Custom Product Data Management (PDM) development
With Structr, you can build custom product data management (PDM) systems that increase productivity and reduce technical errors by efficiently centralising your product data.
A PDM prototype in 3 days –
Need a fast and cost-effective solution? We build a functional prototype of your product data management system within 3 working days.
Structr has been active in software development since 2011 and specialises in tailor-made full-stack solutions based on a Neo4j database. If you are looking for custom PDM software to handle large volumes of complex, structured data, Structr is the right choice thanks to its intuitive development environment with an integrated low-code UI builder, native Neo4j graph database technology and fully automatic APIs.
The key benefits of custom product data management software from Structr include greater efficiency and noticeable time savings in technical development, seamless system integration, strict data security and high performance.
PDMs developed with Structr enable semantic product management by intelligently linking product data. Structr product data management systems feature automated workflows, an infinitely extensible data schema and integrated document and digital asset management (DAM). Thanks to its high flexibility and scalability, Structr is ideal for CAD data management, environments with strict security requirements, complex bill of materials management, and revision and change management.
On this page, we describe the particular benefits of developing PDM software with Structr and cover its most important features and use cases.
Why custom product data management from Structr?
A custom product data management (PDM) system from Structr is an all-in-one software solution that enables semantic product management for complex data structures.
A custom PDM from Structr is the right choice when off-the-shelf standard software restricts your specific processes or when the growing complexity of modern products overwhelms classic relational SQL databases.
PDM systems developed with Structr handle the highest product data complexity with low latency, support your digital sovereignty and allow flexible adjustments to the data structure as well as tailor-made, role-specific user interfaces.
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Structr PDM systems let you master the highest complexity through graph technology. Structr uses a native Neo4j database, so even huge, highly connected data volumes stay extremely fast and semantic product management becomes possible.
A PDM system from Structr offers the speed of standard software and the depth of custom software. Programming your own software from scratch often takes months. With Structr, you get the fully tailor-made fit of an in-house development in a fraction of the time. The entire base infrastructure (such as the database, authentication, backend and automatic REST APIs) is ready to use in the development environment from day one.
Product data management systems developed with Structr support your digital sovereignty through open-source technology. Structr can be run entirely on your own infrastructure, so you do not become dependent on US cloud services or proprietary vendors. With Structr, GDPR compliance is easy to achieve.
Custom product data management from Structr enables the development of tailor-made, role-specific user interfaces. Commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software often has overloaded backends that are hard to use. With Structr's integrated low-code page builder, you can build intuitive interfaces tailored precisely to each user role.
Product data management software developed with Structr supports a wide range of possible features and use cases, which are described in the following sections.
Product data management features
Product data management software from Structr has a wide range of features, including semantic product data management, integrated DAM, a freely extensible data schema, automated workflows and fully automatic APIs.
The following list describes the most important features of Structr product data management in detail.
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Semantic product management
A Structr PDM enables modern semantic product management that does not just store data but makes its meaning and relationships machine-readable. Built on the Neo4j graph database, it lets you link product data intelligently within its business context.
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Integrated document and digital asset management (DAM)
Product data management software from Structr includes integrated document and digital asset management (DAM). A PDM requires the secure management of design drawings, CAD files and specifications. Structr offers a virtual file system in which metadata is stored in the graph and files are kept in flexible storage locations (such as local servers or the cloud). Built-in features such as full-text search and text extraction (Tesseract OCR) make finding documents much easier.
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Freely extensible data schema
Structr product data management systems offer a freely extensible data schema. The system does not force you into a predefined data format. The data schema can be adapted flexibly to any product domain and industry.
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Central management of item master data
A PDM developed with Structr enables central management of item master data. Structr product data management systems can be configured so that master data consistency and cross-channel synchronisation with automatic price and stock updates run smoothly.
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Automated workflows and approval processes in product data management
Structr PDM systems automate workflow and approval processes in product data management without any loss of performance. Tailor-made workflows can be set up in Structr PDMs to support error-free collaboration between engineering, production and marketing. From initial data entry to final approval, the Structr PDM automates routine tasks, sends notifications and assigns tasks to specific users.
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Fully automatic APIs
PDM software from Structr comes with fully automatic REST APIs. Structr provides powerful interfaces that save development time and enable error-free system integration. Automatically generated REST and GraphQL APIs let you retrieve and update product data in real time and export it to any external application, such as ERP systems, web shops and dealer portals.
PDM use cases
Typical use cases for Structr PDM systems include revision and change management, CAD data management, environments with strict security requirements and complex bill of materials management.
The following list describes the most important use cases for Structr product data management systems in detail.
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Revision and change management
Product data management systems from Structr are ideally suited for revision and change management. Adjustments and further development are an integral part of the product life cycle. Structr PDM software enables complete revision and change management. Every modification to a component, a specification or a description is securely recorded in the history and versioned. Continuous documentation makes it transparent who made which changes and when.
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CAD data management
PDM systems from Structr are ideal for CAD management. Engineering generates enormous amounts of complex geometric and technical data every day. The Structr PDM can be built as an intelligent platform for your CAD data management. It seamlessly links 2D drawings, 3D models and the associated design metadata. Thanks to this intelligent linking, technical data from CAD design tools is structured and made findable directly for downstream departments such as production planning, manufacturing or purchasing.
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Environments with strict security requirements
PDM systems developed with Structr are suitable for environments with strict security requirements. To protect sensitive design data, patents and internal prices, Structr offers a three-tier access control system. Access rights can be controlled at an extremely fine-grained level, down to individual data objects. This lets you control exactly which departments and external suppliers may view or edit which product data.
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Complex bill of materials management
Structr product data management software is often used for complex bill of materials management. Engineering bills of materials (E-BOM) and manufacturing bills of materials (M-BOM) are often deeply nested and come in many variants. Thanks to Structr's graph technology, even the deepest hierarchies, assemblies and dependencies can be represented and edited in real time without any loss of performance.
Reviews of our product data management software
Below you will find reviews of the product data management software we have developed for various clients.
Product data management case studies
Below we present a selection of product data management case studies from Structr.
Ahorn: Smart decisions – data-driven, human-centred
Successful digital transformations rest on more than technology – they are driven by the synergy of structured data, innovative tools and the vision, strategy and determination of forward-looking leaders.
Read the case study
Semantic product management for complex data structures
Flexible systems do not emerge from rigid structures: with Structr's graph-based PDM system, Schleich relies on a platform that delivers custom interfaces, dedicated mini-apps and SAP interfaces in days instead of months.
Read the case studyBenefits of our custom product data management
The benefits of our product data management with Structr are higher efficiency in engineering, fewer errors, noticeable time savings, seamless system integration, strict data security, a custom UI and high performance.
The following list describes the greatest benefits of our custom PDM systems in more detail.
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Higher efficiency in engineering
Structr PDM systems deliver higher efficiency in engineering. Thanks to Structr's innovative low-code approach and flexible graph technology, we accelerate development. Complex data models can be adapted on the fly without risky data migrations.
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Fewer errors
PDM software developed with Structr reduces errors such as redundant records, outdated product information and manual transfer errors. Consistent, connected data storage in the graph model and automated validation rules significantly minimise the error rate in data entry.
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Noticeable time savings
Structr PDM systems save you valuable time through optimised workflows and centralised product data maintenance. Your employees find data quickly and routine tasks are automated, so your team can focus entirely on value-adding core tasks.
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Seamless system integration
Custom product data management systems from Structr allow seamless system integration. Structr offers fully configurable APIs to integrate product data management seamlessly into your existing IT landscape.
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Strict data security
Structr PDM software offers strict data security. To protect valuable and sensitive product data, the platform relies on very high security standards. To uphold these standards, we integrate a three-tier access control system.
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Custom user interface (UI)
With Structr, a custom user interface (UI) can be built by drag and drop. The integrated low-code application builder lets you create tailor-made, intuitive interfaces that fit exactly how each user works.
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High performance
A Structr PDM system achieves high technical performance through GQL/Cypher queries. Graph technology ensures future-proof data models. Even with extremely large and complex product networks, Structr guarantees extremely fast data access with very low latency by using GQL/Cypher queries.
The product data management development process at Structr
The product data management development process at Structr consists of 4 steps: a consultation, prototype development, a workshop, and hosting and support.
The following list explains all 4 steps of developing a custom product data management system with Structr.
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1
Detailed consultation on developing your custom product data management system
In the first step, we hold a detailed consultation with you on developing your custom product data management system. We capture the requirements for your PDM system and clarify how you currently manage your product data, how it is structured and which third-party systems need to be integrated. We then decide together which workflows to automate and which pain points the new PDM should eliminate.
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PDM prototype development
Once all relevant requirements and features have been captured, we start developing the prototype of your PDM system. Thanks to the low-code capabilities and the Neo4j graph database as a foundation, we can deliver the prototype within just a few days. We create the basic data model and build the core user interface.
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Workshop on your Structr product data management system
Once the prototype has been developed, we offer you a workshop on your Structr product data management system. In the workshop, you and your employees test the system with real use cases from your day-to-day work. Together, we check whether the workflows, approval processes and role concepts work smoothly. If adjustments are needed, we implement the necessary changes in a very short time.
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Hosting and long-term support
We offer hosting and long-term support for your PDM software. We support you with our expertise, whether you choose hosting in a secure cloud environment or run the Structr PDM on-premises on your own servers. We make sure your system always stays technically up to date and carry out regular security updates. When it comes to extensions or connecting new systems, we are always at your side as a technical partner.
How much does custom product data management cost?
The cost of custom product data management depends on the complexity of the product data structures and the system requirements.
Structr usually offers a custom PDM prototype at a fixed price of between EUR 5,000 and EUR 15,000.
Contact us about product data management development
Feel free to contact us any time on+49 800 / 78 78 287, send us anemailor use ourcontact form.
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