Press release - October 27, 2026
Gartner® recognizes CONTACT Software in 2026 Critical Capabilities for PLM Software in Discrete Manufacturing Industries report
CONTACT Software ranks highest in the “Architectural Composability” capability. Its Elements platform offers 77 modules that can be flexibly combined to create seamless solutions integrating PLM, IIoT and AI.
In its recent “Critical Capabilities for PLM Software in Discrete Manufacturing Industries” report, Gartner ® highlights that “Product lifecycle management is core to manufacturers’ product fulfillment.” Among the 14 providers evaluated, CONTACT ranks in the top four in key use cases such as “Model-Based Enterprise” (3.88 out of 5), “Supply Chain Collaboration” (3.87 out of 5), and “Regulatory & Product Compliance” (3.85 out of 5).
According to the Gartner product lifecycle management (PLM) vendor survey, “manufacturers adopt PLM primarily for product innovation and introduction use cases, yet vendors often underperform in these areas due to a lack of strategic and financial product portfolio management capabilities.” CONTACT ranks third in the “Product Innovation and Introduction” use case (3.90 out of 5).
The analysts also identify top trends influencing the PLM market today. According to Gartner, “Manufacturers are prioritizing API-first, composable platforms with low-code configuration capabilities to achieve agility without the need to customize code.” CONTACT ranks first in the “Architectural Composability” capability among all vendors evaluated.
CONTACT Elements offers 77 modules that can be flexibly combined to create seamless solutions integrating PLM, IIoT and AI. This flexibility enables manufacturers to quickly adapt the platform to new business models or changing market demands.
Gartner’s experts also weigh in on the strategic trajectory of AI in PLM. They state that “PLM is shifting from simple conversational AI interfaces and stand-alone analytics toward embedded or bolt-on “agentic” workflows.”
CONTACT’s platform-wide Intelligence Layer Fourier AI embodies this approach, enabling companies to embed AI deep in their processes and significantly increase efficiency across the entire product lifecycle.
CONTACT Software is also recognized as a Visionary in the 2026 Gartner “Magic Quadrant™ for PLM Software in Discrete Manufacturing Industries”. Gartner states that “Visionaries articulate compelling strategic directions or introduce differentiated innovation in one or more PLM functional areas — such as compliance and regulatory management, cloud-native and SaaS architectures, specialization in niche markets, or the advancement of PLM adoption in emerging industries.” For CONTACT, this recognition serves as strong validation of its product strategy and its commitment to delivering innovation that creates real value for customers.
Gartner, Critical Capabilities for PLM Software in Discrete Manufacturing Industries, Marc Halpern, Sudip Pattanayak, Rajan Saini, Brady Barnes, 10 June 2026.
Gartner, Magic Quadrant™ for PLM Software in Discrete Manufacturing Industries, Sudip Pattanayak, Marc Halpern, Brady Barnes, Rajan Saini, 9 June 2026.
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