Kōbō vs BlueCherry: Best Fashion PLM Software Compared
Comparing two end-to-end apparel PLM platforms. Both offer design-to-delivery capability—but with very different approaches to implementation, usability, and cost.
Looking for a BlueCherry alternative? Both platforms cover the complete product lifecycle for fashion brands. BlueCherry is an enterprise ERP suite from CGS, a 40-year-old corporation. Kōbō is a modern apparel PLM built by fashion industry insiders—with faster implementation, better UX, and transparent pricing.
The real question isn't capability—it's how you want to work. Do you want a legacy enterprise system with 12-24 month implementations, or a modern fashion PLM you can be live on in weeks?
Apparel PLM Feature Comparison: Kōbō vs BlueCherry
| Feature | Kōbō | BlueCherry |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | End-to-end apparel PLM & ERP | Enterprise ERP suite |
| Target Market | Fashion brands of all sizes | Mid-size to large enterprises |
| Starting Price | $140/user/month | $5,000+ implementation |
| Tech Pack Software | Built-in with AI assistance | Available in PLM module |
| BOM Management | Multi-level BOM with auto-costing | Full materials management |
| Supplier Collaboration | Free supplier portal included | Available with ERP suite |
| Sample Tracking | Photo documentation & workflows | Sample tracking included |
| Production Management | PO & milestone tracking | Shop floor control & MRP |
| Apparel Inventory Software | Multi-location inventory management | Full warehouse & logistics |
| Sales Order Management | B2B wholesale workflows | Full EDI & order management |
| Line Sheet Software | Digital linesheets & buyer portal | B2B eCommerce module |
| Mobile App | iOS app (Kōbō Connect) | Mobile responsive |
| AI Features | Image generation & AI copilot | Not included |
| Quick Implementation | Days to weeks | 12-24+ months typical |
| Self-Service Setup | No IT team required | Requires IT involvement |
| Financial Integration | Xero & accounting integrations | Built-in finance modules |
| Shop Floor Control | Production tracking & supplier portal | In-house manufacturing MES |
What is BlueCherry?
BlueCherry is an enterprise apparel ERP and PLM suite from CGS (Computer Generated Solutions), a company founded in 1984 with over 5,000 employees globally. It's a comprehensive platform covering planning, manufacturing, logistics, finance, B2B eCommerce, and product lifecycle management.
The platform is built for larger organizations—mid-size to enterprise fashion, footwear, and consumer goods companies—that need deep manufacturing execution, shop floor control, EDI integrations, and full financial modules under one roof.
BlueCherry Strengths
- Full ERP with finance, logistics, and manufacturing
- Shop floor control and MRP capabilities
- Scales to global multi-brand enterprises
- 40+ years of industry experience
- EDI and complex B2B integrations
Considerations
- Steep learning curve (users report 12-24 months to full adoption)
- Enterprise pricing and implementation costs
- Requires IT involvement for setup and maintenance
- Interface may not appeal to creative teams
- No AI-powered features for design or automation
What is Kōbō? The Modern Fashion PLM Alternative
Kōbō is the operating system for fashion brands—from design concept to wholesale delivery. Built by a fashion founder who spent a decade living the chaos of spreadsheets, email threads, and disconnected tools, it delivers full end-to-end apparel PLM capability with modern UX and rapid implementation.
The platform covers tech pack creation, BOM management, supplier collaboration, sample tracking, production management, apparel inventory software, and wholesale sales. Everything you need to stop being the "human middleware" between design and production—without the 18-month implementation projects.
Complete Apparel PLM
Tech packs, multi-level BOMs, supplier collaboration, sample tracking, production, inventory management, and wholesale—all in one system. Built around how fashion brands actually work.
Modern UX
A design-forward interface that creative and operations teams actually want to use. Built for 2025, not retrofitted from legacy systems.
Days, Not Months
Get up and running in days or weeks, not the 12-24 month implementations common with enterprise systems. No IT team required.
Transparent Pricing
Start at $140/user/month with free supplier seats. Modular pricing lets you scale as you grow—no hidden costs or enterprise minimums.
PLM vs ERP: The Core Difference
BlueCherry's Approach
Enterprise ERP with PLM included. BlueCherry is fundamentally an apparel ERP system—finance, manufacturing, logistics, and compliance are the core, with PLM as one module among many.
This makes sense for organizations with in-house manufacturing, complex multi-entity structures, or requirements for full financial consolidation. The trade-off is complexity, cost, and implementation time.
Kōbō's Approach
Fashion-first, design to delivery. Kōbō covers the complete product lifecycle—tech pack software, BOM management, supplier collaboration, production tracking, inventory, and wholesale—built specifically for how fashion brands actually work.
Modern architecture means you get full capability without legacy complexity. Go live in weeks, not years. No IT department required.
The Bottom Line
Choose Kōbō if...
- You want full design-to-delivery capability without legacy complexity
- You need to go live in weeks, not 12-24 months
- Your team deserves a modern UI they'll actually enjoy using
- You want AI-powered tech pack software and workflow automation
- You prefer transparent, predictable monthly pricing
- You work with external suppliers and need supplier collaboration tools
- You want a platform built by fashion industry insiders
Consider BlueCherry if...
- You're a large enterprise with 100+ employees
- You own and operate manufacturing facilities
- You need full ERP with finance, HR, and logistics
- You require shop floor control and MRP
- Complex EDI integrations are a requirement
- You have IT resources for a 12-24 month implementation
- Budget for enterprise software is already allocated
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best PLM software for fashion brands?
The best fashion PLM software depends on your needs. BlueCherry suits large enterprises with in-house manufacturing, while Kōbō offers complete apparel PLM capability with modern UX and faster implementation for fashion brands of all sizes.
Is BlueCherry good for small fashion brands?
BlueCherry is designed for mid-size to large enterprises with complex manufacturing needs. Small to mid-sized fashion brands often find the 12-24 month implementation timeline and enterprise pricing challenging. Kōbō offers the same design-to-delivery capability with faster go-live times.
What's the difference between PLM and ERP for fashion?
PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) focuses on product development—design, tech packs, sampling, and BOM management. ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) handles operations—inventory, orders, finance. Kōbō combines both in one fashion-first platform, while BlueCherry is ERP-first with PLM as a module.
How long does BlueCherry take to implement?
BlueCherry implementations typically take 12-24 months for full deployment. Users report the first 24 months can be difficult before reaching full adoption. Kōbō's modern architecture allows brands to go live in weeks, not years.
Does Kōbō include inventory management for apparel?
Yes, Kōbō includes full apparel inventory management software with multi-location tracking, component inventory, finished goods, purchase orders, and shipment tracking—all integrated with your product development workflow.
Which platform has better tech pack software?
Both platforms offer tech pack creation. Kōbō's tech pack software includes AI-powered features for generating sketches and tech drawings, plus reusable templates and spec libraries. BlueCherry offers tech packs as part of their PLM module.
Kōbō vs BlueCherry: Best Fashion PLM Software Compared
Comparing two end-to-end apparel PLM platforms. Both offer design-to-delivery capability—but with very different approaches to implementation, usability, and cost.
Looking for a BlueCherry alternative? Both platforms cover the complete product lifecycle for fashion brands. BlueCherry is an enterprise ERP suite from CGS, a 40-year-old corporation. Kōbō is a modern apparel PLM built by fashion industry insiders—with faster implementation, better UX, and transparent pricing.
The real question isn't capability—it's how you want to work. Do you want a legacy enterprise system with 12-24 month implementations, or a modern fashion PLM you can be live on in weeks?
Apparel PLM Feature Comparison: Kōbō vs BlueCherry
| Feature | Kōbō | BlueCherry |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | End-to-end apparel PLM & ERP | Enterprise ERP suite |
| Target Market | Fashion brands of all sizes | Mid-size to large enterprises |
| Starting Price | $140/user/month | $5,000+ implementation |
| Tech Pack Software | Built-in with AI assistance | Available in PLM module |
| BOM Management | Multi-level BOM with auto-costing | Full materials management |
| Supplier Collaboration | Free supplier portal included | Available with ERP suite |
| Sample Tracking | Photo documentation & workflows | Sample tracking included |
| Production Management | PO & milestone tracking | Shop floor control & MRP |
| Apparel Inventory Software | Multi-location inventory management | Full warehouse & logistics |
| Sales Order Management | B2B wholesale workflows | Full EDI & order management |
| Line Sheet Software | Digital linesheets & buyer portal | B2B eCommerce module |
| Mobile App | iOS app (Kōbō Connect) | Mobile responsive |
| AI Features | Image generation & AI copilot | Not included |
| Quick Implementation | Days to weeks | 12-24+ months typical |
| Self-Service Setup | No IT team required | Requires IT involvement |
| Financial Integration | Xero & accounting integrations | Built-in finance modules |
| Shop Floor Control | Production tracking & supplier portal | In-house manufacturing MES |
What is BlueCherry?
BlueCherry is an enterprise apparel ERP and PLM suite from CGS (Computer Generated Solutions), a company founded in 1984 with over 5,000 employees globally. It's a comprehensive platform covering planning, manufacturing, logistics, finance, B2B eCommerce, and product lifecycle management.
The platform is built for larger organizations—mid-size to enterprise fashion, footwear, and consumer goods companies—that need deep manufacturing execution, shop floor control, EDI integrations, and full financial modules under one roof.
BlueCherry Strengths
- Full ERP with finance, logistics, and manufacturing
- Shop floor control and MRP capabilities
- Scales to global multi-brand enterprises
- 40+ years of industry experience
- EDI and complex B2B integrations
Considerations
- Steep learning curve (users report 12-24 months to full adoption)
- Enterprise pricing and implementation costs
- Requires IT involvement for setup and maintenance
- Interface may not appeal to creative teams
- No AI-powered features for design or automation
What is Kōbō? The Modern Fashion PLM Alternative
Kōbō is the operating system for fashion brands—from design concept to wholesale delivery. Built by a fashion founder who spent a decade living the chaos of spreadsheets, email threads, and disconnected tools, it delivers full end-to-end apparel PLM capability with modern UX and rapid implementation.
The platform covers tech pack creation, BOM management, supplier collaboration, sample tracking, production management, apparel inventory software, and wholesale sales. Everything you need to stop being the "human middleware" between design and production—without the 18-month implementation projects.
Complete Apparel PLM
Tech packs, multi-level BOMs, supplier collaboration, sample tracking, production, inventory management, and wholesale—all in one system. Built around how fashion brands actually work.
Modern UX
A design-forward interface that creative and operations teams actually want to use. Built for 2025, not retrofitted from legacy systems.
Days, Not Months
Get up and running in days or weeks, not the 12-24 month implementations common with enterprise systems. No IT team required.
Transparent Pricing
Start at $140/user/month with free supplier seats. Modular pricing lets you scale as you grow—no hidden costs or enterprise minimums.
PLM vs ERP: The Core Difference
BlueCherry's Approach
Enterprise ERP with PLM included. BlueCherry is fundamentally an apparel ERP system—finance, manufacturing, logistics, and compliance are the core, with PLM as one module among many.
This makes sense for organizations with in-house manufacturing, complex multi-entity structures, or requirements for full financial consolidation. The trade-off is complexity, cost, and implementation time.
Kōbō's Approach
Fashion-first, design to delivery. Kōbō covers the complete product lifecycle—tech pack software, BOM management, supplier collaboration, production tracking, inventory, and wholesale—built specifically for how fashion brands actually work.
Modern architecture means you get full capability without legacy complexity. Go live in weeks, not years. No IT department required.
The Bottom Line
Choose Kōbō if...
- You want full design-to-delivery capability without legacy complexity
- You need to go live in weeks, not 12-24 months
- Your team deserves a modern UI they'll actually enjoy using
- You want AI-powered tech pack software and workflow automation
- You prefer transparent, predictable monthly pricing
- You work with external suppliers and need supplier collaboration tools
- You want a platform built by fashion industry insiders
Consider BlueCherry if...
- You're a large enterprise with 100+ employees
- You own and operate manufacturing facilities
- You need full ERP with finance, HR, and logistics
- You require shop floor control and MRP
- Complex EDI integrations are a requirement
- You have IT resources for a 12-24 month implementation
- Budget for enterprise software is already allocated
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best PLM software for fashion brands?
The best fashion PLM software depends on your needs. BlueCherry suits large enterprises with in-house manufacturing, while Kōbō offers complete apparel PLM capability with modern UX and faster implementation for fashion brands of all sizes.
Is BlueCherry good for small fashion brands?
BlueCherry is designed for mid-size to large enterprises with complex manufacturing needs. Small to mid-sized fashion brands often find the 12-24 month implementation timeline and enterprise pricing challenging. Kōbō offers the same design-to-delivery capability with faster go-live times.
What's the difference between PLM and ERP for fashion?
PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) focuses on product development—design, tech packs, sampling, and BOM management. ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) handles operations—inventory, orders, finance. Kōbō combines both in one fashion-first platform, while BlueCherry is ERP-first with PLM as a module.
How long does BlueCherry take to implement?
BlueCherry implementations typically take 12-24 months for full deployment. Users report the first 24 months can be difficult before reaching full adoption. Kōbō's modern architecture allows brands to go live in weeks, not years.
Does Kōbō include inventory management for apparel?
Yes, Kōbō includes full apparel inventory management software with multi-location tracking, component inventory, finished goods, purchase orders, and shipment tracking—all integrated with your product development workflow.
Which platform has better tech pack software?
Both platforms offer tech pack creation. Kōbō's tech pack software includes AI-powered features for generating sketches and tech drawings, plus reusable templates and spec libraries. BlueCherry offers tech packs as part of their PLM module.
One workspace to
Design, Develop & Deliver
Design collections, coordinate sampling & production, manage suppliers, process sales, and fulfill orders in one connected platform.