Whether you’re in manufacturing, retail, or any industry managing your product specifications efficiently is crucial. When dealing with complex product labels data, it is essential to have the right tools, and it’s here where specification management software comes handy. In this article, we take a dive deep into all the top specific management software that you can use. 

What are specification management software?

Like the name suggests, a specification management software is used primarily to create, organize, and maintain product specifications. These tools help you store a large amount of data including product dimensions, material specification, compliance and regulatory requirements, and more. A specification management software allows you to centralize your data in the system and, allows teams to collaborate seamlessly, ensuring accuracy, and consistency. 

What are the benefits of using specification management software? 

Comparing multiple spreadsheets and going over emails can be hard. Here’s how using a specification management software can offer you a host of benefits. 

1. Removes the pain of manual work 

The days of Excel and spreadsheets are long gone. We cannot imagine wasting our time on going back into each spreadsheet and making individual entries. While a spreadsheet doesn’t offer a few options like editing across a larger team, – a specification management tool does. It helps you collate your data in a single platform that allows teams to validate data and work better together. 

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‍2. Offers transparency in data 

For product development and management, controlling specification changes are crucial. With a specification management software, you can offer permissions to edit, view, and update data whenever needed. It also helps you track version changes and the entire process of how it is managed and approved. They give you a transparent view of the entire workflow, allowing you a high level of data integrity where each change is audited according to set rules.  

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3. Integrate and onboard on the go 

Another great benefit of using a specification management system is that it helps you to integrate with your existing tool stack. Being a cloud-based platform it helps in bringing everything on to a single platform and streamlining your workflow. 

It also allows you to onboard your third party vendors and suppliers that are involved in the specification, creation, and approval process. In cases of co-manufactured products, adding your co-manufacturer to the software is essential as they will hold the majority of product specification information. In other cases, you can also share the specification to external suppliers which helps you save time and cost.‍

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4. Comply with regulatory requirements 

Every specification management software centralizes your data with features to track and manage all regulatory requirements. They include features that can ensure your products meet necessary standards and regulatory requirements, avoiding any kind of compliance risks that can likely occur.

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Top 8 best specification management software you should check out

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#1 - Artwork Flow

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Docs by Artwork Flow is a standout feature that allows users to not only create their own specification document but also build custom rules that can help review their labels and flag errors, if any. 

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Unlike other specification management tools that have a set of prerequisites pushing users to work only around those parameters, Docs by Artwork Flow offers users tremendous flexibility, allowing them to create their own specification documents and directly create rules to review labels from the document. Whether you want to check your pack copy, send out design briefs, or even just create a specification management sheet from a blank document, Docs is your answer. 

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We built Docs to solve two problems – develop products in your own way and achieve 100% label compliance. With Docs, you can simply import your entire specification sheet via .csv or .doc files in bulk and remove the pain of manual entry. Additionally, you can create your custom rules and let ComplyAI, our AI engine to ensure your labels remain compliant. To see how Docs can help you move from start to finish seamlessly, book a demo today! 

Also read: The Essential Guide to AI-powered Label Compliance

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#2 - Specright

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Specright is one of the most popular specification management software out there. It is a well-designed software that can revolutionize the way organizations edit, view, manage, and collaborate on their product specifications. They offer a user-friendly interface that allows you to streamline the process of creating and sharing specifications more efficiently and effectively. 

Features you should look out for: 

• Seamless supplier collaboration: Specright has streamlined the entire supplier collaboration process for several organizations. It offers an intuitive interface that allows you to share specifications, communicate requirements and manage supplier relationships. This helps in building transparency and enhances collaboration across the supply chain. 
• Customizable template stack: Specright offers a wide variety of customizable templates that you can use to create standardized specification formats. You can also tailor these templates to your unique needs. This enables you to have consistency across all specifications and simplifies the process of creating specification for every product individually. 
• Version control: Specright’s version control feature helps you to track changes made to specifications over time. It not only helps you track your revisions but also ensure that all your teams are working on updated information every single time.  

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Pros:

• Offers an intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to navigate and utilize its features.
• Offers a wide variety of templates and workflows that gives you a personalized experience and helps you align it to your process. 
• Acts as a comprehensive solution for managing specifications, straight from creation to collaboration, providing a one-stop platform for all specification related needs. 

Specright provides customizable solutions to solve existing problems with spec data and to streamline current processes to increase efficiency. It's a relational database, so the spec data and supplier data can be sorted, connected, and visualized as desired, enabling admins and users to manage and use the data.

Rating: 4.5/5 

• Jeff C

Cons 

• Despite its user-friendly interface, some of Specright’s features require initial training and initial training. 
• While Specright offers a range of features, its pricing may limit accessibility for smaller teams. 

The initial transfer and architecture was and is a bit stressful. Specright has so much to offer it is hard to isolate the right areas to start. 

Rating: 5/5 

• Verified User

#3 - Ideagen Quality Management 

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Ideagen Quality Management is known for establishing quality assurance capabilities. It is a specification management software designed to streamline quality management processes and ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations. It offers a user-friendly interface with robust features that is great for organizations to manage product specifications, quality control, audits, documentation, and more. 

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Features you should look out for: 

• Controls document versions: Ideagen quality management offers robust document control capabilities that allow organizations to track and manage revisions and ensure they comply with regulatory requirements. 
• Streamlines audit management: Specification management software helps to plan, execute, and track audit processes with internal policies and external standards.
• Mitigates risk: Ideagen offers risk management features that help you identify, assess, and mitigate risk across the organization, helping organizations to achieve better quality and manage risks proactively. 

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Pros: 

• Acts as a great comprehensive solution for quality management, document control, audit management, and risk management.
• Offers a scalable solution that can help accommodate the needs of growing organizations. 
• Integrates with other popular softwares, allowing for seamless data exchange with existing tools and workflows.

Product is great, team is responsive 

Rating: 3.5/5 

• Greg V 

Cons: 

• Users unfamiliar with the usage of a specification management software requiring training and adjustment.
• Offers limited customization options that limit organizations in meeting their specific needs. 

It is sometimes complicated while building workarounds 

Rating: 4/4 

• Brad C 

#4 - SolidWorks MBD

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SolidWorks MBD is another great specification management software best suited for organizations working in the 3D modeling industry. Similar to other specification management softwares it helps users to define, organize, and publish product manufacturing information (PMI) directly within 3D models. Built primarily for engineering teams, SolidWorks MBD aims to reduce reliance on 2D models and build product specifications in a streamlined manner. 

Features you should look out for: 

• Annotate at ease: SolidWorks MBD enables users to edit, review, and add annotations directly onto 3D models, eliminating the need for 2D drawings and reducing any kind of documentation errors. 
• PDF-based publishing: Unlike other specification management softwares, SolidWorks MBD allows users to create and publish models-based PDF documents that offer complete data including 3D views, annotation, and other product management specifications for stakeholders.
• Seamless integration: SolidWorks MBD seamlessly integrates with CAD software, enabling users to leverage existing CAD models and workflows into your process. 

Pros: 

• Helps in enhancing communication between design, manufacturing, and inspection teams, reducing ambiguity and errors that are commonly associated with 2D drawings. 
• Streamlines the product development process by eliminating the need for separate drawings, reducing documentation time, and enabling faster iteration and collaboration.
• With model-based PDF publishing, SolidWorks MBD provides stakeholders with clear and interactive 3D views of product specifications. 

The features easily solve the problem and visualize the results for understanding. 

Rating: 4.5/5 

• Akshit V

Cons: 

• The time taken to transition from traditional 2D drawing practices to model-based definition may require training and then lead to a higher learning curve. 
• The dependency on CAD systems can be restricted to teams in case of scalability. 

The cross-platform integration abilities could be improved.

Rating: 4.5/5 

• Ramani V

#5 - SpecPDM

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Built for product data management, SpecPDM is a specification management software designed to streamline the creation, organization, and distribution of product specifications. SpecPDM offers a simplified, efficient, and a user-friendly platform for managing complex specification data across multiple industries. 

Features to look out for: 

• Centralizes data: SpecPDM offers a single platform that centralizes all product specification data, which makes it easy for teams to locate update information and eliminate any kind of data silos. 
• Version control: SpecPDM's version control feature, allows users to keep track of changes made to specifications over time and avoids errors. 
• SpecPDM automates repetitive tasks and streamlines approval workflows that help to accelerate efficiency and productivity.

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Pros: 

• Offers a straightforward and intuitive interface, making it easy for users to navigate and utilize the platform. 
• Offers ample flexibility for businesses to create customized workflows, templates, and user permissions to align with their specific needs and processes.
• SpecPDM is scalable and can accommodate the needs of growing businesses. 

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Great tool for manufacturing and engineering industries. 

Rating: 3.5/5 

• Verified user

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Cons: 

• It offers limited integration options with other software systems, potentially requiring manual data entry to sync information with existing tools. 
• Advanced users may find SpecPDM lacking in certain advanced features or customization options. 

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The user interface of SpecPDM is not intuitive.

Rating: 4.5/5 

• Jasmin L

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Some other specification management softwares you can check out: 

#6 - DocXellent 

DocXellent is a document-based specification management software solution designed to simplify the creation, organization, and distribution of product specifications. DocXellent empowers businesses to streamline their specification management processes, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and compliance with industry standards. It ensures that documents progress through the appropriate channels according to established protocols. The software also offers scalable solutions to organizations with growing needs.

#7 -Trace One 

Trace One is a PLM and compliance focussed product specification management software. It allows businesses to create customizable workflows and tailor specification documents to their specific needs and preferences. The tool also offers version control capabilities, enabling users to track changes and maintain an audit trail of specification revisions. It facilitates real-time communication and feedback among team members working on specification documents thereby enhancing productivity and efficiency. 

#8 -ENSUR

ENSUR is a DMS (document management system) is yet another specification management platform that helps users to create, organize, and distribute all product specifications seamlessly. Its intuitive interface and varied features helps businesses to manage their specifications and maintain an audit trail of specification revisions. It also offers collaboration tools that facilitate real-time communication and feedback among team members. 

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Finalizing your pick 

Implementing effective product specification management practices are a great way to get a competitive edge. We hope these product specification management software is great for centralizing scattered data, streamlining processes, and enhancing collaboration between teams. Exploring and utilizing these specification management software can help to smooth your operations, improve new product development cycles, and achieve success. 

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