What's New & Next for FDM4?

2026 Newsletter Q1

Feature #1

Automatic creation of finished goods SKUs in Order Entry streamlining style and item setup while reducing manual data entry.

Click the + for More Information

Data automatically created:
A new style including
design is created along with
colors, sizes, and items, and
auto copies the blank style
information.

These finished good SKU’s
can have their own set
pricing and costing when
reorders occur. A cross
reference by order line
will display customers
item numbers/name to be
referenced for possible label
creation.

  •  When a finished goods SKU is created in Order Entry, FDM4 automatically generates a corresponding style with its design, including associated colors, sizes, and items. The system also copies the blank style information to the finished goods SKU.

  • When production is finalized, inventory for the blank SKU is reduced, while inventory for the finished SKU is increased.

  • These finished goods SKUs can have their own pricing and costing applied when reorders occur.

  • A cross-reference by order line displays the customer’s item number and name, which can be used for label creation if needed.

New Feature #2

Simplified creation of purchase orders in Order Entry with direct allocations, improving inventory management.

Once you click the create PO it automatically loads the order line which can then be dragged individually / or collectively to create a PO for a specific vendor or multiple vendors.

Feature #3

Enhanced pricing and costing in Order Entry include margin calculations that factor in decoration charges, helping maximize profitability on every order.

New Feature #4

Decoration of Non-Inventoried Items

In Order Entry, you can add a non-inventoried item to be decorated by a third party and then drop shipped once production is complete.

We will be showcasing all of these new features in the first session of our quarterly FDM4 Demo Series.

Sign up now by emailing us at demo-series@fdm4.com and keep an eye on your inbox for more details coming soon!

What's New Next for FDM4

Customer Buzz

Leed’s a division of PCNA and one of the world’s leading suppliers of customized hard goods and apparel, successfully went live on FDM4 in July 2025! Thanks to everyone at FDM4 and Leed’s who went above and beyond to help make this “go live” a success.

FDM4 v18 Upgrades. We are excited to share that five clients have already gone live on the new FDM4 v18, with six more scheduled for v18/v19 in 2026!

To start planning your upgrade, please contact Sales or your Support team.

Technical Corner

Advancing Security, FDM4 has furthered our investment in Palo Alto Networks and we are actively refreshing our entire network infrastructure to move all network traffic through the Palo Alto Platform for enhanced visibility and advanced threat alerting. All internal and remote FDM4 user access has been transitioned to GlobalProtect, providing encrypted, identity-based connectivity with continuous device posture validation.

We look forward to sharing continued progress over the coming year.

Technology Roadmap Update

As discussed at the 2023 FDM4 Users Conference, our future direction involves transitioning from IBM AIX to Intel hardware running Linux. We have now confirmed that all future enhancements and new versions of FDM4 will be developed exclusively for the Linux operating system using Progress version 12.8 or higher. Progress has discontinued security updates for version 11.7 on AIX, as well as all earlier versions.

Please begin planning accordingly to ensure your FDM4 software remains current and fully supported.

2025 Q4 - 2026 Q1Events

Our Events section highlights the conferences, industry trade shows, and community events where FDM4 has been proud to participate. Explore where we are going, where we’ve been and how we continue to engage with the events that shape our industry.

  • FDM4 Users Group

    The FDM4 Users Group held on September 3–4 in Nashville, TN, was not only a success but also a lot of fun. We are also excited to announce that the Users Group will return to a spring schedule, with the next event planned for Spring 2027.

  • Printing United

    FDM4 was thrilled to return as an exhibitor at the Printing United event in October 2025. We are also confirmed for the Printing United Expo 2026 in Las Vegas, September 23–25, 2026. Mark your calendars and visit us at booth C2283!

  • PPAI

    FDM4 elevated our presence at PPAI Expo, January 2026, with the debut of our new 20x20 booth design! We made new connections and enjoyed hosting our clients at KUMI Restaurant. We have already secured our booth for 2027, see you then.

  • Impressions Expo

    FDM4 has been exhibiting at ISS/Impressions Long Beach for over 20 years, and 2026 was no exception. We’re proud to be at the forefront of innovation in the printed apparel industry and have already confirmed our participation for 2027.

Employee Spotlight

Our Employee Spotlight shines a light on the talented individuals behind FDM4. Their expertise, passion, and dedication not only drive our innovation and success but also ensure our clients receive the exceptional support they rely on every day. Through their commitment to service and partnership, they help our clients get the most out of FDM4.

Customer Support Spotlight

Congrats to David Ratcliffe for his outstanding dedication and expertise in helping lead our team in a successful FDM4 “go live” of Leed’s, PCNA.

Programmer Spotlight

A shoutout to Jessica Crowson for doing a fantastic job as one of the key programmers on her very first install—her skill and dedication helped make the project a success!

IT Department Spotlight

A huge thank you to Jason Kensett in IT for all his efforts in optimizing Alo and Bella+Canvas server environments ahead of the 2025 holiday season.

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