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The DriveWorks World 2024 Event App Is Live!

The DriveWorks World event app is the hub for everything going on at DriveWorks World, including the live broadcast stream and our on-demand technical library.We’ve designed the app to enable you to get the best out of your DriveWorks World experience. Its also packed with downloadable resources, and the full event agenda so you can explore and start learning before the event even starts.

Start exploring the app today and get the most out of your DriveWorks World registration!

If you are already registered for DriveWorks World 2024, check your emails for details on how to access the app. If you haven’t received an email, please get in touch with us at events@driveworks.co.uk.The first time you access the app you will need to create a login. It will ask you for a few details, and to set a password. You will need to use the company email address you used when registering.

If you haven’t yet registered for DriveWorks World 2024, don’t worry there’s still time! Register before 5th April to guarantee access to the event app before DriveWorks World starts.

What Can You Do in the DriveWorks World 2024 Event App?

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See the Full DriveWorks World 2024 Agenda

Check out the details of each of the live sessions at DriveWorks World.

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Add Sessions to Your Personal Schedule

Choose the sessions you want to watch and add them to your own personal schedule.

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Download Your Personal Schedule to Your Calendar

Make sure the sessions are blocked out in your calendar and set reminders for each session.

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Explore the Learning Resources

Learning and training resources to help you get the most out of DriveWorks software.

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New for 2024 Did You Know?

Our Did You Know videos show specific functionality in DriveWorks that you might not know about. Learn how it works, have a go at setting it up yourself and download the .drivepkg to explore the functionality.

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On-Demand Technical Library

Over 100 on-demand technical learning sessions, covering a variety of topics at different skill levels. Watch the sessions relevant to you and your learning, at your own pace.

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Find Answers to All Your DriveWorks World Questions

Got a question about DriveWorks World 2024? You’ll find the answer in our FAQ section.

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Watch the Livestream

We’re broadcasting live from within the event app 2-5.30pm BST on Tuesday 9th April for resellers only and 1pm-9pm BST on Wednesday 10th and Thursday 11th for everyone.

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Participate in Chat & Polls

Chat with other users, ask questions during the livestream and participate in topic-specific polls, all displayed next to the livestream so you don’t miss anything.

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Book A One to One Meeting with A DriveWorks Expert

Schedule a post-DriveWorks World one to one meeting with a DriveWorks Expert to discuss specific topics.

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Ask Technical Questions

During the live sessions you can submit your questions to the presenters, see other attendees’ questions, and even respond to questions if you would like to.

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Share & Vote on Enhancement Suggestions

Share your ideas for the future of our software. See other people’s enhancement ideas and vote on any you would also like to see added to DriveWorks.

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Watch Back Any Live Sessions You Missed

All the live content will be available to watch back after we have finished broadcasting, so you can watch anything you missed at a time that works for you. Ideal if you’re joining us from a different time zone.

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Share Your Feedback, Thoughts & Ideas

We love to hear from you – throughout the event we will be gathering your ideas, opinions and feedback on all things DriveWorks and DriveWorks World.

Whether youre in a different time zone or simply have a busy schedule, you can still be part of DriveWorks World.

DriveWorks World registration gives you access to the event app and all of the on-demand recordings and technical library, ensuring you dont miss out on any valuable insights shared during the event.

The event app will remain open until 10th May so you’ll still have plenty of time after DriveWorks World has finished to access all of the technical content and recordings.

You need to be registered for DriveWorks World to be able to access all of the on-demand content and technical resources in the event app

There’s Still Time to Register for DriveWorks World 2024

And remember, to access the event app you will need to be registered for DriveWorks World

Once you have registered you will receive a confirmation email straight away.

Following that email you will then receive an invitation to create your event app log-in.

You need to be registered before Friday, 5th April to guarantee access to the Event App before DriveWorks World 2024 starts.

DriveWorks software is used by companies from a range of industries, helping them increase sales, streamline processes, and achieve their business goals. DriveWorks is modular, scalable, and incredibly versatile so our customers use DriveWorks in many different ways, building their own design automation and CPQ solutions to suit their company needs.

Thats why sharing customer stories is an important part of DriveWorks World. It enables you to see how other companies have adopted our technology across a range of different industries.

The customer stories we share are designed to enable you to learn how other DriveWorks users have built their implementation, the functionality they have used, the processes they have followed, how they maintain it and their plans for the future. It’s the ideal way to pick up tips, tricks and inspiration for your own implementation.

Don’t miss the customer presentations at DriveWorks World 2024, register now to join us!

Below is a summary of the customers we heard from at DriveWorks World 2023

Dorner Manufacturing

Trading all over the world including in the US, Asia and Europe, Dorner Manufacturingspecializes in built-to-order conveyors.

Dorner presented DTools, the front-end sales configurator they have built using DriveWorks. Dorner’s team talked about the process of creating their configurator and the ease of using DriveWorks to create it.

They showed us how they updated this configurator and their plans for the future. We also saw how Dorner has integrated DriveWorks with their ERP system. Throughout the presentation, the team at Dorner shared their top tips, which were gratefully received by attendees.

WEMA

WEMA GmbH, based in Germany, manufactures electrical resistance heaters and insulation for industrial applications, as well as system parts for moulds for the plastic processing industry.

For this presentation, Tobias Grebe, DriveWorks Product Manager at DriveWorks reseller, Coffee GmbH joined us to introduce WEMA.

Steven Bracke, Head of Virtual Construction at WEMA GmbH at WEMA showed us how they created their sales configurator using DriveWorks. It has allowed them to minimize their error rate during the design and manufacturing processes. Steven also talked about the support they have received from Tobias and the team at Coffee.

PMF-System

PMF solutionsare a manufacturer of customized industrial solutions based in Switzerland. Before DriveWorks, PMF was receiving several requests for similar products. They wanted an online configuration solution to reduce repetitive sales work and to keep up with online shopping trends.

They decided DriveWorks was the correct solution for them because they already used SOLIDWORKS, they wanted instant 3D previews and because of how easy it is to use. They have taken a scalable approach to build their DriveWorks projects, starting small and building up over time. This approach has seen them move quickly with their DriveWorks projects and reap the benefits immediately.

ESLA

For this presentation, we were joined by one of our Authorized DriveWorks Services Partners, Ingenieria SAMAT. They told us about how they have been helping ESLA set up their DriveWorks implementation.

ESLAis a manufacturer of ladders, work platforms, and mobile scaffoldings in Spain.

They have used DriveWorks to create a configurator which has meant that all their processes are controlled, and errors are reduced.

Using DriveWorks, they have been able to raise the percentage of accepted quotations and streamlined their manufacturing process. They have focused on creating a great user experience and used DriveWorks 3D features to make it easy for anyone to configure custom ESLA products.

F. H. Brundle

Just before DriveWorks World, some of our team headed down the motorway to visitF.H.Brundle. They are UK-based wholesalers of steel products which include a market-leading range of handrail and balustrade systems.

Our team recorded an interview with some of the F.H. Brundle team and we played this during the DriveWorks World livestream. F.H.Brundle explained they wanted a solution that would allow internal teams, customers, and distributors to configure balustrade systems to their own dimensions online, then automatically receive order-specific quotes and technical drawings in minutes.

Liveconfigurator is F.H.Brundlesonline 3D configurator which provides quotes and full technical drawings for each custom order.

Bruno Independent Living Aids

Bruno Independent Living Aids is a family-owned company based in the US, that specializes in producing products that help people to live more independently, including stair lifts, scooter lifts, and platforms.

Bruno Independent Living Aids currently has 5 main DriveWorks projects that they are successfully using to save time during their design process.

They have integrated DriveWorks with their ERP system so they can communicate better between teams and eliminate errors.

Bruno have also had great feedback from customers about their new drawings that are generated using DriveWorks.

Extronics

UK basedExtronicsspecialize in developing and manufacturing equipment for use in hazardous areas. They serve customers all over the world in a range of industries such as oil & gas, chemical, pharmaceutical, and mining.

Nick Saunders, Operations Director, explained how the company are using DriveWorks technology to improve their business processes. He shared how they began using DriveWorks to automate CAD as a first win, before implementing a DriveWorks product configurator for Extronics highly configurable range of products. Nick also took us through how they have integrated DriveWorks software with their ERP and PLM systems.

Twin City Fan

Twin City Fanis an industry leading designer and manufacturer of fans, ranging from heavy-duty industrial process fans, to OEM fans. They create customizable fan solutions and have a wide range of product offerings.

Shawn Pantzke, Principle Engineer, told us about how the company are using DriveWorks and how it has benefitted them. Shawn explained some of the technical detail about how they are using hash in DriveWorks to hash the parameterization of their parts into a single string to store in their database, and how it is also integrated into their PDM add-in to get a serial number to give parts a numeric name.

Jackson Electrical Industries

Based in New Zealand,Jackson Electrical Industriesare a supplier of industrial power applications and portable power solutions.

Christopher Siriphone, Project Engineer at Jackson Electrical Industries was welcomed to the event by Ahmed Lasheen, DriveWorks Technical Territory Manager for AsiaPac. Christopher shared how Jackson Electrical Industries is is using DriveWorks 3D technology on their configurable electrical boxes.

Christopher took us through a demo of their 3D product preview and how changes can be easily implemented into the design.

Tool Alliance

Based in California,Tool Alliance manufacture a range of cutting tools. Wade Anderson from SOLVESHOP and Dave Dewey from Base 10 Consultants both supported Tool Alliance through integrating DriveWorks. They were also joined by Mathieu Tapp, Director of Business Development at Tool Alliance. Their presentation explained how Tool Alliance have used DriveWorks to create ‘Speeds and Feeds Calculator’ online, using DriveWorks to solve and deploy complex solutions.

ORBIS Corporation

ORBIS Corporation is a material handling and packaging manufacturer based in the US, operating globally.

Vince Riha, Mechanical Engineer at ORBIS, took us through how the company is using DriveWorks and how they have integrated with SQL. Vince showed us how they are reading and writing data within DriveWorks and the DriveWorks tools they are using to read the database, and set the values of form controls, constants, tables, and other components.

Join Us at DriveWorks World 2024 to Hear More Customer Stories

DriveWorks World 2024 will be hosted virtually and tickets are free for all DriveWorks customers with active subscription, reseller technical staff and authorised DriveWorks partners.

We’ve built an agenda that includes lots of DriveWorks customer stories, enabling you to see real-life examples of DriveWorks technology in action across a range of industries.

DriveWorks World Customer Stories: Watch Again

All of the live customer presentations at DriveWorks World 2024 will be recorded and available to watch back in the event app so you’ll be able to catch up on any that you miss.

And if youre in a different time zone, you can still join DriveWorks World 2024, explore all of the resources in the Event App, and watch any customer presentations you miss, at a time that works for you.

The event app for DriveWorks World 2024 will be live very soon. If youve already registered, well send you an email with information on how to join the app. Keep an eye on your inbox!

You will need to be registered for DriveWorks World 2024 to be able to access the on-demand customer presentation recordings.

Don’t Miss A Thing:
Register for DriveWorks World 2024 to Access On-Demand Sessions

DriveWorks World 2024 will be an amazing event, packed with panel discussions, technology reveals, project run-throughs, workshops, and expert Q&As. It’s your opportunity to join hundreds of other DriveWorks community members from around the world to share knowledge, hear about the latest updates and learn how to get the very best from DriveWorks. See the full event agenda here.

Whether you’re in a different time zone or simply have a busy schedule, you can still be part of the action. Registering for DriveWorks World gives you access to the on-demand recordings and technical library, ensuring you don’t miss out on any valuable insights shared during the event.

Watch Again with On-Demand Access to DriveWorks World 2024

Are you ready to join DriveWorks World 2024? Broadcasting live from 1pm – 9pm BST, or watch on-demand at a time that suits you.

The livestream at DriveWorks World 2024 will berecorded and available to watch again once the broadcast has finished, giving you the flexibility to catch up on all the discussions and expert insights at your convenience.

Catch up on all of the knowledge shared during the panel discussions, project run throughs, workshops and expert Q&As throughout the event.

So if youre in a different time zone, you can still join DriveWorks World, explore all of the resources in the Event App, and watch any sessions you miss, at a time that works for you.

You will need to be registered for DriveWorks World to be able to access the on-demand recordings.

Deep Dive with On-Demand Technical Learning Sessions

DriveWorks World 2024 will also feature over 100 on-demand technical learning sessions.

Put together by experts from the DriveWorks team and our community, these sessions cover a wide range of topics to enhance your DriveWorks skills.

And the best part? You can watch these sessions anytime, even outside the live broadcast hours. Plus, they’ll remain accessible even after the event finishes, so you can revisit them at your leisure.

You will need to be registered for DriveWorks World to be able to access the technical learning sessions.

DriveWorks World Agenda:
Built by DriveWorks Experts

The focus of DriveWorks World is always on sharing knowledge, technical know-how, and handy tips and tricks. Weve built an agenda packed with technical sessions and opportunities to learn directly from the DriveWorks team.

Join hundreds of DriveWorks users from around the world to share knowledge, hear about the latest updates and learn how to get the very best from your software.

The event app for DriveWorks World 2024 will be live very soon. If youve already registered, we’ll send you an email with information on how to join the app. Keep an eye on your inbox!

Register For DriveWorks World 2024 Today

DriveWorks World 2024 will be hosted virtually and tickets are free for all DriveWorks customers with active subscription, reseller technical staff and authorised DriveWorks partners.

If you havent registered yet then what are you waiting for?

Registration is easy using your MyDriveWorks Community Account.

If you dont already have a MyDriveWorks Community account, its quick, easy and free to create one.

DriveWorks 21 shipped with support for a new group login method, Single Sign-On (SSO) which is now supported for Microsoft Entra (formerly Microsoft Azure Active Directory).

SSO is one of those very rare features where it not only makes security better but also improves the end-user experience. SSO improves security because it allows user credentials to be centrally managed by the Microsoft Entra administrator (usually the IT team) in the context of the domain user. It also provides the opportunity to add additional security requirements such as password complexity requirements (length, special characters, etc) and multi-factor authentication (MFA).

The DriveWorks Systems Team is responsible for an internal implementation of DriveWorks Pro – “Internal Projects”. This implementation of DriveWorks has been created purely for business process automation, with no CAD. Everybody in the DriveWorks team uses Internal Projects. There are team-specific Internal Projects and a DriveApp implementation for managing our community users, sales data analysis, license generation, and lots more. We also use Internal Projects to make holiday booking requests, order clothing, and file expense claims.

DriveWorks now has over 60 employees, so managing all these user logins for Internal Projects was becoming a bigger challenge. When the new DriveWorks 21 SSO feature was released, we decided it would be a great feature to adopt in our Internal Projects.

Adopting SSO in our Internal Projects

First, we upgraded the development environment to DriveWorks 21 following our standard process of backing up the database, the group, and the implementation files (an upgrade guide can be found on our public help file).

After the upgrade and testing to ensure the implementation behavior was the same as before the upgrade, we worked with our internal IT team to set up the Entra App. Together, we followed the DriveWorks help file guide on SSO to create and configure an app that serves as the connection point for the group into Entra.

Using the credential keys created from the Entra app, we applied them inside the Pro Server application under the correct group.

Pro Server Application – SSO Credentials Form

The final step in connecting the group to the Entra app was to configure the DriveWorks Live Integration Theme config file. Again, following the online DriveWorks help file we set the keys generated from the Entra app in the DriveWorksUserConfig.xml file.

While still only changing the development environment, the group was connected to the Entra app, the next task was to map the users. This is done inside the Pro Server application itself on the SSO Credentials form. Working our way down our company staff list alphabetically we mapped every DriveWorks user to the corresponding Entra user by simply selecting and saving users from the list. We were cautious performing this mapping as we did not want a situation where an Entra user was mapped to the incorrect DriveWorks user. For reassurance, we had a separate member of staff check the mappings. This did find one or two incorrectly mapped users a helpful reminder, that its always a good idea to have a separate person check your work!

At this point, SSO was set up and ready to go for anybody accessing the group via DriveWorks Administrator. However, it is only a small group of administrator staff who access the group in this way. The majority of the DriveWorks team use the front-end website, powered by the Integration theme. So the final task was building a login experience into this website to allow for SSO login.

Our strategy was to take the example code from the corporate website example and implement it into our existing site. The corporate website example was updated in 21.1 to showcase how SSO login can be implemented. We did make a few stylistic/UX tweaks to better suit our website. However, overall the logic to implement SSO in the client site is very straightforward, in fact, the actual JavaScript code is a one-liner when using the JavaScript Client SDK (.loginSSO())

Lastly, we gave this feature a thorough round of testing amongst a range of different user accounts, across different browsers. Once we were happy the feature was robust and working as expected, we repeated the same process in production. Albeit, not re-writing the website code but instead pushing the code from the development site into production.

We have had the SSO login feature enabled in our Internal Project Group and intranet portal for a number of months now. The feature has streamlined the process for the Systems Team. Whilst there is an initial investment of work to set the feature up (as outlined above), the benefit of the investment is a more secure, maintainable and streamlined login experience. The day-to-day experience of all our staff is improved too. Instead of repeatedly typing in username and password to log into the site, its as simple as a one-click login.

SSO was an entirely new feature that launched with DriveWorks 21.0. In fact, it is only the 2nd login method added to a group in all of DriveWorks software history! Adopting the feature internally as well as engaging with DriveWorks Pro customers who have adopted the feature, we have learned from these experiences and have used the release of DriveWorks 21 Service Pack 1 to make the overall feature more robust. Now looking to the future we plan to improve the experience with better reporting, tooling and assistance when setting up SSO. Watch this space!

We are really interested to hear from anybody who is happy to share their own DriveWorks-SSO story, get in touch using our contact form or post in the MyDriveWorks Forum.

Guest Author: Jake Lawley
DriveWorks Systems Team Manager

Automating everything is Jakes goal – at DriveWorks, and in his personal life. Jake has a background in Computer Science, spent his internship at DriveWorks in the Technical Team, and now heads up our Systems Team. Jake has used DriveWorks software to automate most of our business processes and systems at DriveWorks. He has built our KPI system, which displays metrics and information around our offices to keep us all informed. When hes not automating, hes usually out running.

Join Us at DriveWorks World 2024 to Learn More About How We Use Our Own Software at DriveWorks

Have you registered for DriveWorks World 2024? DriveWorks World is a value-added virtual event, hosted by DriveWorks experts. Its a celebration of innovation, knowledge sharing, and technical expertise free for DriveWorks Customers with Active Subscription, Resellers, and Partners to attend. Our team of DriveWorks Technical Experts will be hosting a number of sessions designed to explain how we use the functionality in DriveWorks in our own Projects.

DriveWorks Drivers connects DriveWorks usersfrom around the world, featuring guest speakerssharing experiencesandencouraging questionsand dialogue about the technology. Sharingtechnical know-how andpractical experienceinformally with each other is something we know many people using DriveWorks like to do.

On March 14th, we hosted the first meeting of DriveWorks Drivers for 2024. DriveWorks Driverswas hosted via Microsoft Teams at 3pm (NZDT) and 3pm (GMT). Hosting at different times provides theopportunityfor ourglobalcommunityto joinat a time that suits them.

Since starting DriveWorks Drivers in 2020, we have really seen the value of getting together quarterly to share knowledge from our own team as well as talk to DriveWorks users from all kinds of industries who are using DriveWorks software.

We had about 85 people in attendance as we shared a short preview of DriveWorks World 2024 as well as news, and technical content.

DriveWorks World 2024 Preview

Our Marketing Manager, Jessica Taylor, joined to share information on our upcoming technical event DriveWorks World. At DriveWorks World, we will be presenting a variety of technical sessions to help our customers learn and get the most from our software. Our CEO, Glen Smith, will be sharing Whats New in DriveWorks 22 and well be joined by several DriveWorks customers sharing how they have built their implementations.

DriveWorks World will be held virtually on April 10th and 11th and registration is open!

DriveWorks and SOLIDWORKS PDM

At both sessions of DriveWorks Drivers, Ahmed Lasheen and Phil Gilbanks provided an overview of how DriveWorks and SOLIDWORKS PDM work together.

During both presentations, we looked at how the SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional Plugin can be configured and setup to work with your existing PDM vaults. We also looked through the different functionality that the plugin adds to your DriveWorks toolbox, such as the functions for PDM search and tasks for checking in and out files or folders. We also covered some general tips and tricks and general rules of thumb when setting up the plugin.

DriveWorks Challenge

DriveWorks Challenge #4 gave our community a chance to play with the creation of dynamic 2D images with a project that was created using DriveWorks 21 lambda functions. We reviewed a wide variety of submissions from an interactive Etch-A-Sketch clone to motion simulations to interactive artwork, stained glass 2D previews, and a printed circuit board layout example. Congratulations to our winners, Zach Long from CHL Systems and Bill Murch from IDM Consulting with a special Honorable Mention for Dorian Koch from Simphonis.

We then revealed DriveWorks Challenge #5 which is open until April 11th for prize submissions,with the winners being announcedlive at DriveWorks World 2024. Well be showcasing some of the challenge #5 submissions at DriveWorks World, but if you’d prefer us not to share your submission then please just let us know.

Final Ascent Simplify Your Rules

In a specially requested Final Ascent Segment, we looked at how to increase the readability, maintainability, scalability, and performance of your rules within DriveWorks. And because rules are everywhere, a small boost in your DriveWorks Rules techniques can be a valuable asset. If you missed it, this Final Ascent segment is available to watch in the MyDriveWorks Learning Portal.

See You in June!

If you have an idea for a future DriveWorks Drivers meeting, drop us an email at drivers@driveworks.co.uk today!

Registration is now open to join us on Thursday, June 6th for our next meeting of DriveWorks Drivers which will be hosted at 1:30pm NZST and 3pm BST.

As a result of the demand for custom products across a wide range of sectors, the ability to streamline processes and maximize efficiency is a challenge for many businesses.

Design automation together with CPQ technology enable businesses to efficiently design, sell, and manufacture custom products.

But what exactly is design automation?

Understanding Design Automation

Design automation is the process of using rules-based logic to automate the creation, configuration, and customization of product designs. It enables organizations to generate complex product configurations quickly and accurately, based on predefined parameters and rules.

Preparing engineering data for custom products typically involves an engineer copying existing 3D CAD models and updating dimensions, suppressing and un-suppressing features, and replacing components to meet the custom specifications. Once the 3D CAD models have been updated, drawings, BOMs, and cut lists can be created.

Design automation tools capture and reuse design, process, manufacturing, and cost estimation knowledge to automatically create the documents and data required to sell and manufacture custom products. By automating tasks within a design workflow, engineers have more time to focus on other important tasks, such as reworking existing designs and double-checking details.

Businesses across a wide range of industries use design automation tools to streamline their product design workflows.

Whether it’s designing customized machinery, architectural structures, or consumer goods, the ability to automate repetitive design tasks not only accelerates the time-to-market but also minimizes errors and ensures consistency in the final product.

70% of businesses are piloting automation technologies

In a 2022 study by McKinsey & Company, 70% of businesses said they are piloting automation technologies in one or more business functions.

88% of businesses said that automation enables them to compete with larger companies

In a recent automation survey, 88% of small to medium businesses said that automation allows their company to compete with larger companies.

The DriveWorks Design Automation Difference

Design automation speeds up the design of custom products, cuts costs, and helps reduce errors. When combined with a CPQ solution, orders are placed and manufactured even faster. It enables seamless communication between all teams involved, boosts sales, and improves productivity.

DriveWorks seamlessly integrates with SOLIDWORKS速 to enable rules-based SOLIDWORKS automation.

By defining rules and logic, DriveWorks design automation technology ensures that every configuration complies with a set of predefined rules and specifications. This not only removes the risk of errors but also enables customers to see a range of different product options without compromising feasibility or manufacturability.

The Value of Rules-Based CPQ

By defining rules and constraints at every stage of the configuration process, businesses can reduce the risk of offering unfeasible or non-compliant product configurations. This not only streamlines the sales process but also minimizes costly errors and rework.

CPQ makes complex configurations easier to sell. Sales reps and customers can quickly and easily configure products using a 3D configurator. With in-built rules working behind the scenes, the configurator automatically checks for compatibility, adjusting options and pricing to a set of pre-determined rules. It ensures the final configuration is feasible for production.

DriveWorks design automation and CPQ for Manufacturing technology solutions automatically generate 3D models, specifications, BOMs, and CAD drawings, so the engineering department receives a complete and accurate breakdown of the custom product requirements. This ensures accuracy in engineering design and removes the need for lengthy dialogue between sales and engineering design teams.

How are DriveWorks Customers Benefitting from the Design Automation Difference?

Using DriveWorks design automation and CPQ technology, A-Line Building Systems, a market-leading manufacturer of steel buildings, sheds, barns, carports, and farm outbuildings isreducing errors and saving time, enabling them to focus on quality and professionalism.

Automating our quoting process using DriveWorks has helped us to save time and money, and reduce errors, without compromising on quality or professionalism.

Craig Barker, Director at A-Line Building Systems

If you haven’t attended DriveWorks World before, you may be wondering what happens at the event.
In this blog we’re sharing some highlights from DriveWorks World 2023 to give you a better idea of why it really is an event that you don’t want to miss, together with a preview of what’s coming up at DriveWorks World 2024.

Starting with some facts and figures from DriveWorks World 2023

950+ DriveWorks users joined DriveWorks World 2023
3 days of knowledge sharing
57 live sessions presented across the 3 days
19 hours of live sessions presented
11 customer presentations
127 on-demand learning sessions available to watch
168 technical question submissions
608 question and enhancement suggestion upvotes
608 total votes cast in live polls
37 one to one meetings with DriveWorks experts

What DriveWorks World 2023 Attendees Said

“All the content was well produced, inspiring and of course entertaining.”

“The customer stories had so many great insights and pertinent examples to what were hoping to achieve”

Looking ahead to DriveWorks World 2024

With less than a month to go until DriveWorks World 2024, there’s still time to secure your place and join the hundreds of other attendees who have already registered.

DriveWorks World 2024 will be hosted virtually and tickets are free for all DriveWorks customers with active subscription, DriveWorks resellers and authorised DriveWorks partners.

See the full agenda here.

Cant Join Live? Register for DriveWorks World to Watch On-Demand

The livestream at DriveWorks World 2024 will berecorded and available to watch again once the broadcast has finished. Catch up on all of the knowledge shared during the panel discussions, project run throughs, workshops and expert Q&As throughout the event. And if youre in a different timezone, you can still join DriveWorks World, explore all of the resources in the Event App, and watch any sessions you miss, at a time that works for you.

You will need to be registered for DriveWorks World to be able to access the on-demand recordings.

Improve your DriveWorks skills with the DriveWorks World 2024 Technical Library

Alongside the live broadcast at DriveWorks World 2024, there will also be over 100 on-demand technical learning sessions created by experts from across the DriveWorks team, and our community.

The sessions will be available throughout DriveWorks World, so you can watch them even when were not broadcasting live. They will also remain available after the event so you dont need to rush through them.

You will need to be registered for DriveWorks World to access the technical learning sessions.

Reseller Preview Tuesday, 9th April

Broadcasting live from 2pm to 5.30pm BST

DriveWorks Resellers join us for an exclusive DriveWorks Reseller Preview on Tuesday, 9th April.

This is an opportunity for resellers from around the world to spend valuable time with the DriveWorks team and hear the latest news and updates from us.

Well be sharing tips, tricks and resources to help you train and support your DriveWorks customers.

There will be sessions for all reseller teams technical, order-admin, sales, marketing and more.

Register For DriveWorks World 2024 Today

If you havent registered yet then what are you waiting for?

Registration is easy using your MyDriveWorks Community Account.

If you dont already have a MyDriveWorks Community account, its quick, easy and free to create one.

DriveWorks Challenge 4 Recap

For DriveWorks Challenge 4we asked you to develop the best use of SVG images in DriveWorks. You could either use the project we provided to create the best SVG image or use the project to create the best use case for SVG images.

DriveWorks Challenge 4 – The Winning Solutions

Firstly, a huge thank you to everyone who took part. We had some very creative submissions, with some participants really going to town. It was really great to see the effort that had gone into all of the submissions.

And the DriveWorks Challenge 4 winners are…

Zach Long and Bill Murch. Congratulations to both of them! They had excellent creative entries and we are very happy to recognize them as DriveWorks Challenge 4 winners.

What’s next? Challenge 5…

For DriveWorks Challenge 5 we’re asking you to develop a new and creative (or familiar) way to select multiple items. Take our DriveWorks Challenge 5 salad configurator and show us how you would give the user the ability to select multiple salad toppings.

You can use the project provided or create your own OR allow users to select and unselect multiple options.

Start DriveWorks Challenge 5 today

DriveWorks Challenge 5 welcomes participants of all DriveWorks skill levelsno need for engineering, IT, or SOLIDWORKS expertise.

Feel free to spend as much or as little time as you want (average time is about 30 minutes), but you can go at your own pace.

Don’t forget, the deadline for prize submissions is April 11th with the winners being announced live at DriveWorks World 2024.

We’ll be showcasing some of the submissions throughout DriveWorks World, so it’s the perfect opportunity to demonstrate your DriveWorks skills in front of a global audience.

How to Join the DriveWorks Challenge 5

Follow 3 simple steps to join the DriveWorks Challenge 5

Log In to the DriveWorks Learning Portal

Head to the MyDriveWorks Community and log into the Learning Portal. The Learning Portal includes learning courses about a variety of topics. Its also home to the DriveWorks Challenge. If you dont yet have an account, its quick, easy and free to create one.

Follow the DriveWorks Challenge Instructions

The DriveWorks Challenge course in the Learning Portal guides you through the steps required to join the challenge.

Theres a video and a downloadable brief, along with all the files you need.

Upload Your Drive Package Submission

Once you have made all of your changes to the provided project, zip your Drive Package up and upload it on the final page of the DriveWorks Challenge course.

Thats it, youre in!

Join Us at DriveWorks World 2024 to See Some of the DriveWorks Challenge 5 Submissions

Have you registered for DriveWorks World 2024? DriveWorks World is a value-added virtual event, hosted by DriveWorks experts.

Its a celebration of innovation, knowledge sharing, and technical expertise free for DriveWorks Customers with Active Subscription, Resellers, and Partners to attend.

We are going to be highlighting some of the DriveWorks Challenge 5 submissions throughout DriveWorks World so register for your place today to be a part of it.

New Updates to DriveWorksLive.com

The configurator examples on driveworkslive.com are a great way to see whats possible with DriveWorks software across many scenarios.

They allow you to get hands on and see what it is like to use a configurator built using DriveWorks software.

The range of different examples show how versatile and customizable the software is to tailor it to your own companys requirements.

To get the full experience, and really see what DriveWorks technology can do, make sure to submit your configuration so you can see the type of sales documentation and manufacturing data, including quotes, BOMs and SOLIDWORKS parts assemblies and drawings, that can be automatically generated using DriveWorks technology.

New Website Examples

Our new website examples demonstrate how DriveWorks configurators can be embedded in a real-world company website so you can see how a DriveWorks configurator brings products to life and can take website and online sales to the next level.

All of the examples also include a Guided Tour, helping you navigate through the website and understand which parts of the website are being powered by DriveWorks.

Screen showing website examples of DriveWorks configurators
DriveWorks configurator for agricultural trailer

Agricultural Trailer

The new Agricultural Trailer Website Example demonstrates how customizable the look and feel of DriveWorks software is. The new example uses the same design automation and 3D rules set as the existing Agricultural Trailer Industry Example, but with a different user-interface and user-experience.

Technical Know-How: This has been done by modularizing the DriveWorks Projects using Specification Host Controls ensuring both examples can use the same 3D and design automation projects.

The Agricultural Trailer website example also includes a rotating 3D preview with a transparent background; demonstrating how DriveWorks can be used to enhance a website outside of the configurator.

Multi-Head Weigher

The new Multi-head Weigher Website Example demonstrates how DriveWorks can be fully embedded inside a website, with the website triggering tasks inside DriveWorks.

Selecting one of the Quick Start Configurations that are part of the website, and outside of the DriveWorks configurator, will trigger tasks inside the configurator to set up a preconfigured product guiding users to select valid product options.

Technical Know-How: In technical terms, this has been done by triggering a Specification Macro from the website using the DriveWorks Live Web API.

Staircase

The new Staircase Website Example demonstrates how DriveWorks can be used to configure dynamic products. In this example, users are given the ability to specify number of flights, number of steps per flight, turn type and stair specific options with a 3D preview of the configured product to help users make the right decisions.

Technical Know-How: The configurators 3D Document uses a combination of the Document Replacer and Duplicate Document Node to achieve the dynamic 3D and looping Generation Tasks have been setup in the background to generate the required SOLIDWORKS files.

The example also demonstrates how animations can be applied to a DriveWorks configurators forms, creating an appealing user interface. Clicking the View Documents or View Summary buttons will trigger the animation.

Technical Know-How: This has been setup by targeting the Frame Control inside the configurators ProjectStyles.css file.

The example also shows how the product specified is fully customizable using DriveWorks software, with this example offering users the ability to configure in millimeters or inches.

Technical Know-How: The conversion between different units has been set up using DriveWorks Rules.

Industry Example Updates

Three Industry Examples have also been updated with new DriveWorks functionality:

Wooden Door

The Wooden Door Industry Example enables users to configure the product in multiple languages.

Technical Know-How: This has been setup using Table functions and the DWLambda functionality added to DriveWorks 21.

Industrial Stairs

This example shows how DriveWorks Rules are evaluating in the background and generating a PDF, on request, to further explain how values are being calculated.

Technical Know-How: This has been setup using the Markdown to PDF Specification Macro task introduced in DriveWorks 21.

Entrance Canopy

The Entrance Canopy Industry Example demonstrates how a product can be configured using a single scrolling page.

Technical Know-How: This has been setup using a Frame Control and its Vertical Scroll Visibility

Deployment

All the new and updated examples have gone through an automated deployment process going from our development environment, through to testing and production. This uses the DriveWorks Data Management Copy Group functionality that can be automated using the Specification PowerPack Task Copy Group. This ensures any changes pushed to the production environment have been thoroughly tested before being used by external users.

Join Us at DriveWorks World 2024 to Learn More About New DriveWorks Functionality

Have you registered for DriveWorks World 2024? DriveWorks World is a value-added virtual event, hosted by DriveWorks experts. Its a celebration of innovation, knowledge sharing, and technical expertise free for DriveWorks Customers with Active Subscription, Resellers, and Partners to attend. Our team of DriveWorks Technical Experts will be hosting a number of sessions designed for you to find out about new DriveWorks functionality and how we manage our DriveWorks implementations.

At DriveWorks, knowledge shapes everything we do. From informing our strategic decisions to empowering our team to develop cutting-edge software solutions, knowledge is at the heart of our success. But our commitment doesn’t stop there. We believe in giving back to our community, leveraging our expertise to contribute positively to the world around us.

Investing In and Sharing Knowledge

We foster a culture of continuous learning and development for the DriveWorks team.

Training is hugely important and we invest in learning and development for everyone. We actively encourage our team to put time aside to research, learn and take certifications, accreditations and training. We also support knowledge sharing with regular lunch and learn sessions and weekly show & tells.

Our commitment to investing in our people and their knowledge has been recognized by Investors in People, having proudly achieved Bronze accreditation in 2014 and Silver accreditation in 2017.

We want to help our community and make DriveWorks a great place to work, so we invest in knowledge for our team, and for our partners. Sharing information internally fosters innovation, and a positive working culture; externally it helps to support our community and facilitate sustainable success for us, and our connections.

We dedicate time to learning about the market. We encourage suggestions and enhancement requests from our customers and take every opportunity to discuss what more we could do. We have invested in an online learning platform, and state of the art training facilities to provide on-site and virtual training, for our team, users and resellers.

We provide a free DriveWorksXpress certification for university students, and work closely with local schools, colleges and universities to promote this opportunity. This not only raises the profile of our product with future users, but it provides skills that will improve career prospects for graduates too. This week, members of the DriveWorks team are at Wrexham University to teach a DriveWorksXpress class and help to get students certified.

Ollie presenting in front of a green screen

A Round Up of How Weve Invested Time and Effort Into Sharing Knowledge

We value the importance of sharing knowledge, in our team, and with our community. Heres a round up of how weve invested time and effort into sharing knowledge.

Learn More About ESG at DriveWorks

At DriveWorks, we are committed to conducting our business in a sustainable and responsible manner anddoing the right thing.

We firmly believe in the principles ofEnvironmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)and have made significant efforts to integrate them into our operations since we started our business in 2001.

In our recent blog we highlighted our efforts to contribute to a sustainable planet, foster a diverse and inclusive workplace, andmake a positive impact on our local community.

How CPQ Drives Sales

Are you losing sales because it’s taking too long to get quotes to customers? Lengthy quote turnaround times can have a big impact on sales rates as slow responses can mean you lose out to your competitors. CPQ enables you to streamline your quoting and sales process.

In this blog, we’ll explore how CPQ solutions boost sales effectiveness.

Guided Selling

Guided selling boosts the performance of your sales teams by making it easier for them to sell customized products. Product configurators run on a range of devices and guide sales reps through the process of configuring custom products. Product and pricing options are presented from a set of pre-determined rules. Sales teams don’t have to remember lots of product options and can easily configure products that can be produced. Rules-based guided selling also makes it easier for sales teams to identify and offer cross-sell and up-sell opportunities to increase average sales values.

Quicker & Accurate Quoting

CPQ technology automatically calculates prices for customized options from a pre-set pricing strategy. Prices update automatically with no need for sales teams to manually calculate complicated pricing options. Instant and accurate quotes are automatically generated, including any applicable discounts, together with drawings and 3D models. This reduces sales cycle times and increases sales conversion and customer satisfaction rates.

Product Visualization

CPQ makes complex configurations easier to sell. Sales reps and customers can quickly and easily configure products using a 3D configurator. This enables customers to see a real-time 3D visual representation of their customized product, removing the chance of misinterpretation and improving the customer sales experience. With in-built rules working behind the scenes, the configurator automatically checks for compatibility, adjusting options and pricing to a set of pre-determined rules. It ensures the final configuration is feasible for production. DriveWorks CPQ for Manufacturing also automatically creates detailed drawings, providing customers with a clear representation of the final product at the point of quoting.

Streamlined Sales Cycle

Sales teams can lose their momentum and sense of urgency when custom products take too long to configure and quoting becomes complicated and slow. Sales opportunities can be lost if prospects receive quotes from your competitors ahead of a quote from your business.CPQ technology streamlines the sales cycle, enabling quicker and more accurate custom product configuration and quoting. Sales documentation is automatically generated and sent to the customer, leading to shorter cycle times and increased sales.

Boost Sales With DriveWorks Design Automation and CPQ Technology

DriveWorks Design Automation and CPQ Technology

As businesses look for new ways to streamline their processes, increase sales, and improve efficiency, CPQ software is one of the digital technology solutions that is being adopted across a range of industries.

Manufacturers using DriveWorks CPQ for Manufacturing have achieved:

  • 50% faster sales onboarding
  • 95% faster quoting
  • 64% business growth

Learn more about how different businesses are using DriveWorks CPQ to improve business metrics

Take a look at how different businesses across a wide range of industries are using DriveWorks design automation and CPQ technology to deliver tangible business benefits.

Join Us at DriveWorks World 2024 to Learn More About CPQ

Have you registered for DriveWorks World 2024? DriveWorks World is a value-added virtual event, hosted by DriveWorks experts. Its a celebration of innovation, knowledge sharing, and technical expertise free for DriveWorks Customers with Active Subscription, Resellers, and Partners to attend. Our team of DriveWorks Technical Experts will be hosting a number of sessions designed to explain how CPQ can enable you to improve your key business metrics.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day 2024, the concept of “building bridges” is important in more ways than one. It’s not just a metaphor; it has real historical and tangible meaning.

This year, we honor some of the remarkable women who have built bridges and paved the way for progress and inclusion. From digital transformation to physical structures, women have played pivotal roles in constructing bridges that unite people all over the world.

Today, we’re celebrating women’s achievements, the progress that has been made toward a world that is equitable and inclusive, and the work that is ongoing to continue that journey.

Building Bridges: Celebrating Women’s Contributions on International Women’s Day 2024

Building Digital Bridges at DriveWorks

At DriveWorks, the concept of bridge building extends to digital bridges that connect teams and businesses in industries all over the world. DriveWorks Vice President & Co-Founder, Maria Sarkar, has worked in partnership with her DriveWorks Co-Founder, Glen Smith, to build digital bridges that link thousands of teams in hundreds of companies worldwide.

She was encouraged by her Gran to be inquisitive, interested in commerce, and give yourself choices. And remembers clearly how the new technology introduced by her Dad at his photo-lithography business heralded a new era for her parents and their staff. Maria is excited to talk about and promote the adoption of new technology, CAD, 3D, and digital transformation, and is a keen advocate of inspiring inclusion and promoting careers in STEM.

The Ladies Bridge – Womens contribution to the building of Waterloo Bridge

During World War II, women in the United Kingdom stepped forward to fill vital roles traditionally held by men. Among their many contributions was the construction of the Waterloo Bridge in London. When many of the male construction workers were moved to the docks, women were brought in to work all along the river, including rebuilding Waterloo Bridge. The bridge is referred to by Thames riverboat pilots as the Ladies’ Bridge as its thought that up to 65% of the construction workers responsible for building it were women. The majority-female workforce wasnt recognized when the bridge was opened and largely still fails to get recognition today. It’s believed that a combination of wartime censorship and loss of official records resulted in womens part in building Waterloo Bridge being largely omitted from history.

In 2005, Historic England recognized womens contribution to the building of Waterloo Bridge with a Grade II re-listing and there is an ongoing campaign, supported by The Womens Engineering Society (WES), to have a blue plaque installed on the bridge to commemorate the women who built it.

The Woman Who Saved Brooklyn Bridge

The story of Emily Warren Roebling is another bridge-building example of female ingenuity and resilience. As the wife of Chief Engineer Washington Roebling, Emily played a crucial role in the building of the Brooklyn Bridge, one of the most iconic landmarks in the United States. When her husband fell ill, Emily stepped in and took on the responsibility of overseeing the bridge’s completion, mastering the complexities of engineering to finish the bridge building.

It took fourteen years to complete the bridge, and her determination and expertise not only helped realize a monumental engineering feat but also shattered stereotypes and helped inspire future generations of women in STEM careers.

How DriveWorks is Inspiring the Next Generation to Bridge the Gap in STEM Recruitment

Education and awareness play vital roles in fostering inclusion and empowering women. Through initiatives such as mentorship programs, educational workshops, and advocacy campaigns, individuals and organizations can create opportunities for women to thrive.

DriveWorks is a company committed to providing opportunities to everyone.

As a company, we are proud to play our part in wider bridge-building action to help reduce the gap in recruitment across STEM industries.

DriveWorks has a long history of supporting young people and fostering inclusion. We consider it to be part of our DNA and were pleased to be able to take on the role of an employer influencer.

Our support for young people includes:

  • introducing careers into STEM subjects at school
  • work experience placements for Year 10 & 11 students
  • a successful university placement program for students in their 3rd year at university and a graduate employment scheme
  • delivering guest university lectures on careers in engineering and computing
  • a certification program for students to learn about automation

Featured Blog

Want to learn more about inspiring inclusion?

The theme for this year’s International Women’s Day is Inspire Inclusion.

As was the case for the Ladies’ Bridge female workforce and Emily Warren Roebling, women have previously often found themselves in positions by default, standing in for their male counterparts, rather than being included from the outset.

At 3DEXPERIENCE World 2024,Aneesa Muthana, CEO of Pioneer Services, a women-owned business, delivered a keynote speech on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), which she describes as empowerment without dividing.

Aneesa broke done DEI this way:

Diversity: hiring qualified people from varied backgrounds

Equity: fair opportunities and compensation

Inclusion: making everyone feel like they belong

To read more about Aneesa’s inspiring speech, click the link below.

DriveWorks World 2024

Wednesday, April 10th & Thursday, April 11th | Virtual | Free to Attend

Broadcasting live from 1pm – 9pm BST, plus a library of on-demand technical sessions

DriveWorks World 2024 isnt just an event; its a community-driven celebration of innovation, knowledge-sharing, and technical expertise for DriveWorks users and resellers.

This is your opportunity to join hundreds of other DriveWorks community members from around the world to share knowledge, hear about the latest updates andlearn how to get the very best from DriveWorks.

DriveWorks World 2024 will be hosted virtually and tickets are free for all DriveWorks customers with active subscription, reseller technical staff and authorised DriveWorks partners.

Plus: Reseller Preview – Tuesday, 9th April

Broadcasting live from 2pm to 5.30pm BST – an opportunity for resellers from around the world to spend valuable time with the DriveWorks team and hear the latest news and updates from us. There will be sessions for all reseller teams technical, order-admin, sales, marketing and more.

“Anyone else excited for an EPIC event? I can’t wait to see some familiar faces”

“The customer stories had so many great insights and pertinent examples to what were hoping to achieve”

The DriveWorks World 2024 agenda is live!

The focus of DriveWorks World is always on sharing knowledge, technical know-how, and handy tips and tricks. Weve built an agenda packed with technical sessions and opportunities to learn directly from the DriveWorks team.

The livestream at DriveWorks World 2024 will be recorded and available to watch again once the broadcast has finished. So if youre on a different time zone, you can still join DriveWorks World, explore all of the resources in the Event App, andwatch any sessions you miss. You will need to be registered for DriveWorks World to be able to access the recordings.

Can’t Join Live? Watch On-Demand

The livestream at DriveWorks World 2024 will be recorded and available to watch again once the broadcast has finished. So if you’re on a different timezone, you can still join DriveWorks World, explore all of the resources in the Event App, and watch any sessions you miss.
You must be registered for DriveWorks World to be able to access the recordings.

Technical Video Library

Available throughout and after the event

Alongside the live broadcast at DriveWorks World 2024, there will also be over 100 on-demand technical learning sessions created by experts from across the DriveWorks team, and our community.
These sessions cover a variety of DriveWorks topics, at different skill levels.
Choose the on-demand sessions that are relevant to you and your learning. Learn at your own pace and at a time that suits you. These on-demand sessions will be available throughout DriveWorks World, so you can watch them even when were not broadcasting live. They will also remain available after the event so you dont need to rush through them.

Register For DriveWorks World 2024 Today

If you havent registered yet then what are you waiting for?

Registration is easy using your MyDriveWorks Community Account.

If you dont already have a MyDriveWorks Community account, its quick, easy and free to create one.

As more customers want customized product options, the complexities of the sales, design, and manufacturing processes increase. Businesses often face several challenges, from managing complex pricing strategies to accurately and quickly customizing quotes and efficiently designing and manufacturing custom products. If your business is facing these challenges, it might be time to look at implementing a Configure, Price, Quote (CPQ) solution to streamline your sales, design, and production processes.

Here are 10 signs that indicate your business could benefit from implementing a CPQ solution:

1. Increasing Complexity in Quoting Processes

As the number of different customized options that you offer increases, so does the complexity of generating quotes. Manual quoting processes become slow and quote error rates increase, especially when dealing with lots of different product configurations and pricing options. CPQ solutions streamline and automate the quoting process using customized rules and pricing.

2.Inconsistent Pricing and Quoting Errors

Inaccurate quotes can lead to lost sales opportunities and damage your brand image and customer satisfaction levels. If you’re seeing inconsistencies in pricing or frequent quoting errors, it’s a sign that you need to review your quoting process. CPQ solutions automatically deliver accurate pricing from pre-set rules, removing the need for manual calculations.

3. Lengthy Sales Cycles and Quote Turnaround Times

Delays in generating quotes can frustrate both sales teams and customers, increasing the length of your sales cycle and potentially causing deals to fall through. A CPQ solution can automate and speed up the quoting process, reducing quote turnaround times and shortening sales cycles.

4. High Volume of Customization Requests

Customers increasingly expect highly customized products tailored to their unique requirements. Handling a high volume of customization requests manually can overwhelm sales, design, and production teams. CPQ solutions enable sales reps to sell customized products using 3D product configurators with in-built pricing rules. CPQ for Manufacturing solutions automatically produce 3D models, drawings, and BOMs, freeing up engineering design teams and streamlining the production process.

5. Difficulty in Managing Discounts and Promotions

Managing discounts, promotions, and pricing rules manually can lead to inconsistencies and loss of revenue. CPQ tools use a pre-determined set of pricing and discount rules that automate the discounting process, ensuring products are correctly priced and margins are maximized.

6. Lack of Scalability in Quoting Processes

As your business grows, traditional quoting methods may struggle to keep pace with the increasing demand. CPQ solutions are scalable, allowing you to start small and then handle growing quote volumes without compromising efficiency or accuracy.

7. Rising Sales Team Frustration and Disengagement

Slow and complicated quoting processes can be demotivating for sales teams, leading to disengagement and reduced productivity. Implementing a CPQ solution automates the production of accurate quotes, freeing up time for sales reps to focus on building customer relationships and closing deals.

8.Poor Customer Satisfaction

Inaccurate or delayed quotes can impact sales, damage your brand reputation, and lead to poor customer satisfaction. By implementing CPQ technology, you can deliver accurate quotes quickly, enabling an improved customer buying experience and increased overall customer satisfaction.

9. Challenges in Aligning Sales, Design & Production Efforts

Disconnected sales, design, and production processes can lead to inefficiencies and communication gaps. CPQ software enables seamless collaboration between teams, delivering efficiencies across the entire quote-to-cash cycle.

10. Increased Manufacturing Errors

Manufacturing errors can lead to product defects, increased costs, and damage to brand reputation. CPQ for Manufacturing (CPQM) solutions enable manufacturers to streamline the manufacturing processes for products with multiple configuration options, reducing error rates and improving production efficiencies.

The Benefits of CPQ

According to research fromPWC, companies that have a CPQ tool reportsignificant improvements in key business metrics across the sales lifecycle.

DriveWorks CPQ for Manufacturing software enables you to build and manage your owncustom configure, price, quote solution that automatically generates documents and data for sales and manufacturing.

Read our recent blog to learn more about the key benefits of CPQ

Learn more about Creating a CPQ Solution Using DriveWorks

Upcoming Webinar – Introduction to Creating a CPQ Solution Using DriveWorks

26th March 2024 @ 3pm GMT and 27th March @ 1pm AEDT

Join this webinar to find out more about using DriveWorks to create a CPQ solution for your organization. Our product experts will share their knowledge and give you an introduction to DriveWorks CPQ.

Join Us at DriveWorks World 2024 to Learn More About CPQ

Have you registered for DriveWorks World 2024? DriveWorks World is a value-added virtual event, hosted by DriveWorks experts. Its a celebration of innovation, knowledge sharing, and technical expertise free for DriveWorks Customers with Active Subscription, Resellers, and Partners to attend. Our team of DriveWorks Technical Experts will be hosting a number of sessions designed to explain how CPQ can enable you to improve your key business metrics.

Integrating DriveWorks with your ERP system helps to sell and manufacture complex configurable products faster, more efficiently, and with greater accuracy. In a recent article, Ketan Panchal, Design Automation Manager at HitechDigital, DriveWorks Implementation Partner, has shared how manufacturing workflows can be transformed by integrating DriveWorks with Navision and Syspro.

Integrating DriveWorks with SYSPRO – A HitechDigital Customer Case Study

A custom glass product manufacturer, in the process of implementing a SYSPRO ERP system, encountered challenges with controlling and evaluating input values, essential for the system’s accuracy. To address these issues, the manufacturer approached the HitechDigital team to develop a UI configurator that would enable precise evaluation of each input, ensuring accurate pricing calculations and quote generation.

The HitechDigital team used DriveWorks to design a web-based UI form, integrating DriveWorks UI controls with SYSPRO tables through readily available DriveWorks plugins. This integration not only facilitated the conversion of quotes into orders but also streamlined price calculation, quote preparation and email functionality for sales teams. Additionally, DriveWorks Autopilot was integrated to automate the transfer of quote data into SYSPRO once an order has been placed. The result was a functional DriveWorks project, deployed at the customer’s site, which significantly enhanced the efficiency and accuracy of their ERP system.

Plugin settings for connecting DriveWorks & SYSPRO

Export details to SYSPRO through DriveWorks

Integrating DriveWorks with Navision – A HitechDigital Customer Case Study

The company was using an in-house configurator with Navision ERP for pricing, sales quotes, and inventory management. However, they encountered inefficiencies due to duplicate data entries in both the ERP and DriveWorks.

To address this, they asked the HitechDigital team to streamline their processes. The project team recommended integrating DriveWorks with Navision using SQL injections, stored procedures, and intermediate tables. Consequently, the DriveWorks project was modified to include updated specification flows, the construction of SQL intermediate tables, table views and stored procedures.

This integration facilitated the collection of data from DriveWorks and its transfer into Navision’s SQL tables. The process was automated using DriveWorks Autopilot, significantly improving efficiency and integration between the systems.

BOM generated through DriveWorks in Navision

Responsive 3D preview with input design data

Transforming Manufacturing Workflows:

Integrating DriveWorks with Navision and Syspro

Read the full article from HitechDigital to see all of Ketans insights on integrating DriveWorks with Navision and SYSPRO.