The 3DEXPERIENCE platform is revolutionising how businesses operate by providing a centralised, cloud-based solution for collaboration and project management across various disciplines. From manufacturing to healthcare, this platform offers 21st-century solutions that cater to modern needs. Below are six compelling reasons why our customers are embracing the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

1. The platform is hardware-independent

SOLIDWORKS is powerful software, but it often requires significant investment in high-end laptops or desktop computers. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform removes this hardware requirement by offering tools that are entirely cloud-based, with all processing done on the server. All you need is a browser.

This cloud-based approach means that the platform can be accessed on any device using your 3DEXPERIENCE ID, eliminating the dependency on the Windows operating system. Users on Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, and Linux can all access the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and, by extension, SOLIDWORKS (using SOLIDWORKS Connect).

2. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform is not just SOLIDWORKS on the cloud

The 3DEXPERIENCE platform is more than just an alternative way to use SOLIDWORKS; it’s an evolution of the software. Apps like xDesign enhance the functionalities of SOLIDWORKS, making the transition from desktop to cloud seamless while introducing new features.

2.1. Command parking

Command parking allows users to add prerequisite features or geometry while another feature is active. In SOLIDWORKS, the command must be canceled to add these features.

2.2. Xshape

Xshape enables free-form subdivision modeling, ideal for designs requiring organic shapes. It allows faster and more flexible creation of freeform shapes compared to standard parametric surface modeling.

2.3. Design guidance

Design guidance in xDesign takes inputs on the forces your part will experience and where it will be fastened, generating a new shape or modifying the existing design to optimise it.

2.4. Super features

Switching between an extruded boss to an extruded cut and other features like thin feature, surface, revolve, and sweep can be done with a single click, without breaking references.

2.5. Design assistance – AI in CAD

Design Assistance, powered by AI Machine Learning, helps with pattern features, duplicate mates, and more, enhancing efficiency in CAD tasks.

3. Better Administrative Control

Software installations and upgrades can be time-consuming and prone to errors. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform eliminates these issues. With a 3DEXPERIENCE ID and a reliable internet connection, users can always access the latest version of the platform without manual upgrades.

Roles replace licenses on the platform. Each role contains a collection of applications that can be managed easily by administrators. This simplifies administrative tasks and increases the value of what you pay for.

4. Collaboration and Project Management – Made for Engineers

The platform supports interdisciplinary collaboration through message boards, dashboards, and Cloud Data and Lifecycle Management. These tools enable efficient documentation and project file management, reducing the need for meetings and streamlining communication.

4.1. Cloud data management

Cloud Data Management automatically manages revisions, backs up all file versions, and allows for the approval of finalised designs. It provides a seamless way to handle all project-related data, ensuring that everyone on the team is always working with the latest information.

4.2. User groups

Creating user groups helps streamline collaboration and improve productivity by reducing the steps required to share content or invite new users to applications. User groups can be assigned access, added to communities, and assigned roles, saving administrators significant time and effort.

4.3. Collaborative tasks

Collaborative tasks provide an intuitive way to track and prioritise projects. Users can control task maturity, define estimated durations, and assign responsible individuals or groups, ensuring that projects stay on track and team members remain accountable.

4.4. 3DNotification center

The 3DNotification Center keeps users updated with real-time notifications about activities on the platform, helping teams stay informed and responsive.

5. Personalisation capabilities through dashboards

The 3DDashboard app, part of the Business Collaborative Innovator role, allows for a personalised environment based on individual needs. Users can create dashboards with a group of apps they use together, focusing on the apps and features that are important to them.

5.1. Customisable tabs

The 3DDashboard app contains tabs with an open area where other apps can be added. Tabs can contain a single app or multiple apps, with no limitations on the number of tabs or apps. This flexibility allows users to create dashboards that group commonly used apps, enhancing efficiency and user experience.

6. Collaboration with other software

The 3DEXPERIENCE platform facilitates collaboration with other CAD software, including Altium Designer, AutoCAD, CATIA V5, Creo Parametric, DraftSight, Inventor, NX, and Solid Edge.

6.1. Collaborative designer for AutoCAD

Enhances the design environment with embedded capabilities to improve productivity, allowing users to save data to the platform and access management capabilities.

6.2. Collaborative designer for Creo Parametric

Allows users to save data to the platform, access management capabilities, and search for components, all from within the Creo Parametric interface.

6.3. Office Document Collaboration

The platform allows the preview of office documents like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files using the 3DPlay app. Users can markup documents, modify annotations, highlight text in PDFs, and share annotated markups via comments, streamlining document collaboration.

These are just some of the standout features associated with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform. As technology advances, businesses realise the need to update their work practices. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform provides a solution that fits into everyday life, using functionalities we are accustomed to and wrapping them into accessible apps.