At the 3DEXPERIENCE World 2025 event, Dassault Systèmes introduced SOLIDWORKS CPQ, a next-generation AI-powered Configure, Price, and Quote (CPQ) solution. This new solution enables businesses to manage product configuration, pricing, and quoting processes more quickly and accurately. However, does this development create a new competitor for design automation solutions like DriveWorks, which has been integrated with SOLIDWORKS for years?

What’s Changing with SOLIDWORKS CPQ?

According to Dassault Systèmes’ official announcement, SOLIDWORKS CPQ operates on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, offering features such as digital twins, AI-powered design assistants, and dynamic pricing. AI support automates the CPQ process, increasing quote generation speed and optimizing decision-making. This new system aims to go beyond traditional CPQ solutions by streamlining the quoting process with just one click. With this technology, customers can virtually experience products and instantly customize them to receive pricing quotes.

Source

DriveWorks’ Strengths and the New Competitive Landscape

DriveWorks has long been recognized as a leading design automation tool within the SOLIDWORKS ecosystem, with a well-established user base. Its primary strength lies in its deep expertise in design automation and its continuous evolution driven by customer feedback. DriveWorks facilitates the rapid design of customized products and integrates seamlessly into engineering workflows.

However, will SOLIDWORKS’ investment in AI and its integration into the new solution fill a gap that DriveWorks currently lacks? This new competitive environment raises questions about how DriveWorks will position itself. 

Open Ecosystem: Competition or Opportunity?

Dassault Systèmes emphasizes the openness of the SOLIDWORKS ecosystem, allowing partners to develop their own integrations. This approach fosters both collaboration and competition. Solutions like DriveWorks can integrate with SOLIDWORKS CPQ to collaborate or choose to compete by advancing their own technologies.

When Will SOLIDWORKS CPQ Be Available?

According to Dassault Systèmes’ official announcement, SOLIDWORKS CPQ is currently in the technology preview phase. The company plans to launch it in summer 2025 with its initial release. The first rollout will include Configured-to-Order (CTO) features, while the company will introduce more complex solutions for engineered-to-order (ETO) designs later.

What Will DriveWorks’ Strategy Be?

How DriveWorks will respond to these industry shifts remains an open question. The launch of SOLIDWORKS CPQ as an integrated solution presents a pivotal moment for DriveWorks’ long-term strategy. Will DriveWorks distinguish itself through its unparalleled customization capabilities and extensive automation expertise, or will Dassault Systèmes’ AI-driven CPQ solution establish itself as the dominant force in the industry?

At the upcoming DriveWorks World event in April, the company will unveil its latest technologies. As artificial intelligence reshapes industries, users want to see whether DriveWorks introduces an AI-powered solution. With SOLIDWORKS’ CPQ solution in play, DriveWorks faces a critical decision: Should it enhance its CPQ functionality to stay competitive, or expand its automation solutions beyond SOLIDWORKS to support other CAD software as well?

The trajectory of this competition will unfold in the coming months. What do you think DriveWorks’ next move will be? Share your thoughts in the comments!