Propel

Propel is a cloud-based Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Product Information Management (PIM), and Quality Management System (QMS) platform built on Salesforce. It is designed to optimize the development, launch, and improvement of products throughout their lifecycle. Propel brings teams, processes, and data together in one unified platform, enabling businesses to manage everything from initial product design to end-of-life and customer feedback. Its capabilities are particularly beneficial for industries like manufacturing, consumer goods, life sciences, and high-tech companies.

Frends provides seamless integration with Propel to automate workflows, synchronize data with other enterprise systems, and ensure smooth operations across the product lifecycle. By eliminating silos and manual processes, Frends helps businesses leverage Propel’s capabilities to their fullest potential while connecting them to the broader digital ecosystem.

Business use cases

Sync Product Data with ERP and CRM Systems

Frends can automatically synchronize product data from Propel with ERP and CRM systems like SAP, Oracle, or Salesforce. For instance, when a new product design or update is finalized in Propel, Frends can ensure that the product data is updated in the ERP for manufacturing or in the CRM for sales and customer service. This eliminates duplication of effort and ensures consistent data across systems.

Automate Change Management Processes

Frends can enhance Propel’s engineering change management capabilities by connecting it with tools like ticketing systems or document management platforms. For example, when an Engineering Change Order (ECO) is approved in Propel, Frends can automatically notify stakeholders or update linked systems with the new design files, ensuring that everyone has the latest version.

Streamline Supply Chain Collaboration

Frends can integrate Propel with procurement platforms or vendor management systems to streamline supply chain workflows. For instance, when a Bill of Materials (BOM) is created or updated in Propel, Frends can automatically share the BOM with suppliers, ensuring alignment on materials and reducing procurement lead time.

Automate Quality Management Workflows

Frends can connect Propel’s quality management features with incident management or compliance systems. For example, if a product defect is logged in Propel, Frends can automatically create a corresponding ticket in a system like Jira or ServiceNow and update it as the issue progresses. This creates a closed-loop process for managing and addressing quality incidents.

Link Product Training with Learning Management Systems

For businesses in regulated industries like healthcare or manufacturing, Frends can integrate Propel with Learning Management Systems (LMS) to ensure product training compliance. When new products or updates are rolled out in Propel, Frends can automatically assign and track associated training modules for staff members in the LMS platform.

Automate Customer Communication for Product Updates

Frends can automate communication workflows by connecting Propel to email marketing or customer engagement platforms. For example, when a new product feature is launched or an update is rolled out, Frends can trigger customer notifications via tools like Mailchimp or HubSpot, ensuring that stakeholders are informed promptly.

Enable Real-Time Analytics and Reporting

Frends can extract operational and product lifecycle data from Propel, process it, and push it to analytics tools like Power BI or Tableau. This enables businesses to track insights on product performance, open change orders, or supply chain bottlenecks, presenting actionable intelligence in real time.

Manage Document Synchronization Across Systems

With Frends, document management becomes seamless by connecting Propel with platforms like SharePoint, Dropbox, or Google Drive. For instance, when a new product manual or technical specification is uploaded in Propel, Frends can ensure it is automatically filed in the desired document repository and accessible to teams.

Improve Customer Feedback Loops

Frends can integrate customer feedback portals or survey systems with Propel to enhance the customer feedback loop. For example, feedback from post-sale surveys or complaints can be routed to Propel and linked directly to product records, enabling product teams to address issues and improve future iterations faster.

Simplify Regulatory Compliance

For industries that require detailed tracking of product data and adherence to strict regulatory standards, Frends can enhance Propel’s compliance capabilities by automating data submissions or visibility across systems. For instance, necessary compliance documents generated in Propel can be automatically filed with regulatory agencies or made available to auditors.

By integrating Propel with Frends, organizations can maximize the efficiency of product lifecycle management processes, ensure data consistency across systems, and create a more collaborative and agile approach to product innovation. This results in faster time to market, improved product quality, and better alignment with customer and regulatory demands.