Blog The Future Is FLEXIBLE: Data Management with 3DEXPERIENCE
There’s a phrase “the cost of doing business”. Generally, that refers to whatever costs you incur while running a business. Makes sense, right? Well, yes, but it’s not static – let me explain. We’re so ingrained in our ways that we think there’s one good way to do something. Case and point, remember Blockbuster? It used to be how we rented movies for Friday night. 20 years ago, nobody could imagine that anything would kill such a thriving business. Now, we sit on our couch and scroll for 15 minutes on Netflix, only to settle on rewatching the same rom-com for the sixth time.
The point is, “cost of doing business” isn’t a constant, it’s a variable. Today, most people store their files on their desktop or a local server, but more and more companies are moving to the cloud. This wave is shifting the paradigm once again, and the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform is leading the charge. By offering companies flexible data management, it becomes easier to get what you need, while staying ahead of the curve.
What Is the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform?
We’ve covered this on other pages, but simply put, the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform is another way of storing, managing, and sharing your data. It’s a cloud-based environment, meaning you don’t have to buy or maintain any pesky servers. It also means you can access your data from anywhere, at any time.
This is powerful! It also gives businesses more flexibility with how they work and how they license each employee.
Easy Access from Anywhere with 3DEXPERIENCE
Flexible business is the name of the game. For the past two years, we’ve all worked remotely, only emphasizing its importance. The 3DEXPERIENCE Platform enables flexible data management with global access to the data you need from any device. What’s more, you don’t even need a VPN.
One of the core complaints I get when talking about an on-premises data management solution, like SOLIDWORKS PDM, is access for multiple locations. PDM Standard doesn’t allow for replication, and even Professional requires some kind of connection between the locations. Typically, this takes the form of a VPN, but IT doesn’t love setting them up. For one, they aren’t as fast as a local network. Those remote workers are farther away, so it takes longer to get the data they need. They also aren’t as secure. VPN provides another access point that someone could try to exploit. Nobody wants that, so IT is right to be wary.
Licensing Gives You Flexible Data Management
Do you do the exact same work as the person sitting next door? Probably not, right? Then it doesn’t make sense that each of you would have the same licenses. Think about it, you may be creating a bill of material for an order. The person next door might be working with filling out change request forms. In PDM, that’s a contributor, but now I have to manage them in separate groups. We can share a license, but it’s more work on the administrator than it should be.
With the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform, there’s no need to worry about groups for users. Now, we have licenses for every kind of task that you want to do. Of course, SOLIDWORKS and CATIA CAD is front of mind for most engineers, but we have options for rendering, structural analysis, NC programming, advanced PLM, and so much more. By letting everyone get the license they need for their specific tasks, there’s no more worrying about having enough licenses and wondering if you have what you need to do your job. Now, everyone accesses the Platform through the same location and goes on their way.
The Shift Is Happening
No, on-premises data management isn’t going to go away anytime soon. Many businesses have too much invested in the hardware, and some are cautious about moving data to a location that isn’t 35 feet away from your feet. However, the shift is happening. Every day, I talk with customers about how they manage their data, and a cloud-based solution always comes up.
The shifting paradigm from mostly on-premises to a cloud environment opens a world of possibilities for flexible data management. The added geographical flexibility is key when employees aren’t always in the same place. This makes collaboration and general data sharing easy and secure. Additionally, “only what you need” licensing means everybody gets what they need to do their job; no more, no less. By embracing the changing environment, we can get ahead and be more productive, while our competition is stuck wandering the isles of the nearest Blockbuster.
Cloud PDM Changes the Game!
Nick Sweeney
PLM Applications Engineer
Computer Aided Technology