PLMV-VP-023 · Rev. A · Released 2026-10-16
Trace One Devex PLM
Trace One Devex PLM is a formula-based product lifecycle management system from Trace One for food, beverage, cosmetics and chemical companies, combining formulation, specifications and regulatory compliance.
Overview
Devex is the formula-based PLM originally developed by Selerant, an Italian-founded software company dating from 1990. Trace One, a Paris-based provider of PLM and compliance software for brand owners and retailers, acquired Selerant in March 2022 while owned by STG, and Devex now carries the Trace One Devex PLM name. In April 2025 Main Capital Partners acquired Trace One from STG. Trace One reports more than 9,000 brand owners as customers and around 500 employees across 15 countries (vendor figures, 2025).
The platform links formulation, specifications, packaging and artwork, supplier collaboration, quality and regulatory compliance. Trace One cites regulatory intelligence covering more than 170 countries, GS1 and GDSN export, artwork proofing and APIs for ERP integration. The 2026 release added Trace One Copilot, an embedded AI assistant that first targets compliance tasks and answers natural-language questions against the Food Law Library and Food News Monitoring service. The release also introduced product versioning against validity dates for labels and compliance assessments, plus a redesigned navigation and charting.
Customers include food and beverage manufacturers, cosmetics and personal care brands and specialty chemical producers. Retailer-side private label tools from the Trace One heritage complement Devex for organisations that manage specifications with many suppliers.
Best fit
Food, beverage, cosmetics and specialty chemical companies that need formulation, specification and multi-country regulatory compliance in one cloud system.
Presence in Europe
Trace One is headquartered in Paris and is majority owned by Dutch software investor Main Capital Partners since 2025.
Strengths
- Deep formulation and specification functionality with a history going back to Selerant's Devex.
- Regulatory content covering more than 170 countries, now accessible through the Trace One Copilot assistant.
- Combined formulation, packaging, artwork and supplier collaboration with GS1 and GDSN export.
- A large brand-owner and retailer network from the Trace One heritage, with strong European presence.
Considerations
- Two ownership changes between 2022 and 2025 make roadmap and product consolidation plans an important due diligence topic.
- The product targets formula-based industries, so discrete engineering and CAD-centric processes are outside its scope.
- Buyers should confirm which Trace One modules and AI features are included in a given subscription, as the portfolio is modular.
Capability assessment
| Bill of materials | Strong |
|---|---|
| Change management | Available |
| CAD data management | Limited |
| Formulation and specifications | Strong |
| Regulatory compliance | Strong |
| Sustainability and LCA data | Available |
| Supplier collaboration | Strong |
| Requirements management | Available |
| AI assistance | Available |
Editorial assessment of documented out-of-the-box functionality, reviewed 16 October 2026. Strong, Available, Limited, or Partner (delivered through partners or add-ons). How levels are assigned.
Integrations and ecosystem
ERP systems via APIsGS1 GDSNPIM systemsE-commerce platformsTrace One Food Law LibraryArtwork and packaging workflows
Sources
Related reading
From the knowledge base
- 007PLM for Process Industries: Formulas, Recipes and Specifications
- 022Product Compliance Software in the PLM Stack
- 036AI-Assisted Compliance Screening for Products and Materials
- 011PPWR Explained: EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation
- 019EUDR: Deforestation Regulation and Product Traceability
- 020Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and Product Data
- 026DAM and PLM Integration: Connecting Media and Product Data