Kobo PLM vs Centric Software: Affordable PLM for Independent Brands | 2025
Comparing Kobo PLM vs Centric PLM for small fashion brands. Enterprise features at SMB prices. See why independent brands choose Kobo PLM over expensive enterprise solutions.
Introduction
Considering Centric PLM for your fashion brand? You're looking at one of the industry leaders in product lifecycle management.
But here's the reality: Centric PLM is built (and priced) for Fortune 500 companies, not independent fashion brands.
If you're an indie brand, emerging designer, or small-to-mid-sized fashion company, kōbō PLM delivers enterprise-level functionality at a price point that actually makes sense for your business.
In this comparison, we'll help you understand:
Where Centric PLM excels (and who it's really for)
How kōbō PLM provides comparable features at 10–20x lower cost
Which solution is right for your brand's size and stage
At a Glance: kōbō PLM vs Centric Software
Factor | kōbō PLM | Centric Software |
|---|---|---|
Target Customer | Independent brands (1–50 employees) | Enterprise (500–50,000 employees) |
Starting Price | $50/user/month | $50,000–$250,000+ annually* |
Implementation Time | 1–2 weeks (self-serve) | 6–18 months (consultant-led) |
Setup Costs | $0 (free onboarding) | $50,000–$500,000+ |
Contract Length | Monthly (no contract) | 3–5 years typical |
Tech Pack Creation | ✓ Built-in | ✓ Built-in |
BOM Management | ✓ Full featured | ✓ Full featured |
Supplier Collaboration | ✓ Built-in | ✓ Built-in (requires setup) |
Sample Tracking | ✓ Full lifecycle | ✓ Full lifecycle |
Production Management | ✓ Full featured | ✓ Enterprise-grade |
Inventory Management | ✓ Basic to advanced | ✓ Enterprise-grade |
Integrations | Shopify, Xero, common tools | SAP, Oracle, enterprise ERPs |
Mobile App | ✓ iOS & Android | ✓ iOS & Android |
Learning Curve | Intuitive (1–2 days) | Complex (weeks of training) |
Customization | Standard workflows | Extensive (consultant-led) |
Support | Email, chat, video calls | Dedicated account manager (enterprise plans) |
Best For | Indie brands, emerging designers | Global retailers, large manufacturers |
*Centric pricing is not public; based on reports & feedback
Market Landscape
Enterprise PLM (Centric, Lectra, Infor) | SMB PLM (kōbō PLM, Techpacker, others) |
|---|---|
Built for: Nike, H&M, Target, PVH | Built for: Indie brands, small/mid fashion |
Team size: Hundreds/thousands | Team size: 1–50 |
Suppliers: 50–200+ | Suppliers: 5–30 |
SKUs per season: Thousands | SKUs per season: 50–500 |
Integrations: SAP, Oracle | Integrations: Shopify, Xero, QuickBooks |
IT Dept: Dedicated | IT Dept: None |
Decision-making: Corporate | Decision-making: Founder/owner |
Price: Six–seven figures yearly | Price: Hundreds–low thousands monthly |
The Price Barrier
Year 1 Costs (Centric) | Range |
|---|---|
Software Licenses | $50,000–$250,000+ |
Implementation/Consulting | $50,000–$500,000 |
Training | $10,000–$50,000 |
Hardware/Infrastructure | $5,000–$25,000 |
Total (Year 1) | $115,000–$825,000+ |
Ongoing Annual Costs | Range |
|---|---|
License Fees | $50,000–$250,000+ |
Maintenance | 18–22% of license fees |
Support/Consulting | $10,000–$100,000+ |
Total Annual | $70,000–$400,000+ |
The Implementation Nightmare
Centric Implementation Timeline | Duration |
|---|---|
Discovery & Requirements | 1–3 months |
Configuration & Customization | 3–9 months |
Data Migration | 1–3 months |
Testing & Training | 1–2 months |
Go-Live | 1 month |
Total | 6–18 months |
The Complexity Tax
Centric handles:
Multi-brand structures
Global compliance (REACH, Prop 65)
Complex approval chains (12+ steps)
Multi-currency, multi-language ops
Advanced reporting & analytics
For indie brands this means:
Weeks of training for basic tasks
Features you’ll never use (but still pay for)
Workflows that slow you down
Ongoing training burden
Minimum Viable Customer Issue
Centric Ideal Customer:
$50M+ annual revenue
100+ employees
20+ daily PLM users
IT resources
Multi-year budget
If smaller:
Might not even qualify
Low-priority support
Paying enterprise $$ for SMB needs
System always feels “too big”
Enter kōbō PLM: Enterprise Features, SMB Reality
Right-Sized Feature Set
Included | Not Included (don’t need) |
|---|---|
✓ Tech packs | ✕ Multi-brand global structures |
✓ BOM automation | ✕ 15-step approval workflows |
✓ Supplier collaboration | ✕ Advanced compliance modules |
✓ Sample tracking | ✕ SAP/Oracle integrations |
✓ Production management | ✕ 500-page customization |
✓ Inventory mgmt | |
✓ Sales orders | |
✓ Project management | |
✓ Team collab | |
✓ SMB integrations |
Self-Service Implementation
Timeline | Tasks |
|---|---|
Day 1 | Sign up, invite team, basic config |
Day 2–3 | Import materials, add suppliers |
Day 4–5 | Create styles & tech packs |
Week 2 | Training & adoption |
Total | 1–2 weeks |
Pricing That Makes Sense
Plan | Price | Best For | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
Lite | $50/user/mo | Solo designers | Core PLM, tech packs, materials library |
Grow | $169/user/mo (2 min) | Growing brands | + Collab, inventory, integrations |
Scale | $249/user/mo (3 min) | Established brands | + Production, sales orders, advanced features |
Enterprise | Custom | Larger ops | + Dedicated support, custom workflows |
Example: 5-person brand = $14,940/year vs Centric’s $100K–$300K+.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
Feature | kōbō PLM | Centric PLM |
|---|---|---|
Tech Packs | ✓ Templates, drag-drop, PDF export, intuitive | ✓ Pro creation, customization, approval workflows, ✕ requires training/consultants |
BOM & Costing | ✓ Automated, materials library, real-time costing | ✓ Multi-level, costing scenarios, ERP integration, ✕ complex setup |
Supplier Collaboration | ✓ Messaging, file sharing, approvals, no supplier license | ✓ Supplier portal, RFQs, scorecards, ✕ requires onboarding/licenses |
Sample Tracking | ✓ Full lifecycle, multiple rounds, photo docs | ✓ Multi-round, audit trails, approvals |
Production Management | ✓ PO gen, tracking, QC, all-in-one | ✓ Scheduling, capacity planning, QC, ✕ requires ERP integration |
Inventory Management | ✓ Track fabrics, trims, finished goods, Shopify sync | ✕ Requires WMS/ERP, limited to concept stage |
When to Consider Centric
Centric PLM fits if… | kōbō PLM fits if… |
|---|---|
100+ employees, $50M+ revenue | 1–50 people, <$50K/yr budget |
Complex compliance requirements | Need to be live in weeks |
Dedicated IT & project managers | No IT dept, use Shopify/Xero |
Budget $100K–$500K+ | Want 95% of enterprise features at 5–10% of cost |
Can wait 12–18 months | Value simplicity, speed, usability |
Ready to Make the Switch?
Try kōbō PLM Free for 14 Days
See why brands are moving from Centric PLM to kōbō PLM for complete product lifecycle management.
What you'll get:
Full access to all kōbō PLM features
Personalized onboarding session
Migration support from our team
No credit card required
Questions? Book a discovery call to see kōbō PLM in action and ask our team anything.
Additional Resources
kōbō PLM Product Tour
Fashion PLM Buyer's Guide
Customer Success Stories
About This Comparison: Last updated: October 2025. Pricing and features are subject to change. This comparison is based on publicly available information and real customer feedback. We strive for accuracy, but please verify details on each company's website.
About kōbōLabs: kōbō PLM is developed by kōbōLabs, a product lifecycle management platform built by fashion people, for fashion people. Founded by a former fashion brand owner who experienced these pain points firsthand, kōbō PLM is designed to empower independent brands with enterprise-level tools at accessible prices.