Analyst Perspectives

We are happy to share some insights about Oracle’s Product Lifecycle Management Cloud drawn from our latest Value Index research, which assesses how well vendors’ offerings meet buyers’ requirements.

We published the Ventana Research Value Index: Product Information Management, the distillation of a year of market and product research efforts. To assess functionality, one of the components of Capability, we applied the Ventana Research Value Index methodology and blueprint, which links the personas and processes for PIM to an organization’s requirements.

In all of our Value Indexes, we utilize a structured research methodology that includes evaluation categories designed to reflect real-world criteria incorporated in a request for proposal and vendor selection process for PIM software. We evaluated Oracle and 15 other vendors in seven categories, five relevant to the product (Adaptability, Capability, Manageability, Reliability and Usability) and two related to the vendor (Vendor Validation and Total Cost of Ownership and Return on Investment). To arrive at the Value Index rating for a given vendor, we weighted each category to reflect its relative importance in an RFP process, with the weightings based on our expertise and research.

Oracle, a global provider of applications and data technology in the cloud, provides PIM as part of its supply chain and product lifecycle offering. It was categorized as a Vendor of Merit, ranking 11th overall in the Value Index evaluation. Oracle performed its best in Reliability where its applications and platform are maximized as part of its cloud-computing efforts.

Oracle’s approach through its product lifecycle offering and Oracle Cloud Product Hub is focused on the supply chain and operations versus the digital and product experience expected in marketing and commerce channels. This led to a lower-than-typical performance for a vendor in the industry and requires more dedicated focus on Adaptability and Manageability.

Oracle needs more focus on Capability, where it was ranked 11th due to its need to meet enterprise requirements. Improvement is needed in Usability where a more modernized experience of the product across all personas would benefit users. In addition, Oracle should address the customer experience it offers and the depth of its support for TCO/ROI in the information and tools it provides.

This assessment was based on Oracle’s product information management applications available at end of April of 2021 — version 21b. Since the release of the Value Index, Oracle has released 21c on June 25, 2021, that has a portfolio of incremental improvements for product operations across functional areas and quality management. In addition, the advancement of Oracle Content Management has potential to enhance use of content and video to support product experiences, though it is not as clear how the two will be integrated across separate product lines.

The role of PIM for every organization is to ensure the most accurate and engaging product information that supports customer, enterprise and product lifecycle requirements. Providing effective product information is the foundation to providing an engaging digital experience that meets the needs of marketing, commerce and the digital shelf. Organizations should make PIM and product experiences a priority for continuous process improvement, and perform an assessment of existing process and technological approaches, adopt best practices and ensure the effectiveness of product information being utilized for revenue, operations and supply chain processes.

This research-based index is the most comprehensive assessment of the value of product information management software in the industry. Technology buyers can learn more about how to use our Value Index by clicking here and included vendors that wish to learn more can click here. Read the report here.

Regards,

Mark Smith