Aras vs OpenBOM

Last Updated:

Our analysts compared Aras vs OpenBOM based on data from our 400+ point analysis of PLM Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

OpenBOM Software Tool

Product Basics

Aras enables efficient control of the entire product lifecycle. It contains change management tools that can provide notifications to relevant users when adjustments are made to ensure consistency throughout the lifecycle. It also accounts for a variety of regulatory standards to help with product compliance.

The included visibility capabilities are robust, and user access is definable based on what’s relevant to each individual person. Multiple sources can be leveraged to develop insights, and multi-level bills of materials can be created as well.
read more...
OpenBOM is a cloud product lifecycle management tool that governs product data, purchases and supply chains for manufacturing and engineering organizations. It helps bridge the gap between communication and data management, and optimize production operations. It offers effective collaboration tools for individuals, groups and businesses around the world along with production and procurement planning.

Real-time bill of material (BOM) updates, data sharing, instant calculations and purchase planning are some of its primary functions.
read more...
$2,500/User, Monthly
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
$40/User, Monthly
Get a free price quote
Tailored to your specific needs
Small 
i
Medium 
i
Large 
i
Small 
i
Medium 
i
Large 
i
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Windows
Mac
Linux
Android
Chromebook
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile
Cloud
On-Premise
Mobile

Product Assistance

Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Documentation
In Person
Live Online
Videos
Webinars
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
Email
Phone
Chat
FAQ
Forum
Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support

Product Insights

  • Control of Entire Lifecycle: Aras gives users control of the entirety of the product design lifecycle, from the time a product idea is conceptualized to final delivery. 
  • Adaptability: Users can tailor business processes within the system to adhere to their company’s unique requirements. 
  • Consistency: Information is centralized in Aras, making it easier for users to see the most up-to-date product specifications. This allows business processes and product development to become more consistent. 
  • Collaboration: With this program, users can track and manage changes while retaining visibility of product status. 
read more...
  • All-in-One Databank: Pair part numbers, descriptions, modifications, costs, suppliers and more with an item for thorough data records. 
  • Monitor BOM Changes: Govern and track BOM changes as well as make updates to a BOM. 
  • One-Click BOMs: Develop BOMs with the push of a button instead of manually counting material, saving time and effort. 
  • Swift Data Sharing: Activate instant data sharing in just one click of a button or with automatic role-based content sharing with various team views. 
  • Improved Collaboration: OpenBOM streamlines communication and data sharing among teams, enabling seamless collaboration across departments and locations.
  • Enhanced Productivity: Its intuitive interface and automated workflows streamline processes, reducing manual tasks and increasing efficiency.
  • Reduced Costs: By eliminating data silos and automating tasks, OpenBOM helps businesses minimize waste and optimize resource allocation.
  • Increased Agility: Its cloud-based platform provides real-time data access and enables rapid response to market changes.
  • Improved Decision-Making: OpenBOM provides comprehensive data analysis and reporting, empowering users to make informed decisions based on accurate insights.
  • Enhanced Compliance: Its robust security measures and audit trails ensure compliance with industry regulations and standards.
  • Scalability: OpenBOM's flexible architecture accommodates the growing needs of businesses, enabling seamless expansion as operations scale.
  • Increased Innovation: By freeing up resources and improving collaboration, OpenBOM fosters a culture of innovation and encourages out-of-the-box thinking.
  • Improved Supplier Management: Its integrated supplier portal simplifies communication and collaboration with suppliers, streamlining procurement processes.
  • Reduced Risk: OpenBOM's centralized data repository and version control minimize the risk of data loss and errors.
read more...
  • ALM Integration: Aras can be integrated with existing ALM environments to develop a singular visualization of a variety of products. This feature is also connected to processes such as change management and BOM. With this connectivity, the source code is managed within the ALM program. 
  • Bill of Materials: The program controls the bill of materials across the entire supply chain. Aras Innovator provides visibility in a centralized location and leverages information from multiple sources to aid in the development of insights. With this tool, users can develop structured, multi-level bills of materials associated with each product lifecycle stage. The system also syncs with MBOMs and EBOMs to give users visibility of cross-disciplinary change statuses. 
  • Change Management: This tool controls assessments, change requests, orders and plans. It gives all users throughout the supply chain visibility of engineering change status through the automatic capture and recording of change histories. The program also contains automated impact analysis, group voting, escalation, delegation, standard best-practice templates created using CM2 principles and more. 
  • Component Engineering: The component engineering feature streamlines the approval, selection, compliance and sourcing workflows for electronic components. The program offers real-time technical data. It contains information on obsolescence and compliance from millions of board-level components gathered from global manufacturers as well. The system includes basic and parametric search functionality along with color indicators, alerts for aspects such as EOL and PCN, IPC 1752A material declaration and compliance with RoHS and REACh. 
  • Configuration Management: The system maintains a hierarchical set of data from the entirety of a product or system’s lifecycle. The program contains configuration identification, status accounting, control and verification. It can also track baselines at different lifecycle stages, including as-built and as-designed. It also sends users email notifications and reminders to keep them updated and on-track with product developments. 
  • Document Management: Aras stores all important documents in a centralized location that is both searchable and secure. The system supports multiple file formats, and version and change control are included for all documents. Some supported file types include PDF, Microsoft Office and TIF. Full-text search mode makes finding relevant information simpler, and user access can be restricted on a user level. 
  • Manufacturing Process Planning: This solution supports MBOM, graphical and concurrent process plans and work instruction authoring. It also offers automatic real-time reconciliation of EBOM/MBOM. Process plans are version-controlled through this tool and contain information regarding parts consumed, steps, skills, resources utilized, etc. MBOMs and process plans for specific plants are available as well. 
read more...
  • Effortless Integrations: Merge with computer-aided design (CAD) systems as well as other PLM and ERP solutions. 
  • Automatic BOM Updates: Generate and update BOMs from any CAD application with this apparatus. 
  • Instant Calculations: Fuse numerous assemblies into one multi-faceted BOM and immediately cipher all data required for product planning and purchasing. 
  • Data Sharing: Initiate instant sharing with real-time collaboration and concurrent editing tools that ensure information is current and distributed to the right people. 
  • Purchase Planning: Adjust the amount of products, track inventory levels on hand and execute automatic purchase order generation procedures. 
read more...

Product Ranking

#3

among all
PLM Software

#29

among all
PLM Software

Find out who the leaders are

Analyst Rating Summary

92
72
100
84
93
100
100
78
Show More Show More
Bill of Materials Management
Compliance Management
Deployment Options
Design Management
Document Management
Change Management
Project Management
Part Management
Document Management
Design Management

Analyst Ratings for Functional Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

Aras
OpenBOM
+ Add Product + Add Product
Bill Of Materials Management Change Management Compliance Management Design Management Document Management Packaging And Label Management Part Management Platform Capabilities Project Management Quality Management Recipe And Formula Management Reporting And Dashboard Requirements Management Supplier Management 100 93 100 100 100 91 91 83 98 100 100 100 100 100 84 100 78 88 95 27 99 83 100 48 57 72 75 75 0 25 50 75 100
100%
0%
0%
83%
0%
17%
90%
0%
10%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
78%
0%
22%
100%
0%
0%
83%
0%
17%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
91%
0%
9%
27%
0%
73%
88%
0%
12%
100%
0%
0%
83%
0%
17%
83%
0%
17%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
100%
0%
0%
10%
0%
90%
100%
0%
0%
57%
0%
43%
100%
0%
0%
67%
0%
33%
100%
0%
0%
58%
0%
42%
100%
0%
0%
71%
0%
29%

Analyst Ratings for Technical Requirements Customize This Data Customize This Data

100%
0%
0%
67%
0%
33%
83%
0%
17%
58%
0%
42%
100%
0%
0%
80%
0%
20%

User Sentiment Summary

Good User Sentiment 29 reviews
Great User Sentiment 40 reviews
74%
of users recommend this product

Aras has a 'good' User Satisfaction Rating of 74% when considering 29 user reviews from 4 recognized software review sites.

84%
of users recommend this product

OpenBOM has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 84% when considering 40 user reviews from 1 recognized software review sites.

3.9 (11)
4.2 (40)
3.43 (7)
n/a
4.0 (5)
n/a
3.4 (6)
n/a

Awards

SelectHub research analysts have evaluated Aras and concluded it deserves the award for the Best Overall PLM Software available today and earns best-in-class honors for Bill of Materials Management, Design Management, Quality Management, Recipe and Formula Management, Requirements Management and Deployment Options.

Analysts' Pick Award
Bill of Materials Management Award
Design Management Award
Quality Management Award
Recipe and Formula Management Award
Requirements Management Award
Deployment Options Award

we're gathering data

Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Centralized Platform: Aras provides a single, unified platform for managing all product data, eliminating data silos and ensuring consistency across the organization.
Customization and Flexibility: Aras's modular architecture allows users to tailor the system to meet their specific needs, providing flexibility to adapt to changing business requirements.
Enhanced Collaboration: Aras facilitates collaboration among cross-functional teams by providing a shared workspace for real-time communication and document sharing.
Traceability and Compliance: Aras's robust traceability features enable users to track changes and maintain compliance with industry regulations, ensuring product safety and quality.
Scalability and Performance: Aras is designed to handle large volumes of data and complex workflows, providing scalability and performance to meet the demands of growing businesses.
Intuitive User Interface: Aras's user-friendly interface makes it easy for users to navigate and access product information, reducing training time and increasing productivity.
Open Architecture: Aras's open architecture allows for seamless integration with other enterprise systems, such as ERP, CAD, and CRM, streamlining data exchange and eliminating manual processes.
Show more
Low Learning Curve: OpenBOM is praised for its user-friendly interface and straightforward functionality, making it easy for users to navigate and quickly become proficient in the system.
Flexibility and Customization: Users appreciate OpenBOM's adaptability, allowing them to tailor the platform to meet their specific PLM requirements and workflows, reducing the need for extensive customization or third-party integrations.
Cloud-Based Collaboration: OpenBOM's cloud-based architecture facilitates real-time collaboration among team members, regardless of their location or device, fostering seamless communication and project coordination.
Integration with CAD and ERP Systems: OpenBOM's seamless integration with popular CAD and ERP systems enables users to streamline their PLM processes, eliminating data silos and enhancing data integrity across the enterprise.
Affordability and Scalability: Users often cite OpenBOM's cost-effectiveness and flexible pricing options as key advantages, making it accessible to businesses of various sizes and budgets. Its scalability allows companies to grow their PLM capabilities as their needs evolve.
Show more
Complexity: Aras can be complex to implement and use, especially for large organizations with complex product development processes.
Cost: Aras can be expensive to implement and maintain, especially for organizations with limited budgets.
Limited Integration: Aras may not integrate well with other enterprise systems, such as ERP or CRM systems.
Lack of Flexibility: Aras may not be flexible enough to meet the specific needs of all organizations.
Steep Learning Curve: Aras can have a steep learning curve, which can make it difficult for users to get up to speed quickly.
Show more
Confusing User Interface: Many users have found the OpenBOM user interface to be unintuitive and difficult to navigate, with many features and functions buried in menus and submenus.
Limited Customization: OpenBOM offers limited customization options, making it difficult for users to tailor the software to their specific needs and workflows.
Lack of Integration: OpenBOM has limited integration with other software tools, making it difficult to exchange data and collaborate with other systems.
Inconsistent Support: Users have reported inconsistent levels of support from OpenBOM, with some experiencing long wait times and unhelpful responses.
Frequent Bugs and Errors: OpenBOM has been plagued by frequent bugs and errors, which can disrupt workflows and cause data loss.
Show more

Aras is a cloud-based PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) software solution that is trusted by users for its ability to connect people, processes, and data across the entire product lifecycle. Users rave about its strengths, such as its adaptability, ease of use, and robust capabilities. Aras outshines similar products with its ability to be customized to fit specific business needs, making it an ideal choice for companies looking for a tailored solution. It also offers a user-friendly interface that simplifies adoption and training, reducing the time and effort required for implementation. Additionally, Aras's comprehensive capabilities cover the entire product lifecycle, from design and engineering to manufacturing and service, providing a single source of truth for all product-related information. These strengths make Aras a valuable asset for businesses looking to improve collaboration, streamline processes, and drive innovation. However, some users have expressed concerns about the complexity of the software, particularly for users with limited technical expertise. Additionally, the cost of implementation and maintenance can be a barrier for some businesses. Despite these drawbacks, Aras remains a top choice for companies seeking a powerful and flexible PLM solution. Its ability to connect people, processes, and data, combined with its adaptability and robust capabilities, make it an ideal choice for businesses looking to optimize their product lifecycle management. Overall, Aras is best suited for medium to large-sized businesses with complex product lifecycles and a need for a customizable and comprehensive PLM solution. Its ability to connect people, processes, and data, combined with its adaptability and robust capabilities, make it an ideal choice for businesses looking to improve collaboration, streamline processes, and drive innovation.

Show more

Over the past year, OpenBOM has carved out a niche for itself in the PLM software market, distinguishing itself through its user-friendly interface and robust feature set. Users have lauded its real-time collaboration tools, which streamline the product development process by allowing team members to work simultaneously on projects, reducing the time to market. This feature, in particular, has been highlighted as a game-changer, setting OpenBOM apart from competitors like Autodesk Fusion Lifecycle and Arena PLM, which, while powerful, can sometimes lag in real-time data synchronization. However, some users have pointed out weaknesses, such as the initial learning curve and occasional glitches in the system, which can disrupt workflow. Despite these hiccups, the consensus is that OpenBOM offers comprehensive integration capabilities, particularly with CAD software, which enhances its utility for engineering teams. This seamless integration facilitates a smoother transition from design to manufacturing, a critical factor in product lifecycle management that some users felt was less efficiently handled by alternatives like PTC Windchill. What makes OpenBOM stand out is its scalability and affordability, making it an attractive option for small to medium-sized businesses. The platform's ability to adapt to various business sizes without significant performance degradation is a testament to its robust architecture. This scalability, coupled with a transparent pricing model, underscores its appeal to startups and growing companies that require a flexible, cost-effective PLM solution. In conclusion, OpenBOM is most suited for small to medium-sized enterprises seeking a user-friendly, scalable PLM solution that excels in real-time collaboration and CAD integration. Its unique blend of features, affordability, and performance makes it a compelling choice for businesses aiming to streamline their product development processes without breaking the bank.

Show more

Screenshots

Top Alternatives in PLM Software


Aptean PLM Lascom Edition

Arena PLM

Centric PLM

Duro PLM

Enovia

Epicor PLM

Infor PLM For Process (Optiva)

OpenBOM

Oracle PLM

Propel PLM

Selerant Devex

Specright

Teamcenter

Upchain

Vault PLM

Windchill

Related Categories

Head-to-Head Comparison

WE DISTILL IT INTO REAL REQUIREMENTS, COMPARISON REPORTS, PRICE GUIDES and more...

Compare products
Comparison Report
Just drag this link to the bookmark bar.
?
Table settings