Last week, we welcomed an international group of DriveWorks resellers, product managers and customers to our 2026 DriveWorks Configure & Automate Summit.
Now in its second year, the two-day event returned to the Engine Rooms at Birchwood Park in Warrington, UK, bringing the DriveWorks community together in person to explore the latest developments in design automation and CPQ, share experiences and look ahead to future development.
Both days opened with a general session, bringing delegates and the DriveWorks team together before a full programme of breakout sessions.
The Summit also provided plenty of opportunities for delegates to connect with the wider DriveWorks team and community, including our international team members Steve Sagi (North America) and Dorian Koch (France), and build relationships through networking and shared experiences.
Community perspectives
The Configure & Automate Summit continues to complement our annual technical learning event, DriveWorks World, held virtually, which focuses on sharing technical expertise and new features and functionality. The Summit offers a different and exclusive opportunity for the DriveWorks community to come together in person, share ideas, and take part in broader strategic discussions.
Here’s what some of our attendees had to say about this year’s event:
“Great event, great people, great conversations. I learned a lot, gained valuable insights and had the chance to connect with members of the global DriveWorks community.”
“Nothing but positive reviews for this experience. The entire DriveWorks team was a pleasure. I learned a ton and had a great time to boot!”
“What a wonderful experience to join in the conversations with everyone, as well as to have met so many brilliant minds. We are all enriched by sharing our ideas and passion for engineering.”
Sharing insights
During the general sessions, DriveWorks Chief Technology Officer, Philip Stears, and Head of Technical Engagement, Oliver Basma Lord, shared key insights into the future of DriveWorks technology.
The discussion offered delegates the opportunity to:
- Hear how DriveWorks is evolving and advancing to meet ever-changing configuration and automation requirements.
- Learn more about upcoming features and functionality.
- Understand key challenges and discuss strategies to overcome them.
- Share their ideas and feedback, to help directly shape the future of DriveWorks technology.
Real-world success
A panel of international DriveWorks customers shared insights into how they use DriveWorks to address complex day-to-day challenges within their businesses. Representing a diverse range of industries, including door manufacturing, construction, architecture, and enclosures, their experiences offered valuable perspectives and inspiration for others in the audience.
The discussions highlighted how DriveWorks technology can help businesses to:
Manage complex configurations
Automate the configuration of products with multiple options and variations to meet individual customer requirements.
Meet varying safety regulations
Accommodate different regulatory requirements and standards across products and markets.
Accelerate CPQ processes
Streamline configure, price and quote workflows to respond to customer enquiries faster.
Support diverse product requirements
Create flexible solutions that can handle the specific needs of different products and applications.
Improve business efficiency
Automate repetitive processes and reduce the volume of manual work in custom product manufacturing.
Awards and recognition
The Summit also provided an opportunity to celebrate achievements across the DriveWorks community and recognise the people and partners who continue to make a difference.
Congratulations to GoEngineer and Bechtle PLM, who were recognised as Elite Reseller Award winners. This award celebrates outstanding overall performance across several key areas, including Customer Success, Subscription, New Business, Technical, Marketing and Community. Learn more more about the DriveWorks Reseller awards here.
We were also delighted to present David Mandl (Design Automation Specialist at Global Power Components) with his Paul Gimbel Award for Technical Excellence & Community Spirit. Originally announced at DriveWorks World earlier this year, it was a pleasure to celebrate David’s achievement together at the Summit and present his trophy in person. His continued support for the DriveWorks community, and commitment to helping others, make him a very worthy recipient.
Well done to everyone!
Conversations continued
The Summit provided plenty of opportunities to connect beyond the sessions, with social activities and dedicated time to network.
We kicked things off on Sunday evening at The Brass Monkey sports bar in Warrington , where delegates had the chance to reconnect with familiar faces and meet others ahead of the Summit.
On Monday evening, delegates visited our headquarters in Thelwall, Warrington, for an office tour and the chance to meet more of the DriveWorks team. On an unseasonably warm October evening, everyone enjoyed street-food naanwiches and traditional British fish and chips in a relaxed setting. For some, it was their first visit to our HQ to see where DriveWorks technology is developed, while others were returning after a decade!
Tuesday evening brought everyone together again for another opportunity to socialize and strengthen connections at the Birchwood Park B&B Hotel.
The conversations continued throughout the week, with almost 20 delegates choosing to extend their visit and take advantage of further training at DriveWorks HQ on Wednesday and Thursday.
Thank you to all our resellers, customers, and partners for making this year’s summit such a fantastic celebration of collaboration, ideas and shared success.
Upcoming DriveWorks events
Tech Talks webinars provide an opportunity to learn directly from DriveWorks technical experts, and are designed to empower DriveWorks users with in-depth knowledge and practical insights on functionality. Each session has a live Q&A so you can get your questions answered.
Join us on Thursday 15th October at 3pm BST to find out how to get the most out of DriveWorks.
DriveWorks Drivers is a quarterly virtual get-together for DriveWorks users worldwide to share ideas, conntect, and deep dive into all things DriveWorks – all from the comfort of your own home or office!
Register now for our next meeting on Thursday 3rd December either at 8am GMT or 4pm GMT.
DriveWorks World is the annual technical learning event for DriveWorks users and resellers internationally. It’s a community-driven online event, focusing on sharing knowledge, technical know-how, and handy tips and tricks.
DriveWorks World 2027 will start on Tuesday 13th April with a reseller preview event and continue on Wednesday 14th and Thursday 15th April for all DriveWorks users and resellers.