3HTi helps organizations maximize their PLM investment by ensuring Windchill Navigate delivering measurable business value and measurable ROI.
11. Now is the time to optimize your data organization and access – Companies that act now will gain a competitive edge in manufacturing efficiency, collaboration, and innovation.

The Cost of Poor Data Access in Manufacturing
Lost Productivity

Engineers frequently act as gatekeepers to product data, spending hours each week retrieving files, drawings, and specifications. This inefficiency takes time away from innovation, problem-solving, and product development.

High IT Costs

Companies invest significant resources to manage data management tools.  Yet inefficiencies in these tools to effectively manage data can lead to repeated help desk requests and increased system administration costs.

Slower Time-to-Market

When product data is difficult to retrieve or requires engineering approval to access cycles slow down, procurement struggles to secure parts, and manufacturing delays increase. These inefficiencies compound over time, pushing back release dates and impacting revenue potential.

Higher Risk of Errors

Working with outdated, incorrect, or incomplete product data can lead to procurement errors, production defects, and compliance issues. Without an easy way to track and verify real-time information, organizations expose themselves to avoidable rework and regulatory risks.

How Windchill Navigate Solves PLM Data Challenges

Windchill Navigate eliminates these bottlenecks by providing instant access to the right product data, for the right people, at the right time. Navigate delivers role-specific applications that make retrieving product information simple and fast.

Seven Pre-Built Applications for Targeted Data Access

Windchill Navigate includes a suite of seven role-based applications, ensuring each team gets exactly the information they need:

1. View Document – Quick access to product-related documentation.
2. View Requirements – Enables engineers and designers to review requirement data as projects evolve.
3. View Design Files – Allows non-CAD users to access CAD data without needing a license of CAD software.
4. View Drawing – Ensures manufacturing teams always have the latest product drawings.
5. View & Measure in 3D – Provides an interactive, 3D view of product designs without requiring specialized software.
6. View Part Properties – Displays critical part attributes and metadata.
7. View Parts List – Gives procurement teams real-time access to parts lists and supplier data.

Flexible and Scalable for Any Business

• Accessible on Any Device – Works on desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
• Seamless Integration – Connects with ERP, MES, CRM, and other enterprise systems for a unified view of business operations.
• Easy Deployment and Customization – Can be tailored to specific business processes without costly development work.

Key Features That Improve Workflow
Fast and Simple Search Tools

• Allows users to find data instantly, without needing extensive Windchill knowledge.
• Wildcard searches and filtering options ensure quick access to relevant information.

Seamless Windchill Connectivity

• Directly integrated with Windchill, eliminating data silos and versioning conflicts.
• Ensures real-time updates to keep teams working with the most current information.

Customizable Applications for Unique Business Needs

• Companies can modify Windchill Navigate’s applications to fit their workflow without complex development.
• A developer toolkit is available for further customization.

Security! Security! Security!

• Protects intellectual property by ensuring employees only see data relevant to their role.
• Reduces the risk of unauthorized data access or leaks.

Mobile and IoT-Ready

• Works on Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android, giving teams access wherever they need it.
• Integrates IoT data, allowing businesses to monitor real-time product performance and usage.

Measurable Business Benefits

Companies that implement Windchill Navigate see:

• 38% less time spent retrieving data, freeing up engineers for higher-value work.
• 23% faster approvals and procurement processes.
• Lower IT and training costs due to simplified system navigation.
• Stronger security and compliance through controlled data access.

A Manufacturer’s Success with Windchill Navigate

The Challenge

A global manufacturer faced production delays and procurement inefficiencies because teams outside engineering struggled to access product data. Every data request required manual retrieval from engineers or IT, creating slowdowns across departments.

The Solution

By implementing Windchill Navigate, the company provided self-service, role-based access to Windchill PLM data. This allowed:

• Procurement teams to access parts lists instantly.
• Manufacturing teams to retrieve updated 3D models and work instructions.
• Compliance teams to review and approve product changes without delays.

The Results

• Fewer procurement errors, reducing supply chain disruptions.
• Faster production cycles, improving on-time delivery.
• Better compliance tracking, ensuring all changes were properly documented.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Manufacturers and product developers can no longer afford inefficient PLM data access. Windchill Navigate eliminates barriers that slow down production, increase costs, and create operational risks. By making real-time product data available to the right people at the right time, businesses improve efficiency, reduce unnecessary delays, and strengthen data security.

For executives and business leaders, investing in PLM means reducing waste, increasing collaboration, and maintaining a competitive edge in product development. Windchill Navigate simplifies navigation and ensures teams get the information they need quickly.

As the first PTC reseller to implement Windchill , 3HTi has decades of experience helping businesses improve PLM security, efficiency and data management. Our team provides expert implementation, training, and support to ensure Windchill PLM delivers maximum value to your organization.

To learn how Windchill Navigate can improve security and efficiency for your team, contact 3HTi today.

• 📧 Email: info@3hti.com
• 🌐 Visit: https://3hti.com/contact-3hti/