The early 2000s was the boom period for the PLM industry as every business that dealt with complex products shifted to PLM software to manage their product’s entire lifecycle. Much of that growth was thanks to Oracle’s Agile PLM.
Agile PLM has been the leading PLM system for nearly two decades now. It offers product lifecycle management with strong collaboration, integration features, and change control that made it an industry favorite.
However, for companies still relying on Oracle Agile PLM, the clock is ticking. With Premier Support ending in 2027, it’s no longer a question of if you’ll migrate, but when and how you’ll migrate from Agile PLM.
Yet many organizations are still in a wait-and-see mode, unsure whether to begin planning now or postpone the effort. Based on our experience working with global clients across industries, the best time to invest in PLM migration readiness is now in 2025.
And in this blog, we’ll prove to you why through these 10 compelling reasons.
Oracle Agile PLM end of life
Agile PLM is approaching its end of life. Oracle has announced that version 9.3.6 will be the final version, and Premier Support for the PLM software will last until December 2027. After the deadline, users will no longer get support, new features, or updates.
Sticking with an obsolete Agile PLM platform will lead to several challenges, security risks, and potential compliance issues. Therefore, if you’re an Agile PLM user, switching to other PLM solutions is a matter of when, not if.
Preparing for the future: Top reasons to start planning PLM migration
As a certified Agile PLM partner, we have worked on numerous projects on the PLM software for clients around the world. Our team knows the Agile PLM system like the back of our hands.
This experience has given us the expertise, nous, and foresight to perform PLM migrations efficiently. Based on these insights, we believe that 2025 is the best time for existing users to start leaving the Agile PLM platform.
Here’s why:
1. Migration takes time — and that’s a good thing
A full PLM migration, especially from a mature Agile environment to a more flexible platform like ARAS or Propel, isn’t a lift-and-shift operation. It requires time to assess your current data, processes, user roles, configurations, and integrations. Planning ahead allows you to move deliberately, avoiding rushed decisions and reducing the risk of disruption.
2. Early Planning = Cost Savings
Clients who begin early have the luxury to phase their migration into stages. This allows internal teams to gradually upskill, reuse existing test scripts and documentation, and minimize rework. Waiting too long may lead to rushed timelines, higher resource costs, and missed knowledge-transfer windows.
3. You can align with other digital initiatives
Many organizations are already exploring cloud adoption, data governance, or digital thread initiatives. A PLM migration planned ahead of time can align beautifully with these programs, ensuring that your product lifecycle data becomes a true asset across the business.
4. Training your people takes time
New platforms like ARAS and Propel come with new user experiences, different process setups, and powerful customization options. Starting early gives you the opportunity to build internal champions, roll out trainings in waves, and reduce the learning curve during go-live.
5. Your Agile system may already be showing its age
Performance bottlenecks, limited browser support, and complex configurations in Agile PLM are already becoming harder to manage. Migration gives you the chance to modernize and simplify your processes, but only if you start preparing now.
6. The sooner you start, the more control you have
When migration planning is delayed until support deadlines are near, the process becomes reactive. By starting now, you control the narrative, the pace, and the outcomes. You can choose the right platform, define your ideal architecture, and transition on your own terms.
7. Avoid the migration rush
Don’t wait until 2027 to start planning for migration. As the Oracle Agile PLM end-of-life date gets closer, there will be a surge of companies scrambling to migrate at the same time. PLM migration service providers and consultants will be in high demand, and their services will also become expensive.
This migration rush can cause project delays and incur additional costs that are totally avoidable. Therefore, start planning your PLM migration in 2025 so your project receives the attention and resources it deserves.
8. Room for parallel operations
There are several top alternatives for Agile PLM in the market, such as Propel and Aras Innovator. However, you need to ensure your new PLM system fits in with your workflows. Planning early will allow you to run your new PLM system alongside Agile PLM as a test run. This will provide a safety net.
Teams can test the new environment while still relying on Agile PLM. But parallel runs are only possible if you start early, leaving enough overlap time to discover issues before making a full cutover.
9. Budget planning takes multiple cycles
Large PLM projects require approval across budgeting cycles. If you wait until 2026 to begin, you may not have a budget secured in time for a smooth transition. Kicking off planning in 2025 allows for phased funding requests, pilot projects, and gradual allocation of resources.
10. Meeting client expectations
Modern PLM solutions offer advanced capabilities like digital threading, which clients expect from their PLM investment. Delaying migration to newer PLM software may deprive you of potential clients and projects, as Agile PLM is a legacy platform that doesn’t meet the modern PLM demands.
Which PLM migration strategy to choose?
There are two major PLM data migration strategies:
- Big bang migration
- Phased migration
Big bang migration strategy moves all your data in one go, while phased migration moves data gradually, in chunks over time. For phased migration, only part of the data is migrated at first, and the rest follows in stages. This reduces downtime and risk. Phased migration has multiple ways of performing it.
Choose the big bang migration strategy for your PLM project if:
- You have small or medium-sized data
- You have a limited budget with tight deadlines to follow
Choose phased migration when you:
- Are working on very large projects that can’t take any risks
- Have flexible time limits and don’t require all hands on deck at once.
How we’re helping clients get ready
At Xavor, we’ve been helping clients assess their current Agile PLM footprint and build tailored migration roadmaps. We bring over a decade of Agile PLM implementation experience, paired with hands-on exposure to ARAS and Propel, to guide every step, from data mapping to user training to go-live support.
Whether you’re looking for a full-scale migration strategy or just want to understand what lies ahead, now is the right time to start the conversation. Because when it comes to PLM, being ready is a necessity first then just a competitive advantage.
Interested in assessing your Agile PLM environment? Contact us at [email protected] to book a free consultation session with our PLM team.