Report
Teaser, summary, work performed and final results
Periodic Reporting for period 1 - Platon (software PLATform fOr iNteroperable multiphysics digital mock-up)
Teaser
Simulation tools for virtual dynamic mock-ups are more and more adopted by product engineers because they produce essential engineering insights, avoiding significant time and cost investments. Nevertheless, the different modules of the PLM flow do not communicate each other...
Summary
Simulation tools for virtual dynamic mock-ups are more and more adopted by product engineers because they produce essential engineering insights, avoiding significant time and cost investments. Nevertheless, the different modules of the PLM flow do not communicate each other and existing studios suffer from a non-integrated approach. Going cheaper and faster will require new technical offers and business models. Platon will solve these issues by bringing a disruptive approach at the international level. It will provide an interoperable single environment to applications which will share the same digital mock-up, allowing easier product analysis and optimization. Customers will be able to target 0 costly prototype and to increase engineers’ productivity. Indeed, Platon will enable users to 1) automate many repetitive design and modelling tasks, 2) evaluate the impact of design changes, 3) deploy best practices to non-experts and 4) partner with design & engineering colleagues more effectively. Phase 1 will investigate identified bottlenecks and allow a deeper market analysis. The results will be delivered in updated business plan, leading the solution to the market with clear, measurable, realistic and achievable objectives. Optis’ strategy is based on a win-win approach with stronger ROI for the entire ecosystem. Optis is structured with international subsidiaries and has delivered more than 7000 licenses worldwide. PLATON already owns its dedicated distribution network and a wide base of clients. Platon will enable Optis to move from a technology provider position to a solution provider status while other editors proposing complementary approaches will become natural partners through a specific platform agreement.
Work performed
PLATON 6-months feasibility study has allowed the evaluation of the project’s potential for success and was based on extensive technical & commercial investigation to help OPTIS management team decide about the business relevance of this ambitious structuring program. The methodology we used to lead this feasibility study was based on the following technics:
- Replicate the success we have for many years now with our optical simulation software which has been integrated in the 4 main CAD software used over the world, Catia V5 and SolidWorks from Dassault Systèmes, NX from Siemens and CREO from PTC.
- Interview some customers to identify their pains, challenges, needs…
- Identify some partners and participate to technical workshops with them to check if they can provide some parts which can solve some of the issues we identify.
- Involve OPTIS Engineers of different fields to identify all the possible aspects of the technical blocks and to propose and evaluate the potential solutions.
- Analyze what propose our competitors or other companies in terms of the solutions they offer for different parts of the platform we planned to develop.
- Bench some of the potential solutions to confirm they can or cannot be retained as the best solution which solve all the issues of a technical block.
- Design and validate OPTIS internally the main high level architectures (data model, SDK…) as a first draft.
For all the technological blocks we initially identified, we now have different solutions. Considering the project business side, this phase 1 allowed the company to make a comprehensive investigation of its market, its players and position PLATON in the ecosystem.
In conclusion, the technical feasibility & attractivity for both partners and end-users of PLATON are validated. We have everything we need to build our PLATON platform. Phase 2 can be launched.
Final results
Platon will enable Optis to move from a technology provider position to a solution integrator status while other editors proposing complementary approaches will become natural partners through a specific platform agreement.