# Propel vs. Arena

Arena was the first cloud PLM system, introduced in 2000. For some, it remains a viable solution today. But Propel offers some major differences that make it a compelling alternative for Arena prospects or current customers.

[Read the Arena vs Propel eBook](https://livesharewest3.seismic.com/i/JYdagDog___uUtt4rtMQNUuTWAjoPzRPPLUSSIGNdtxciw0DG2rnB2XOvt______8cRtRI6R1hqWhUrVVvTV9ECPLUSSIGNS00hKJ94j2ZwN0IpSDIoEJNPMGUSAunTtDI6D6xQEdVPHp7CN8ebU)

## Frictionless Collaboration from Concept to Customer

A single view of all product data, automated workflows, and actionable insights connect everyone across your extended enterprise.

We started using PropelPLM for our engineering group in the summer of 2019 replacing Arena. It is very easy to use, intuitive and clean. It's easy to configure and create new workflows. Another great capability is Propel QMS. When our quality expert with over 40 years of experience reviewed it, he was very impressed and we could use it out of the box.

#### Mayank Raja  
Director of Engineering, Zume

## Propel vs. Arena

### Arena
- Digitizes Concept to Customer Lifecycle
- Provides a single platform for suppliers, engineering, quality, sales, customer service and customers to work together

### Propel
- Arena supports product and quality teams, but does not integrate well with suppliers, sales or customer service.
- Poor reporting tools further limit getting full visibility into the product life cycle.

### Alternatives

#### Strong Cloud Architecture

**Propel**  
- Built on the Salesforce platform for enterprise class security and scalability at a low TCO

**Arena**  
- Is cloud based, but it is built on an outdated cloud infrastructure, TCL/Tk

### Alternatives

#### Extensibility

**Propel**  
- Easily extensible with low code, no code, full code options for development tools

**Arena**  
- The product is rigid and templatized which makes it costly to customize and more “shadow IT.”

### Propel

#### Core PLM Capabilities

**Propel**  
- Makes it easier to connect all your people and integrate all your data so that you can manage the full product lifecycle

**Arena**  
- Designed for engineering not the entire enterprise and cannot manage the full NPI process.

### Alternatives

#### Core Quality Management Capabilities

**Propel**  
- Provides closed loop enterprise wide quality management that drive quality back into design and supplier management

**Arena**  
- Manages the basics of quality, including SCAR, NC and CAPAs but is not well integrated with sales or service apps/users

### Alternatives

#### Ease of Use

**Propel**  
- Highly intuitive desktop and mobile user interfaces make it easier for anyone to learn quickly

**Arena**  
- Complex and clunky user interfaces make it difficult for anyone but a power user to access.

### Alternatives

#### Collaboration built in

**Propel**  
- Built in collaboration gives you the context to see both the BOM and have the context on why different components were selected

**Arena**  
- Collaboration is left to email or Slack making it very difficult to see the discussion around product design choices.

### Alternatives

#### Strong supplier management

**Propel**  
- Supplier management is built in, so that suppliers can easily access just their data and alerts in a few clicks.

**Arena**  
- Not designed for suppliers and requires clunky VPNs and bolt-on modules.

### Alternatives

#### Change management

**Propel**  
- Robust change management with redlining, draft BOMs, and user-friendly creation of ECOs.

**Arena**  
- Rigid change management with an overly prescriptive and unforgiving process for creating change orders.

The look and feel of Propel is so much better than Arena. We love that we are able to have our contract manufacturers and key suppliers come into the system through third-party vendor portals to approve changes and give context to what changed.

#### Jeff Hudgens  
Sr Manager, Configuration, Document Control and Systems Implementations at Sentient Energy

## Explore Propel Product 360

Take Our Personalized Demo to See the Full Value

[Take our Product Tour](https://www.propelsoftware.com/vs/propel-vs-arena#)

## Key Benefits of Propel versus Arena & Omnify

- **Bring products to market faster** by automating the entire concept to customer lifecycle
- **Get more design wins** with integrated Product and Sales apps running on Salesforce
- **Resolve customer issues faster** with integrated Service, Product and Quality apps running on Salesforce
- **Keep everyone on the same page** with built-in collaboration so that nothing gets lost in emails or Slack
- **Get new insight into your business and opportunities** with real-time analytics

## Powering key use cases

#### Streamline new product introductions and ECOs

#### Get more design wins

#### Shorten the case to complaint process

#### Automate supplier onboarding and management

## The Only Product and Quality Platform Built on Salesforce

- Product, Quality, Sales and Service All on One Platform
- Highly Secure and Scalable
- Flexible and Configurable to Meet Your Growing Needs
- Powerful Mobile and Analytics Capabilities

[Learn More](https://www.propelsoftware.com/archives/built-on-salesforce-old)