DS rocked Q2 but isn’t building a supersonic car. Bummer.

DS rocked Q2 but isn’t building a supersonic car. Bummer.

Jul 24, 2019 | Hot Topics

I am still plowing through Dassault Systèmes’ materials about its second quarter, so may write an update later but here are first impressions: Q2 was good, really good, with non-IFRS revenue of €965 million, up 16% as reported, up 13% in constant currencies (cc)...
Hexagon’s race to the Smart Factory

Hexagon’s race to the Smart Factory

Jul 17, 2019 | Hot Topics

What if you could reimagine your product design and manufacturing processes? Start from scratch, rather than have to deal with legacy thinking, work processes and tools? Come up with new ways of working in all areas of your business? That’s what Hexagon wants us all...
Hexagon adds to its additive bench

Hexagon adds to its additive bench

Jun 24, 2019 | Hot Topics

One of the things I learned at Hexagon’s HxGN LIVE conference (but haven’t had time to write about yet, sorry) is that the company is on a mission regarding 3D printing (3DP). Planning, prepping, simulating, doing. Today, Hexagon announced that it is...
ESI: SaaS before that was even a thing

ESI: SaaS before that was even a thing

May 28, 2019 | Hot Topics

ESI just announced results for the first three months of its 2019 financial year and they were, aside from Services, pretty good. Remember that Q1 is usually ESI’s weakest quarter, it’s hard to grow a subscription business, and that the company is...
ESI: SaaS before that was even a thing

ESI’s 2019 is focused on amplifying what works

May 23, 2019 | Hot Topics

You might remember that ESI has a new CEO, Cristel de Rouvray. Since February, Ms. de Rouvray and CFO Olfa Zorgati have been on a listening tour, talking to investors, customers and employees to learn what they think will help drive ESI to new levels of revenue,...
ESI: SaaS before that was even a thing

More earnings-apalooza: ANSYS, Trimble and FARO

May 1, 2019 | Hot Topics

Sorry – no unifying theme for this afternoon’s earnings announcements from ANSYS, Trimble and FARO. ANSYS is the CAE powerhouse; Trimble makes design, measurement and other software used in the construction, mining, trucking and similar industries. Both...
ESI: SaaS before that was even a thing

OnScale secures $10 million investment

Apr 2, 2019 | Hot Topics

Yesterday, I wrote about the continuing buying spree in CAE. Then came the news that OnScale has secured $10 million in Series A funding led by Intel Capital and Gradient Ventures, Google’s investment fund, along with Thornton Tomasetti, Stage 2 Capital, Cultivation...
Hexagon adds to its additive bench

CAE roll-ups continue, with Siemens and Altair active

Apr 1, 2019 | Hot Topics

I work with a lot of investors and software companies, and perhaps the most common question I am asked is, what’s left to acquire? It’s rare that an industrial company acquires a simulation provider (as Juul did when it snapped up Envenio); this is usually...
When control systems fail …

When control systems fail …

Mar 28, 2019 | Hot Topics

When control systems fail … We were driving along, quite safely or so I thought. Nothing to see here, just piloting down the middle of our lane, about to merge onto the highway. There were a few cars in the road, but none close when the car started going nuts....
ESI: SaaS before that was even a thing

Quickie: ESI’s revenue up 3% in fiscal 2019

Mar 7, 2019 | Hot Topics

ESI just reported revenue for the quarter and year ended 31 January — and the news is good: Total revenue for the year was €139 million, up 3% as reported (up 4% in constant currencies, cc) For the year, license revenue was €110 million, up 4% as reported and...