Mercedes-Benz chooses CONTACT Software
With CONTACT Elements, CONTACT provides the open PLM platform on which Mercedes-Benz integrates data, processes, and AI. This serves as a key foundation for achieving the goal of reducing development times by up to 30% as part of PLM.AI.
CONTACT Software connects top floor and shop floor at FABTECH 2026
At FABTECH, CONTACT Software will demonstrate how manufacturers can integrate engineering, production, operations, and service data into a digital thread – and use AI to turn industrial data into measurable business value.
Engineering Compass –
The PLM newsletter
The Engineering Compass highlights trends in PLM, cloud, and AI, helping companies design their digital product development processes more efficiently.
CONTACT Fourier AI for the Digital Thread
The international management consultancy CIMdata highlights the role of CONTACT Fourier AI as a strategic extension of the digital thread. Its integration into the Elements platform ensures in-depth knowledge and secure data.
CONTACT Fourier AI:
AI that drives your business
Discover Fourier AI and seamlessly integrate AI into every stage of the product lifecycle – tailored to your needs. For more speed and productivity, from development to service.
Fast Forward Digital Transformation: Connecting People, Teams, and Companies
CONTACT Software is a leading provider of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) and digital transformation solutions, helping manufacturers connect engineering, manufacturing, and service across the entire product lifecycle. For more than 35 years, we've helped global industry leaders replace disconnected systems with open, connected solutions that improve collaboration, streamline processes, and accelerate innovation.
At the core of our portfolio is CONTACT Elements, our open, modular platform that powers every solution—from PLM and Engineering Project Management to Manufacturing Execution, Service Lifecycle Management, Industrial IoT, and AI. Built on a shared data foundation, CONTACT Elements connects people, processes, and product data to create a true Digital Thread across your enterprise.
So, what makes us different?
What sets CONTACT Elements apart is our platform-first approach. Instead of connecting isolated applications, our platform provides one open platform with a shared data foundation that unifies your engineering, manufacturing, and service processes. That means less integration effort, more reliable data, and solutions that work together seamlessly—today and as your business develops.
Your Challenges. Our Solutions.
Manual Overhead
Outdated Drawings
Remote File Access
Cost and Project Sync
Unexpected Downtime
High Service Cost
Is manual overhead slowing down your production?
Your challenge today: Teams waste valuable time chasing task statuses, managing change requests (ECR/ECO) via messy email chains, and manually reassigning work when colleagues are absent.
After working with us: Automated, context-driven workflows trigger tasks and grant immediate file access to the next person in line. Built-in escalation rules and real-time dashboards keep projects moving on schedule automatically.
Is manual overhead slowing down your production?
Your challenge today: Teams waste valuable time chasing task statuses, managing change requests (ECR/ECO) via messy email chains, and manually reassigning work when colleagues are absent.
After working with us: Automated, context-driven workflows trigger tasks and grant immediate file access to the next person in line. Built-in escalation rules and real-time dashboards keep projects moving on schedule automatically.
Your challenge today: Teams waste valuable time chasing task statuses, managing change requests (ECR/ECO) via messy email chains, and manually reassigning work when colleagues are absent.
After working with us: Automated, context-driven workflows trigger tasks and grant immediate file access to the next person in line. Built-in escalation rules and real-time dashboards keep projects moving on schedule automatically.
Are manual data entry and outdated drawings delaying your shop floor?
Your challenge today: Engineers lose time re-keying BOMs into ERP, occasionally making errors that lead to wrong part orders. Meanwhile, purchasing and manufacturing risk working off outdated drawings or obsolete parts.
After working with us: BOMs and purchase part data synchronize automatically in the background. Engineers get live stock and pricing data inside CAD, and the shop floor always accesses the single, approved version of truth directly from ERP.
Are manual data entry and outdated drawings delaying your shop floor?
Your challenge today: Engineers lose time re-keying BOMs into ERP, occasionally making errors that lead to wrong part orders. Meanwhile, purchasing and manufacturing risk working off outdated drawings or obsolete parts.
After working with us: BOMs and purchase part data synchronize automatically in the background. Engineers get live stock and pricing data inside CAD, and the shop floor always accesses the single, approved version of truth directly from ERP.
Your challenge today: Engineers lose time re-keying BOMs into ERP, occasionally making errors that lead to wrong part orders. Meanwhile, purchasing and manufacturing risk working off outdated drawings or obsolete parts.
After working with us: BOMs and purchase part data synchronize automatically in the background. Engineers get live stock and pricing data inside CAD, and the shop floor always accesses the single, approved version of truth directly from ERP.
Is it difficult to bring mechanical, electrical, and software data into one place?
Your challenge today: Finding project documents is a daily struggle across disconnected folder silos. Without unified data, aligning M-BOM, E-BOM, and software requires constant meetings, and duplicated parts get purchased twice.
After working with us: All MCAD, ECAD, and software deliverables live in a single source of truth structured by project or order. Duplicate parts are instantly flagged, and electrical designers are automatically notified when mechanical changes occur.
Is it difficult to bring mechanical, electrical, and software data into one place?
Your challenge today: Finding project documents is a daily struggle across disconnected folder silos. Without unified data, aligning M-BOM, E-BOM, and software requires constant meetings, and duplicated parts get purchased twice.
After working with us: All MCAD, ECAD, and software deliverables live in a single source of truth structured by project or order. Duplicate parts are instantly flagged, and electrical designers are automatically notified when mechanical changes occur.
Your challenge today: Finding project documents is a daily struggle across disconnected folder silos. Without unified data, aligning M-BOM, E-BOM, and software requires constant meetings, and duplicated parts get purchased twice.
After working with us: All MCAD, ECAD, and software deliverables live in a single source of truth structured by project or order. Duplicate parts are instantly flagged, and electrical designers are automatically notified when mechanical changes occur.
Are remote teams struggling with slow access to engineering files?
Your challenge today: Globally distributed development teams suffer from network lag when opening massive CAD files. Furthermore, if the central server fails, remote satellite offices grind to a complete halt.
After working with us: Smart, local data replication ensures identical, high-speed working conditions across all sites globally—even on suboptimal bandwidth. Teams work in real-time, backed by automatic failovers that prevent downtime.
Are remote teams struggling with slow access to engineering files?
Your challenge today: Globally distributed development teams suffer from network lag when opening massive CAD files. Furthermore, if the central server fails, remote satellite offices grind to a complete halt.
After working with us: Smart, local data replication ensures identical, high-speed working conditions across all sites globally—even on suboptimal bandwidth. Teams work in real-time, backed by automatic failovers that prevent downtime.
Your challenge today: Globally distributed development teams suffer from network lag when opening massive CAD files. Furthermore, if the central server fails, remote satellite offices grind to a complete halt.
After working with us: Smart, local data replication ensures identical, high-speed working conditions across all sites globally—even on suboptimal bandwidth. Teams work in real-time, backed by automatic failovers that prevent downtime.
Are your actual project schedules disconnected from your cost controlling?
Your challenge today: Keeping project timelines (e.g., in MS Project) manually in sync with cost controlling and resource planning (e.g., in Excel) is a slow, error-prone, and frustrating manual task.
After working with us: Project scheduling, resource allocation, and cost controlling are fully unified. Project managers and financial controllers work from a single system of record, enabling real-time cost tracking and accurate forecasting.
Are your actual project schedules disconnected from your cost controlling?
Your challenge today: Keeping project timelines (e.g., in MS Project) manually in sync with cost controlling and resource planning (e.g., in Excel) is a slow, error-prone, and frustrating manual task.
After working with us: Project scheduling, resource allocation, and cost controlling are fully unified. Project managers and financial controllers work from a single system of record, enabling real-time cost tracking and accurate forecasting.
Your challenge today: Keeping project timelines (e.g., in MS Project) manually in sync with cost controlling and resource planning (e.g., in Excel) is a slow, error-prone, and frustrating manual task.
After working with us: Project scheduling, resource allocation, and cost controlling are fully unified. Project managers and financial controllers work from a single system of record, enabling real-time cost tracking and accurate forecasting.
Are isolated shop floor machines and unexpected downtime hurting your production outputs?
Your challenge today: Without real-time visibility on the factory floor, you manage production using manual logs, paper sheets, and guesswork. You only find out about machine bottlenecks, quality drops, or unexpected downtime after they have already crippled your shift output and disrupted your schedule.
After working with us: Real-time machine integration automatically tracks Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), monitors production progress, and instantly alerts operators to bottlenecks. You eliminate paper waste, optimize shop floor scheduling on the fly, and maximize overall manufacturing efficiency.
Are isolated shop floor machines and unexpected downtime hurting your production outputs?
Your challenge today: Without real-time visibility on the factory floor, you manage production using manual logs, paper sheets, and guesswork. You only find out about machine bottlenecks, quality drops, or unexpected downtime after they have already crippled your shift output and disrupted your schedule.
After working with us: Real-time machine integration automatically tracks Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), monitors production progress, and instantly alerts operators to bottlenecks. You eliminate paper waste, optimize shop floor scheduling on the fly, and maximize overall manufacturing efficiency.
Your challenge today: Without real-time visibility on the factory floor, you manage production using manual logs, paper sheets, and guesswork. You only find out about machine bottlenecks, quality drops, or unexpected downtime after they have already crippled your shift output and disrupted your schedule.
After working with us: Real-time machine integration automatically tracks Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), monitors production progress, and instantly alerts operators to bottlenecks. You eliminate paper waste, optimize shop floor scheduling on the fly, and maximize overall manufacturing efficiency.
Are unexpected equipment failures at customer sites driving up your service costs?
Your challenge today: Once your machines are shipped and deployed at customer sites, you operate in a black box with zero visibility into their actual performance. You are stuck in a reactive "firefighting" loop—dispatching field service technicians only after a costly failure has already occurred and angered your customer.
After working with us: Live Digital Twins connect your globally deployed machinery directly to your service desk. Real-time telemetry automatically predicts maintenance needs, triggers proactive service tickets, and enables remote diagnostics, allowing you to maximize customer uptime and unlock highly profitable digital service contracts.
Are unexpected equipment failures at customer sites driving up your service costs?
Your challenge today: Once your machines are shipped and deployed at customer sites, you operate in a black box with zero visibility into their actual performance. You are stuck in a reactive "firefighting" loop—dispatching field service technicians only after a costly failure has already occurred and angered your customer.
After working with us: Live Digital Twins connect your globally deployed machinery directly to your service desk. Real-time telemetry automatically predicts maintenance needs, triggers proactive service tickets, and enables remote diagnostics, allowing you to maximize customer uptime and unlock highly profitable digital service contracts.
Your challenge today: Once your machines are shipped and deployed at customer sites, you operate in a black box with zero visibility into their actual performance. You are stuck in a reactive "firefighting" loop—dispatching field service technicians only after a costly failure has already occurred and angered your customer.
After working with us: Live Digital Twins connect your globally deployed machinery directly to your service desk. Real-time telemetry automatically predicts maintenance needs, triggers proactive service tickets, and enables remote diagnostics, allowing you to maximize customer uptime and unlock highly profitable digital service contracts.
Trusted by Leading Companies
Our Objectives
Since our founding in 1990 by Karl Heinz Zachries, our mission has remained unchanged: to simplify access to complex product data and unite teams across technical and organizational boundaries. We continue to turn this founding vision into reality for modern enterprises every day.
Our Pioneering Spirit
As a pioneer of innovative operating concepts, we have set new standards for a new generation of PDM/PLM systems with our CONTACT Elements platform. We also pioneered AgileRules—a project methodology that enables development teams to achieve their objectives more reliably.
Our DNA
Our pioneering spirit, independence, and commitment to open technologies define us. Supported by a dedicated network of employees, customers, and partners, we have become the world's leading independent provider of standard software for product engineering and digital transformation.
