PLM: The best way to plan collections and hit launch dates

Collections live and die by timing. When samples, approvals, or purchase orders slip, the entire season is affected. Teams scramble, suppliers rush, and delivery windows start to close.

A missed deadline doesn’t just cause headaches; it eats straight into margin, often leaving brands with no choice but to discount products before they have had a chance to sell.

The real problem isn’t effort

The reality is that most fashion and lifestyle businesses don’t suffer from a lack of effort. Teams work hard, and yet delays still manage to creep in.

Often, the problem is directly tied to the fact that each department works from its own plans, spreadsheets, emails, and disconnected systems.

Every team has its own dedicated calendar and priorities, but they’re not joined up.

Because of this, things inevitably slip through the cracks. A sample is approved late, fittings get pushed back, and production is delayed… and before anyone realises, the launch date is at risk.

By the time it becomes clear that a collection is behind, it’s usually too late to fully recover.

The cost of slipping timelines

Without a clear picture of what’s due and what’s late, teams get pushed into reactive mode:

• Designers chase approvals instead of designing
• Planners constantly play catch-up rather than steering collections
• Production and sourcing spend their energy negotiating to make up for lost time
• Management is left frustrated, trying to piece together updates from multiple sources

In the end, reacting becomes the ‘normal’ way of working, but it comes at a cost. People feel more stressed, margins are lowered, and customer confidence is weakened.

PLM reshapes how teams work

The way out of this cycle isn’t more effort; it’s structural. Businesses need a single, shared Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution to keep everyone together and on track.

With clear milestones, named owners, and a single place to see what’s done and what’s slipping, teams aren’t caught off guard by late tasks. They spot issues early and intervene.

For example, when a supplier misses a handover date, planners immediately see the impact on the launch schedule and can take action before it snowballs.

PLM plans work both ways, too, allowing teams to plan forward from today or backwards from launch. This gives them the ability to adjust dates when priorities change and shift timelines without having to start over.

Additionally, automatic alerts act as guardrails. They make sure important steps aren’t missed and help hold each team accountable for their respective part in the process.

What it means for each department

PLM tools make an immediate difference. When these solutions are in place, everything comes together:

• Designers spend more time on creative work because they aren’t chasing updates
• Planners focus on keeping the collection aligned with launch dates
• Production and sourcing hold vendors accountable with clear timelines
• Management gains a top-down view of every collection in progress

Each team is able to act before dates slip, reducing delays and giving collections a better chance of landing on time.

Enter K3 Pebblestone PLM

Sitting inside D365 Business Central, K3 Pebblestone’s PLM capabilities remove the need for additional tools or disconnected data. It provides a total solution for fashion and lifestyle brands to manage everything within a single solution.

Teams can build plans using predefined templates, set milestones for each stage of development, and schedule timelines forward or backward.

Progress updates the moment tasks are completed, alerts flag potential issues before they escalate, and every task is tied to an owner. Since it is natively embedded in Business Central, planning is naturally connected to the rest of the business, from purchasing to sales.

For brands, these benefits go beyond creating the collection. Missed deadlines lead to late launches, forced discounts and costly air freight bills. A shared PLM plan helps reduce these risks and keep margins in a healthier position when the season closes.

Suppliers have space to work without constant rush orders, and customers get the products they expect, when they expect them.

Internally, teams experience less stress, fewer fire drills and more breathing room to focus on doing their best work. Over time, that consistency builds trust and stability, both within the business and with the market.

Better planning, better seasons

Timing has always been the hardest part of fashion, but it doesn’t have to be the most painful.

With the right structure in place, teams go from playing catch-up to being proactive.

Collections are more likely to hit launch dates, helping to protect margins and give businesses greater confidence.

If PLM is a struggle for your business, we’d love to talk and show you how we can help. Feel free to drop us a line today to find out more.