The summer months are always interesting for those who follow industrial developments in the PLM and sub-PLM areas, related to the fact that the analyst CIMdata then releases its reports for the previous year. In the 2025 reports that are now being released in various areas, it is the developments for 2024 that are covered. The reports are based on the financial static data on the market players’ reported sales figures, both direct sales and indirect figures based on the sales of partner companies.
Last week, perhaps the most interesting and most comprehensive of CIMdata’s market reports came out, the Executive PLM Market Report. This report provides an overview of the PLM market, intended for executive level, and includes summary charts of the overall market and specific PLM solution segments. It also provides perspectives on current trends in the PLM industry and how they may impact current vendors and investments.
Trends That are Changing Product Realization
Examples of key such trends, according to CIMdata’s June webinars, which were mentioned in the introduction, were the following:
• The rise of software-defined products.
• Increased acceptance and use of MBSE. Model-Based Systems Engineering is a method that uses digital system models as the primary means of exchanging information, feedback, and requirements, throughout the system’s life cycle. It contrasts with traditional, document-centric methods by emphasizing the use of models to represent and analyze complex systems.
• Increased emphasis on design for sustainability, which is of course timely given the climate challenges facing humanity.
• Furthermore, traditionally hardware-focused companies are increasingly turning to software – not surprising given how most products today are equipped with some type of software, or receive powerfully increased software capabilities and e.g. “over-the-air” updated solutions.
• AI – not only challenges technical capabilities, but also existing licensing models, EULAs (end-user license agreements) and redefines partnerships with system integrators.
• The impact of tariffs was also something that was pointed out as having significance.
2024 – A Strong Year for CAD
Some other specific, interesting pieces noted at the CIMdata webinar were:
• Total PLM growth (9.6%) was above CIMdata’s previous forecast (8.6%)
• 2024 was a strong year for CAD, not least related to most major players working to develop the transformation towards SaaS
• Comprehensive cPDm grew above the forecast by 8.4% with significant strength in the consumer industry, parallel to some weakness in the automotive industry
• We also see. continued industry consolidation, new players, investor interest and actions, with several interesting corporate acquisitions in the wake, e.g. Siemens’ purchase of Altair
• Many companies are buying up their VARs
• Large PLM players are trying to differentiate themselves, expand their reach
The PLM Market Comprise Three Main Segments
• Collaborative Product Definition Management. This refers to applications and solutions that collect, manage, disseminate, visualize and collaborate on product-related intellectual (digital/virtual) information, including related processes
• Tools. This concerns applications used to create intangible assets. Other pieces concern design creation, analysis, modeling, simulation and documentation of product and factory/plant information
• Digital manufacturing – in this third category, the focus is on process planning, resource definition, factory floor layout and product flow simulation and analysis (including ergonomics).
Several CIMdata Reports
For those looking to explore more from CIMdata, the Executive PLM report is the first of five modules to be released in the CIMdata 2025 Market Analysis Report Series. The MAR Series provides detailed information and in-depth analysis of the global PLM market through calendar year 2024. It includes analysis of key trends and issues, revenue from leading PLM vendors, and revenue analysis by geographic region, industry sector, and historical and forecast market growth data.
CIMdata’s PLM Solutions Market Analysis 2025 report provides metrics and forecasts for the overall PLM market and its key segments through 2024, including tooling, cPDm, and digital manufacturing. The Tools section provides additional information on sub-segments, including MCAD, NC, S&A, EDA, and AEC. It also provides CIMdata’s revenue estimates for PLM solution vendors in these segments and sub-segments for 2025 to 2029.
An interesting report is CIMdata’s 2025 PLM Market Industry Analysis Report which provides an industry segmentation view of the market performance for 2024. CIMdata’s 2024 PLM and cPDm market estimates and forecasts are provided for ten industry sectors: aerospace and defense, automotive and other transportation, electronics/telecommunications, manufacturing and assembly, process packaged goods, process petrochemicals, utilities, construction, infrastructure and shipbuilding.
