In an industry that thrives on creativity, trend cycles, and global supply chains, structure might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of fashion. But when it comes to product development, structure, in the form of clearly defined tasks and processes, is absolutely essential.

From concept to final product, every collection is a complex web of decisions, timelines, materials, and stakeholders. Without robust processes in place, delays, miscommunication, and costly mistakes become inevitable. Let’s dive into why Delogue sees this as one if the most important functionalities, and explore why tasks and processes are so crucial for the fashion industry, how they shape collaboration both internally and with suppliers, and why using Delogue PLM is a game-changer for managing it all.

The complexity of fashion product development

Fashion product development is a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. Each style or item can have multiple elements, numerous material components, compliance requirements, supplier negotiations, style or component testing and shipping and labeling specifications.

Multiply this by dozens, or hundreds, of styles per season, and it becomes clear: you can’t rely on memory, emails, or spreadsheets to manage this workflow.

Well-defined tasks ensure:

• Everyone knows what to do and when
• Dependencies are clear (e.g., you cannot finalise colors before lab dips are approved)
• Progress is measurable and trackable
• Delays are visible before they become problems

Collaboration starts with clear processes

Whether you’re a designer, product developer, merchandiser, or buyer, collaboration only works when there’s a shared process in place.

Internally, this means:

• Team members understand their responsibilities
• No duplication of effort
• Clear handovers from one department to the next
• Better decision-making due to visibility on progress
  
  

Externally, it means suppliers are aligned on:

• What they need to deliver
• By when
• In what format
• And where it connects to the rest of the product documentation

Tasks help clarify these expectations. Instead of chasing updates or losing track in email chains, everyone is aligned and accountable.

Why Delogue makes it work: Smarter, not harder

So where does Delogue PLM come in? Delogue allows fashion brands to assign tasks that are directly linked to styles and items. This is a major advantage. Why?

• Contextual task management: You’re not managing tasks in a silo - each task is attached to the actual style it affects.
• Traceability: You can easily go back and see what was decided, when, and by whom.
• Supplier visibility: Tasks can be shared with suppliers through the platform, reducing the need for back-and-forth emails.
• Efficiency and speed: Everything is in one place, so teams don’t waste time searching or guessing.

Delogue gives a clear overview across the development process, making it easier for managers to assess risks, identify delays, and support the team with real-time insight.

From chaos to clarity

A process without clear tasks is like a runway without lighting. You might eventually get where you're going, but you’ll waste time, energy, and resources along the way.

With clearly defined, transparent, and style-connected tasks, especially when managed in Delogue, fashion brands can reduce lead times, improve communication, minimise errors and deliver better products on time.

In an industry built on speed and innovation, it's the structure behind the scenes that enables creativity to flourish. Tasks and processes are about enabling just that.

And when your entire team, from design to supplier, can see what needs to be done, when, and how it connects to the bigger picture, you don’t just develop products, you build trust, consistency, and long-term success.

Check out our monthly webinar

Every month, we host a webinar, often in collaboration with our IT solution partners and leading industry brands. The topics vary, but one thing remains the same: we aim to make the fashion industry’s challenges more manageable and share our take on practical, hands-on solutions.

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