CAD Tech News (#135)

Dassault Systèmes Marries 'the Old, Good SOLIDWORKS' to Modern Cloud Platform

Developer of the venerable MCAD software portfolio seeks the best of both worlds, striving to provide users with access to new services without losing the familiar application experience.

By Cadalyst Staff

Many dedicated users of SOLIDWORKS keep a close eye on two events each year: SOLIDWORKS World, which was often held in February, and the release of each annual software update in the fall. The former provides a peek at which new features the company is working on, and which have been most requested by users; the latter reveals which ones made it into the software.

This year, both elements of that long-running schedule broke from tradition. SOLIDWORKS World was replaced with 3DXPERIENCE World, expanding the event's audience to include users of Dassault Systèmes' ENOVIA, SIMULIA, and DELMIAWORKS products. And during the launch of SOLIDWORKS 2021 this month, SOLIDWORKS CEO Gian Paolo Bassi explained that the "What's New" update would differ from the usual template.

"This year, 'What's New' is a little bit different, because a lot of things are new in the life of SOLIDWORKS," Bassi said. "For instance, SOLIDWORKS the brand is becoming stronger, is expanding its reach with the addition of acquisitions." For example, SOLIDWORKS is working closely with the recently acquired DELMIAWORKS to expand capabilities in areas such as enterprise resource planning (ERP) — which is especially important during the current pandemic-driven surge in demand for flexibility in manufacturing, he explained.

Whereas the annual software update used to highlight new functionalities and capabilities in the company's flagship products first and foremost, the focus this year was on larger changes. "What is happening, and actually started long ago, 'What's New' is now expanding to an entirely new portfolio: It's called 3DEXPERIENCE Works ... an entire, completely new domain, and we are expanding the capability into, for instance, simulation, or governance. Design engineering is our strength, but we are expanding there as well, for instance with the capabilities to design anywhere, anytime, on the cloud, on the browser. And all of this is fully integrated with everything our customers use and know," Bassi assured the audience.

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BIM Software Market Will See Double-Digit Growth in Coming Years, Cambashi Predicts

The market for building information modeling (BIM) software is expected to reach $10 billion this year, then shake off a pandemic slump to grow at 13% CAGR through 2024.

By Cadalyst Staff

Cambashi — a global market research, industry analysis, consulting, and training firm focused on engineering and industrial software markets — recently released its forecast that the market for building information modeling (BIM) software will reach $10 billion this year. In addition, the market will add more than $6 billion in revenue over the next four years, growing at 13% CAGR (compound annual growth rate).

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