Cloud PLM developer Arena Solutions recently announced that the first quarter of 2016 was the best in the company’s history.

Arena stated that compared to the same period last year, the recorded average deal size grew by 59 percent, upsells to current customers increased by 52 percent, while at the same time seeing a record number of bookings for its cloud-based solutions.

The company also revealed that the number of enterprise deals increased by 53 percent year-over-year, something that validates the company’s efforts to broaden and integrate its software portfolio. 

“We are seeing strength on the enterprise side of our business due to the new enterprise-class capabilities delivered in our recent Spring release,” said Steve Chalgren, executive vice president of product management and chief strategy officer at Arena Solutions. He also stated that the summer release will bring a new training management solution to the table.

For a long time, Arena has focused heavily on delivering a more lightweight PLM solution, hosted in the cloud, which could benefit small- and medium-sized companies.

However, for the past two years the company has doubled down on the development of a number of new modules, including analytics, quality management and project management. This expanded portfolio has allowed Arena to go head-to-head with PLM industry leaders such as Dassault Systèmes, Siemens PLM Software and PTC.

“With the significant investments we’ve made in our solutions over the past several years, this continued uptake validates our leadership position in the PLM space. Today we provide the functionality the enterprise needs, but with the flexibility, connectivity, ease-of-use and cost-savings of the cloud. Enterprise customers are taking note,” said Craig Livingston, chief executive officer of Arena Solutions.

Arena also added a number of new customers during the first quarter, including:

• IntraOp Medical Corporation: A pioneer in portable electron-beam Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT).
• HiQ Solar: Innovators in the solar power and renewable energy fields.
• Microvision, Inc.: The creator of PicoP scanning technology, an ultra-miniature laser projection and imaging solution based on laser beam scanning methodology.
• Soloshot, Inc.: Designers and manufacturers of the SOLOSHOT line of robotic cameraman products and accessories.
• Vanderbilt International: A creator of state-of-the-art security products and systems encompassing access control, intruder detection, CCTV and integrated security management.
• Fluidic Energy: A company offering sustainable energy storage solutions to support critical loads and backup power applications worldwide.

DEPsys Smart Grid Solutions, a Swiss company that provides software and hardware technology designed for control and management of power grids, has implemented the PTC ThingWorx platform to support the management and development of its GridEye smart grid solution.

ThingWorx is PTC’s Internet of Things technology that includes capabilities such as a rapid-application development platform, connectivity, analytics capabilities and augmented reality.

DEPsys’s GridEye solution offers utility companies access to information that allows them to control and manage the power grid. It does this by using smart GridEye module sensors and actuators that are distributed throughout the power grid.

These modules ensure grid stability while optimizing energy efficiency to meet local requirements. GridEye also makes it easier for power companies to integrate intermittent renewable generation sources reliably while maintaining grid stability. The ThingWorx platform will allow more flexibility, adaptability and better management of the GridEye solution.

“Each utility network is composed of different equipment and operates under its own local government standards,” said Michael De Vivo, CEO at DEPsys. “With ThingWorx, we can now quickly and easily customize our GridEye solution to meet the needs of each company. We have the flexibility to support them all.”

“DEPsys is leading the way in the rapidly changing energy industry,” said Paul Grenet, divisional vice president, PTC EMEA. “Thanks to the ThingWorx platform, DEPSys is able to simplify and speed up its IoT application development time and deliver solutions that coordinate analysis and action among diverse grid devices. With the DEPSys GridEye solution, utility companies can measure, monitor and solve problems on the grid in real time. We are very pleased to be working with this innovative company.”

While PTC has recently put a lot of focus on its ThingWorx platform, the company revealed that it has also made a rather substantial deal in the fashion and retail space.

C&A Europe, the international Dutch chain of fashion retail clothing stores, has chosen to adopt PTC’s retail PLM system FlexPLM as its information and product development backbone.

C&A is a leading fashion retailer with more than 1,575 stores across continental Europe and with operations in Brazil, Mexico and China. With production and design operations dispersed across three continents and a need to increase operational and inventory efficiency, C&A required a PLM solution tailored for retail.

According to a press release, the company chose FlexPLM after an in-depth evaluation, citing PTC’s vast experience and success in large retail and fashion projects as the deciding factors.

PTC’s FlexPLM will provide C&A with an adaptable enterprise platform to support product development operations. This will enable the company to improve sample tracking and also accelerate the first sample loop.

The project also means that C&A will remove previous legacy systems, such as Excel spreadsheets and email, which is expected to improve data quality and allow for better order quality with suppliers. It also expects to improve efficiency by eliminating the need to correct information and manually re-enter data. The solution will be delivered in the cloud, hosted and managed by PTC.

Japanese machine manufacturer Toshiba Machine has chosen to implement Aras Innovator to improve its design processes, enhance product quality and manage global product information.

Toshiba stated that it selected the Aras PLM platform for its customization capabilities, web-based global accessibility and lower total cost of ownership.

Aras is expected to improve the company’s design processes for made-to order products, improve collaboration with ERP and increase Toshiba Machine’s product quality.

Replacing an unnamed legacy product data management system that was unable to meet the needs of the design department for product design improvement, Toshiba Machine will now use Aras Innovator for bill of materials (BOM) and related CAD data and document management for its made-to-order products. In the future, the company plans on using Aras to standardize global design processes and streamline international collaboration with ERP.

“With highly customizable and upgradable PLM solutions, we are confident that Aras will help Toshiba Machine achieve success as their business continues to grow and expand,” said Peter Schroer, CEO and founder of Aras.