An interesting turn in PLM trajectory of Dassault Systems – the acquisition of French based Exalead. With this acquisition, we can expect new life-like energy injected into PLM life-blood. In some announcements, Exalead was mentioned as French Google. Exalead indeed shares some Google DNA coming from early days Alta Vista and DEC search experiments. DS-Exalead deal made me think again about an enterprise search trajectory in Product Lifecycle Management. Actually, I already touched this topic at least two times in my blog before: PLM and Enterprise Search: Can We Leverage It In Downstream Applications and What Is The Role Of Search In Enterprise Systems and PLM?
So, PLM+Search=? What can be hidden behind this question mark? First of all, I wanted to put some historical perspectives in the relationships of PLM and search vendors. This is actually not the first time, PLM is catching a search wave. In 2006, Autonomy and Agile Software PLM created a partnership to provide a solution together . In 2007, Dassault made the announcement about a future use of Autonomy as a technology for search in DS and ENOVIA solutions. Endecca, another enterprise search vendor signed an agreement with Kalypso PLM solution provider. The same Edecca signed an agreement with PTC, one of the major DS completitiors. The same PTC by their significant move to SharePoint over the past 2 years, have an access to Microsoft SharePoint search solution. The same Autonomy, one of the leaders in Enterprise Search solutions is providing full stack of connectors that allow them to handle PLM related information too by their IDOL platform.
So, I wanted to put some thoughts towards possible mix of PLM and Search solutions. What can be advantages of PLM and Search merger and what need to be done to analyze previous solutions?
Usability
This is the first thing, in my view. PLM will try to fix the usability problem with application of some search techniques. All PLM applications today are surviving from user adoption rate in the organization due to the complexity in user experience. To have a search solution in this space is an interesting approach. However, what is good for web search not always can work in the same way inside of the organization. This will be an interesting to challenge for search solutions .
Content Processing
Search solutions have a different perspective on how to work with data. It is really not the same as to do it for enterprise application and business process management. How it will fit? What web search is doing by manage data is not really the same as enterprise data processing. Lots of interesting questions are coming here. I assume, we’ll have chance to see soon in the in DS-Exalead story.
Integration
Crawling data from multiple sources, enterprise search has a potential to become a federated access point for PLM apps. This is the most interesting turn, in my view. However, to execute this route, a significant shift in PLM openness needs to be done.
What is my conclusion today? DS acquisition proved again, that PLM space is alive and will continuously provide innovative solutions for enterprises. As one of the leaders in PLM and 3D, Dassault just confirmed it yesterday. The next important step will be technological convergence and new solutions coming from Dassault.
Just my thoughts…
Best, Oleg
Hi Oleg,
Interesting also the Cad model based search called ShapeSpace 3D (http://www.shapespace.com/). Aessis made an integration of it with Aras Innovator. I’ve shown some video (just shapespace not the integration) in our blog (http://www.prodeos.fr/?p=1032>lang=en).
This is obviously just for Cad elements.
I just think it would be so great that instead of searching parts, you start creating very quickly the shape of the part with a soft like spaceclaim on one screen and you would have all the similar parts appearing on the right based on shape similarities.
just dreamin’…
Yoann Maingon
Не поиском единым жив программист. Можно подумать, что вся задача информационных систем, а тем более PDM/PLM сводится к простейшему и удобному поиску информации в них. Согласен, что редко кому удаётся постоить удобный, и главное простой для понимания конечного пользователя, поиск. Если строить все ИС в компании в едином ключе и на единой платформе, то наверное будет проще интегрировать их межу собой и в конечном итоге можно построить более менее приемлемый для всех пользователей поиск. Но уж очень это скучно.
Согласен, поиск в 3D-сборке конкретной детали нетривиальная задача, но на то у нё и атрибуты есть, чтобы ими оперировать(про полнотекстовый поиск говорить не приходится, мало кто из конструкторов и дизайнеров в качестве артибутов к детали напишет поэму). Не думаю что от этого слияния появится 3DS-Google. Главное, чтобы пользователь выиграл.
—translated by Google Translate—
LIfe is not only about search. One might think that the whole purpose of information systems, and even more PDM / PLM reduces to the simple and convenient search of information in them. I agree that the few who can stand up easy, and most importantly easy to understand end-user search. If you build all the IP in a company in the same manner and on a single platform, you can probably find it easier to integrate them Mezhuyev themselves and eventually can be built more or less acceptable to all users of the search. But really it is very boring.
Granted, search the 3D-assembly of specific parts is not trivial, but some have not, and attributes is that they operate (about full-text search is out, few engineers and designers as artibutov to write a poem details). I do not think that this merger will 3DS-Google. The main thing is that the user won.
——
Yoann, Thanks for link and comments. This is a very interesting set of videos. Duplication is a serious problem. Personally, I don’t believe search need to be only according to the shape. I remember my discussion about that with Andy Sherlock. You can take a look on my blog post year ago – http://plmtwine.com/2009/04/28/what-is-the-future-of-search-for-plm/. Best, Oleg
Oleg, DS certainly has some “search” problems as well as all other PLM vendors. During last 3-4 years, PLM companies made trials to integrate with enterprise search vendors like Autonomy and Endecca. On the other side, users of PLM systems survived from complexity of PLM system in general as well as from the complexity of user interface. DS demand is probably to improve it in the future by using Exalead tools and technologies. Just my thoughts. Best, Oleg
Hi again Oleg,
We’ve started referring to ‘Product Data Retrieval’ to describe the tools were building at ShapeSpace. PDM and PLM do the storage and access of product data well, but there aren’t really tools for non-trivial retrieval and mining of that data. So various tasks are hard, for instance finding duplicates, automatic classification, cost reduction over your entire population of parts, search for component re-use and so on. We’re building these tools.
3D shape similarity is a powerful weapon in our armoury as it allows connections to be made semi-automatically between similar parts and families of parts. But, as you say, shape isn’t everything.
The Dassault buyout of Exalead is very interesting in this regard. I think there’s more to PDR than bolting generic search onto product data, but given their background I’m sure Exalead can do some fairly sophisticated things…
Andy
Yoann, Thanks for the mention!
Andy, Thanks for your comment! Again, as we discussed before, things can be more interesting when you move from geometry only to what you call non-trivial retrieval. In such context, we had chance to see the latest wave of partnerships (PTC/Endecca) and acquisition (DS/Exalead). The problem is not simple. Don’t forget, both dumped Autonomy. So, search is an interesting problem, in my view. Best, Oleg
[...] PLM Lifelike Search Injection These analyzes and thoughts came out of DS-Exalead acquisition. DS acquisition reminded us again, that PLM space is alive and will continuously provide innovative solutions for enterprises. Search is not a new kid in the PLM solutions. All PLM vendors in the past made deals with providers of enterprise searches: Endecca and Autonomy. It will be interesting to see how DS will merge Exalead concept of SBA (Search Based Application) into their portfolio. [...]
[...] PLM Lifelike Search Injection These analyzes and thoughts came out of DS-Exalead acquisition. DS acquisition reminded us again, that PLM space is alive and will continuously provide innovative solutions for enterprises. Search is not a new kid in the PLM solutions. All PLM vendors in the past made deals with providers of enterprise searches: Endecca and Autonomy. It will be interesting to see how DS will merge Exalead concept of SBA (Search Based Application) into their portfolio. [...]
[...] these days. Exalead was a search company DS acquired few months ago. Navigate your browser on this link to read about my view on DS/Exalead acquisition. The technology behind Exalead had some Alta-Vista [...]
[...] these days. Exalead was a search company DS acquired few months ago. Navigate your browser on this link to read about my view on DS/Exalead acquisition. The technology behind Exalead had some Alta-Vista [...]
[...] a chance to put some of my initial thoughts related to the DS-Exalead last year in my post – PLM Lifelike Search Injection. The E-Commerce article made me think again about how Search Based Applications (SBA) can change [...]
[...] a chance to put some of my initial thoughts related to the DS-Exalead last year in my post – PLM Lifelike Search Injection. The E-Commerce article made me think again about how Search Based Applications (SBA) can change [...]
[...] Search, PLM Interest To Enterprise Search, Search Based Application and PLM Innovation, PLM Lifelike Search Injection. In the past, PLM companies had OEM agreements with enterprise search vendors (i.e. Endeca and [...]
[...] Search, PLM Interest To Enterprise Search, Search Based Application and PLM Innovation, PLM Lifelike Search Injection. In the past, PLM companies had OEM agreements with enterprise search vendors (i.e. Endeca and [...]
[...] In my view, the understanding of the cool trend is coming to engineering and manufacturing space as well. Accessing information in a meaningful way can be a very cool way to help engineers in their work. CAD and PLM companies are flirting with enterprise search vendors and search technologies already quite long time. You can read one of my write ups about that here – PLM Lifelike Search Injection. [...]
Appreciation to my father who shared with me concerning this
web site, this weblog is truly awesome.
What’s up, after reading this remarkable post i am as well cheerful to share my knowledge here with friends.
I’m not sure where you are getting your info, but great topic. I needs to spend some time learning more or understanding more. Thanks for great info I was looking for this information for my mission.
I am really thankful to the holder of this website who has shared this fantastic post at at this time.
Myślę, że jest to jeden z wybitnych artykułów na jakie trafiłam.
Jestem zadowolona, że mogłam się z nim zapoznać. Proszę o więcej:).
Since water is needed to wash clothes, dishes, and others,
it is very important to have good water filter to eliminate contaminants
that can make us sick. For example, Chlorine is used as
a disinfectant in the treatment process by municipalities.
With the ability to kill pathogens as they pass by the ultraviolet light makes these water treatment systems
the least invasive.
Uwielbiamten nurt!
Hey there would you mind stating which blog platform you’re working with? I’m going to start my own blog soon but I’m having a difficult time selecting between BlogEngine/Wordpress/B2evolution and Drupal. The reason I ask is because your design and style seems different then most blogs and I’m
looking for something completely unique. P.
S Sorry for being off-topic but I had to ask!
Hello just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The text in your article seem to be running off the screen in Chrome.
I’m not sure if this is a format issue or something to do with internet browser compatibility but I thought I’d post to let you know.
The layout look great though! Hope you get the issue fixed soon.
Many thanks
Hi friends
I think that you will agree with me that there is a lot of jewelry lovers worldwide.
I am a giant jewelry lover,
too.
I was looking for some splendid and original necklace for myself
for pretty long time. I wanted to get something
truly unique.
I was searching through a lot of jewelry stores on the internet for over a week, and I was lucky enough to find
the company which is selling a lovely glass necklaces.
Wow, I realized that I could get a splendid necklace which
will give me truly special look I was dreaming about.
So I ordered this necklace from the on-line store which is owned by WEXONMART,
Inc.
I placed the order, and I received the package from WEXONMART within two
days. These guys are pretty fast, for sure.
I was stunned when I opened a package. The necklace was so magnificent.
These necklaces have been designed by the famous and very talented jewelry designer.
This designer has a lot of extraordinary clients like country
music
stars, girlfriends of politicians, etc.
If you are looking for such splendid necklace for yourself than
you can consider necklaces from WEXONMART, too.
They are selling a lot of luxury items like magnificent crystal
vases, amazing gifts for your loved ones, etc.
I hope that you will find my post helpful.
Best regards
LeAnn GARRETSON
Sausalito, CA.
Greetings! Very helpful advice within this post!
It’s the little changes that produce the most significant changes. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Great web site you’ve got here.. It’s hard to find good quality writing like yours nowadays.
I honestly appreciate individuals like you! Take care!
!