We invested in Bombiix because we recognised the strength of its PLM offer and the impending EU requirement for Digital Product Passports.
With decades of experience investing in SMEs – from starting at 3i, to opening the Bahrain Development Bank and now co-owning Anticus – I’ve seen the challenges businesses face and the opportunities that come with them. Our role is to be a supportive investor, guiding Lucy in growing Bombiix and in future fundraising.
With experience across manufacturing, financial services, SaaS, e-commerce, and retail, I help Bombiix navigate growth while keeping a close eye on cash flow, performance and strategic alignment.
From the first time I met Lucy, I knew I wanted to work with her – she’s a breath of fresh air and the passion that fills her is infectious. It’s a pleasure to complement her skills in delivering the vision of Bombiix.
I make sure our software meets your needs, spotting areas for improvement and helping your team streamline and grow.
Having worked in hospitality, manufacturing, supply chain and agriculture, I bring a wealth of experience when it comes in creating digital solutions that tackle real-world challenges.
I joined Bombiix after being a customer – it’s hugely refreshing to see a platform that focuses on the needs of product people. After managing many global teams across multiple industries, including pharmaceuticals, FMCG, toiletries and cosmetics, sporting goods and apparel and fashion, I can see real potential in Bombiix, and I’m excited to lead the business and achieve it.
My experience is in garment technology, pattern cutting, product development and technical design and I understand the everyday struggles our customers face – the chaotic workflows, confusing email threads and out of date spreadsheets. So I created Bombiix to change all of that.
The concept for Bombiix was born from one product developer’s frustrations with outdated legacy PLMs. So, when we say we get it, we really do. Whether you’re a growing start up or experienced enterprise, our team is with you every step of the way with personalised onboarding and ongoing support. My experience is in garment technology, pattern cutting, product development and technical design and I understand the everyday struggles our customers face – the chaotic workflows, confusing email threads and out of date spreadsheets. So I created Bombiix to change all of that.
Manage your entire product lifecycle, from initial concept and design through to development, manufacturing and bringing it to shelves.
Automate your Digital Product Passports in a way that’s affordable, scalable and removes the need for multiple complex systems.
Unify all your product information with an automated PIM that ensures consistency and accuracy while reducing workload and manual data entry.
Organise, store and access all your digital assets into a single, easy-to-use hub so you can effortlessly find, share and use content whenever you need to.
For product-led businesses, PLM and ERP are two of the most important systems. But, they’re often misunderstood, or confused with one another.
In short:
And, if you’re comparing PLM vs ERP software and feeling unsure about which you need, you’re in the right place.
In this guide, we provide a clear explanation of PLM and ERP, outlining everything you need to know and the key differences, so you can make an informed decision on how to move forward with your brand.
Product Lifecycle Management manages everything about your product – from the first sketch to when it hits shelves. Think design, development, sourcing, production, compliance and suppliers.
PLM is typically used by designers, developers, QC teams, production teams, buyers, merchandisers and sourcing roles.
With a good cloud based PLM, you can answer questions like:
Everyone is aligned, everyone is pushing towards the same goals, and your products are moving forward.
The global PLM market is projected to reach USD 34.66 billion by 2029 and 56% of manufacturing companies report that investing in PLM software reduced their product development time by at least 15%.
Enterprise Resource Planning manages your business processes, such as inventory and stock, purchasing, warehousing, financial accounting, invoicing, sales and sometimes even HR.
ERP is used by finance, operations, logistics and inventory teams to answer questions like:
The global Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software market was valued at USD 54.76 billion in 2022 and is expected to reach USD 93.34 billion by 2028.
PLM and ERP complement each other, but they’re not interchangeable. There are key differences between PLM vs ERP systems.
While PLM helps you bring your product from concept to market, ERP helps you deliver it efficiently and profitably.
See some of the key differences below:
Detailed, creative and technical information, required to build a product from the ground up. Designs, BOMs, materials, specifications, lab tests, supplier certifications, approvals, fit samples, costings and tech packs.
Transactional and operational data, such as stock levels, sales orders, production quantities, purchase orders, invoices and shipping information. ERP ensures this data is accurate and up to date.
Designers, developers, garment technologists, QC teams, buyers, merchandisers and sourcing professionals rely on PLM to stay aligned, track changes, collaborate with suppliers and ensure every product is built correctly.
Finance teams, operations managers, logistics specialists, warehouse staff and inventory controllers use ERP to manage stock, track orders, process invoices and keep financial and operational data consistent across the organisation.
Helps your business create products faster, more collaboratively and with fewer errors. Provides clarity across the development process, ensures product data stays accurate and connected and reduces manual admin.
Helps your business deliver products efficiently and profitably by centralising financial, operational and inventory information. You can plan production accurately, maintain healthy stock levels and manage supplier purchasing.
PLM is the right investment for businesses that are heavily involved in product design or development.
If your product team spends lots of time managing detailed specifications, multiple materials, frequent sampling rounds, testing requirements, or fast-moving product updates, PLM provides the structure and visibility that ERP cannot.
PLM is the system that fixes those pain points.
ERP should be a priority for businesses that are service-based or without in-house product development.
If your team is a consultancy or agency, or has highly standardised production without complex development cycles, start with ERP first.
ERP can unify all of this information for you.
Yes – PLM and ERP can work well together and some businesses benefit most when the two systems are integrated.
PLM takes the lead in the early stages, guiding your teams through product creation, design iterations, sourcing decisions, cost negotiations, samples, testing and approval workflows.
Once the product is fully defined and ready for production, that information naturally flows into your ERP system, where it becomes the foundation for purchasing, inventory planning, stock management, financial reporting and order fulfilment.
When the two systems are integrated, you benefit from one connected workflow:
Bombiix is built with integration in mind. Its API-friendly structure makes it easy to connect with common ERP systems, reducing manual work and ensuring data consistency across your business.
In summary, choosing between PLM and ERP comes down to these factors:
Switching to PLM brought big changes, but our team embraced it because Bombiix provided solutions that fit our processes - and most importantly, they wanted to use it.
The unexpected element I've experienced using Bombiix is my own personal pre-knowledge of PLM systems and how they can be quite restrictive. Bombiix shows that you can have a PLM that is adaptable and flexible.
Bombiix has been a game-changer for Fimex, it just works with us. In a fast-paced environment where things can get hectic, Bombiix is always there, and a reliable single source of truth for our business.
Bombiix feels fresh, modern and intuitive. Unlike outdated, complex PLMs, it is built by people who understand product teams. It is easy to use, highly efficient and helps us get the job done.
Bombiix makes managing multiple clients and suppliers far simpler. It is the first system we have found that combines everything we need with genuine ease of use. The team understands our industry, responds quickly, and adapts the platform to how we work.
Working with Bombiix has been highly positive. Their collaborative team understood our needs, challenged our thinking and delivered meaningful solutions. The platform now gives us greater visibility, consistency and confidence in our decisions.
Contact us to learn more about our products and features or anything else. Let’s transform your product data together!
Still have questions about Bombiix or PLM vs ERP? We’ve answered a few.
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Today, Bombiix empowers product teams with cutting-edge, affordable technology that simplifies processes, reduces admin, and enables smarter, more ethical decisions.
