Why Product Development Is Now a Leadership Priority | Customer Insights with DSC Software AG

Product development is becoming a strategic leadership priority. Here’s why an integrated PLM approach matters. In this interview, Sarah Mei Niesel from SAP speaks with Achim from DSC Software AG, an SAP partner, about why product development can no longer be treated as a purely operational function. As markets change faster, product portfolios become more complex, and decision cycles continue to shrink, organizations need greater transparency, stronger governance, and better access to trusted product data. You’ll hear why product development is increasingly a C-level concern, with direct impact on competitiveness, profitability, and business resilience. Achim explains how shorter innovation cycles, rising customer expectations, and growing product complexity are changing the way companies need to steer product development. The discussion also covers why leaders need clear goals, reliable data visibility, and fact-based decision-making to create value from product development. The conversation explores common challenges that organizations often underestimate, including complex data structures, locally adapted processes, knowledge transfer, and workforce transformation. Achim also explains why isolated optimizations are no longer enough. To unlock the full value of PLM, companies need an integrated, end-to-end approach that connects product development with manufacturing, supply chain, external partners, and broader business objectives. Watch to learn how an integrated PLM strategy can help organizations reduce complexity, improve transparency, support knowledge transfer, and build a stronger foundation for future-ready product development. Read the full SAP Community article: Why strategic leadership in product development will make or break your future https://sap.to/6058BEdPH4 Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction 01:06 - Why product development is a leadership topic 01:41 - Challenges organizations often underestimate 02:20 - Why an integrated PLM approach matters 03:02 - How DSC Software AG supports PLM transformation 03:19 - Closing remarks Follow us on social: LinkedIn: https://sap.to/6051BEdPH7 Instagram: https://sap.to/6053BEdPHh Facebook: https://sap.to/6055BEdPyB Threads: https://sap.to/6057BEdPyD About SAP: As a global leader in enterprise applications and business AI, SAP stands at the nexus of business and technology. For over 50 years, organizations have trusted SAP to bring out their best by uniting business-critical operations spanning finance, procurement, HR, supply chain, and customer experience. For more information, visit: https://sap.to/6058BEdPyE #SAP #PLM #ProductDevelopment