OpenText Information Archive - DeSL Integration and Automation

Common Integration Use Cases Between OpenText Information Archive and DeSL

OpenText Information Archive and DeSL complement each other well in environments where fashion and retail organizations need to retain product, compliance, and operational records while keeping active PLM processes efficient. DeSL manages the creation and collaboration of product development data, while OpenText Information Archive provides secure, compliant long-term retention and controlled access to finalized records.

1. Archive completed product development records after seasonal line closure

Data flow: DeSL to OpenText Information Archive

When a fashion season or collection is closed, DeSL can send finalized product specifications, tech packs, BOMs, approvals, and sample history to OpenText Information Archive for long-term retention. This reduces clutter in the active PLM environment while preserving a complete record of what was approved and released.

Business value: Improves PLM performance, supports audit readiness, and reduces storage and administration costs.

2. Retain compliance evidence for product approvals and quality sign-off

Data flow: DeSL to OpenText Information Archive

DeSL approval workflows can archive sign-off records, change approvals, test results, and quality documentation into OpenText Information Archive once the workflow is complete. This creates a defensible record for internal audits, supplier disputes, and regulatory reviews.

Business value: Strengthens governance, supports traceability, and reduces risk in product approval processes.

3. Preserve supplier collaboration history and contract-related product documents

Data flow: DeSL to OpenText Information Archive

Supplier communications, development agreements, material certifications, and versioned product documents can be archived from DeSL after the sourcing or development phase ends. This is especially useful when multiple vendors contribute to a style or material package and historical evidence must be retained.

Business value: Improves supplier accountability, simplifies dispute resolution, and ensures long-term access to critical records.

4. Archive obsolete product data when styles are discontinued

Data flow: DeSL to OpenText Information Archive

When products are discontinued, DeSL can pass the final product master, design history, and associated documentation to OpenText Information Archive. This allows teams to remove inactive items from operational PLM views while keeping a searchable archive for reference, legal, or merchandising needs.

Business value: Keeps active product data clean, reduces user confusion, and maintains access to legacy product information.

5. Provide archived access for legal, compliance, and audit teams

Data flow: OpenText Information Archive to DeSL, or shared access from both systems

Compliance, legal, and internal audit teams can retrieve archived DeSL records through OpenText Information Archive without reopening retired product records in the live PLM system. This supports controlled access to historical product decisions, approvals, and documentation during investigations or audits.

Business value: Reduces dependency on legacy PLM data, improves access control, and lowers operational burden on product teams.

6. Retain change history for product revisions and design iterations

Data flow: DeSL to OpenText Information Archive

As styles move through multiple revisions, DeSL can archive superseded versions of specifications, artwork, and BOMs once a final version is released. This ensures the organization can reconstruct the full design evolution if needed for quality issues, claims, or future product redevelopment.

Business value: Supports traceability, reduces version confusion, and protects the business in case of product disputes.

7. Support legacy PLM decommissioning while preserving historical product records

Data flow: DeSL to OpenText Information Archive

If older PLM repositories or inactive DeSL records need to be retired, OpenText Information Archive can serve as the system of record for historical product data. This enables IT to decommission older storage or reduce active system footprint while maintaining compliant access to archived content.

Business value: Lowers infrastructure and support costs, simplifies system landscape, and reduces risk during modernization initiatives.

8. Centralize retention and disposition policies for product development content

Data flow: Bi-directional governance alignment, with DeSL sending records to OpenText Information Archive for retention management

DeSL can classify product development records by type, season, or business unit, then hand them off to OpenText Information Archive where retention schedules and disposition rules are enforced. This creates a consistent policy framework for how long different product records are kept and when they are disposed of.

Business value: Improves policy compliance, reduces manual record management, and ensures consistent retention across the product lifecycle.