Dassault Systèmes (DS) is releasing an open, online community that aims to provide computer-aided design (CAD) users access with new services and products to unlock valuable data stored in billions of DWG files. Building on Dassault Systèmes’ vision of enabling social innovation, the launch of this community comes as a direct result of customer demand and marks the next step in bringing DWG file management and storage into an easy-to-use, online, service-oriented environment.
In conjunction with the debut of the Draftsight community, Dassault Systèmes is also launching a free, professional-grade 2D CAD product, called Draftsight, that is delivered using an open business model. Currently in public beta and available for download, Draftsight is claimed to provide users with a better way to read, write and share DWG files. Based on an advanced architecture, Draftsight is said to be easy to use, generally takes only a few minutes to download and runs on multiple operating systems including Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 (Mac OS and Linux support will be available later in 2010). Draftsight is available for all users, including CAD professionals, students and educators.
Pascal Daloz, executive vice president for market development and strategy at Dassault Systèmes, states: “PLM 2.0 is about using the power of community for collaborative innovation. Together, Draftsight and DraftSight.com will unlock the valuable data stored in DWG files and help reinvent the CAD market by simultaneously integrating data, people and technology. An interactive, user-driven environment such as Draftsight.com enables the collaborative innovation at the heart of product design and in spurring industry growth.”
With the Draftsight community, Dassault Systèmes showcases its strength in delivering not just industry-leading products, but also timely collaborative services to CAD users worldwide. Within the online community, users can learn by interacting with members and letting their opinions be heard about specific topics, challenges or anything they’re passionate about when it comes to CAD and Draftsight. In addition, community members will have the opportunity to share ideas and participate in Draftsight’s transparent, open product development process. Through the global community experience, Draftsight users can choose from a variety of support options, including Community Support and fee-based, Value-Added Support packages that offer telephone, email and remote desktop support.
According to Aaron Kelly, senior director for Draftsight at Dassault Systèmes, “Draftsight was developed in response to comprehensive customer interviews that showed an overwhelming need for the ability to share DWG files. When our customers express the challenges they are facing, we listen and do our best to deliver. The community created through Draftaight.com, and the immediate availability of the Draftaight product, represent a natural next step in our efforts to drive user-based knowledge sharing and high-quality service that will provide real value to our customers and all CAD users around the globe.”
For more information, visit www.draftsight.com
