PLM software can be accessed in different forms. You can install it as a client software and access it by logging in using user ID and password provided by administrator. This is called rich client which gives you full fledge functionalities. Now a days all PLM vendors are moving towards web based access where you can open PLM software in a web browser. There are also other methods like a light weight client and web client which are nothing but variations of first two methods. Software has different menus, icons, buttons to perform different operations like creating part, master data , BOM or searching etc. It also has workflows which can be used for approvals.