Aras partners with Microsoft, Actify and Razorleaf for Enterprise-Wide Collaboration on PLM Data inside Microsoft SharePoint Server 2010
Andover, MA, September 30, 2010 --(PR.com)-- Aras®, the leading enterprise open source Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software solution provider, today announced the introduction of an open source SharePoint-based solution developed in collaboration with Actify, Razorleaf and Microsoft. The Collaborative Product Development (CPD) solution enables product data assets normally constrained within a Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) or Product Data Management (PDM) systems to be shared throughout the enterprise as well as with its customers, suppliers and partners globally, improving collaboration and cycle times by fostering speed to decision - visually. The solution combines the capabilities of Actify's DesignShare, including a new Silverlight based 3D viewer, and the Aras Innovator PLM solution suite by utilizing SharePoint Server 2010 Business Connectivity Services, PerformancePoint services, workflow and search to form an end-to-end companion for PLM and PDM.
''The value of PLM and PDM increases vastly when more people in the product development process can access the information quickly and easily for their own purposes,'' said Simon Floyd, director of Worldwide Industry Technology Strategy for Microsoft. ''This solution is therefore designed to extend the reach of product information in the Enterprise by making it instantly accessible, reusable and easily shared using collaboration, business intelligence, search and social computing capabilities of SharePoint Server 2010.''
The solution is ideal for global enterprises that need to provide users across the extended enterprise with easy and secure access to PLM processes and 3D product information. To complete the project, Microsoft brought together a team of specialists, including Actify, Aras, and systems integration firm Razorleaf Corporation that specializes in the integration of SharePoint to PLM and PDM applications.
The solution is available on Microsoft's Codeplex open source community at www.codeplex.com/plm
''Microsoft's goal was to build a bridge between SharePoint and PLM which was achieved and much more. With this open source solution, enterprises can complement an existing PLM or literally extend it so that SharePoint becomes their PLM solution. And because the solution is open source there are no additional PLM license fees involved. This is a huge advantage for global companies that use SharePoint,'' said Peter Schroer, President of Aras.
Learn more about the SharePoint PLM open source solution project from Aras President Peter Schroer at www.aras.com/community/blogs/
The solution dynamically exposes information contained within Aras Innovator in real time through SharePoint to the broader community of information workers across the global enterprise. PLM workflows in SharePoint are enabled with Aras while 3D visualization from Actify in Silverlight provides a truly collaborative decision making process. Visual information is presented to users around the world in the familiar SharePoint interface for a highly consumable experience that requires little or no training. Information from these collaborative sessions is made part of the product record and managed within SharePoint.
The solution provides end-to-end capabilities for extending the reach of PLM and PDM information to everyone involved in the product development process by integrating technologies from Actify and Aras into SharePoint Server 2010 to facilitate collaboration and enhance decision making across the enterprise.
About Actify
Actify Inc. is a privately held, award-winning global leader of product data collaboration solutions with customer companies throughout the automotive, aerospace, industrial automation, and discrete manufacturing industries. Actify products are sold through authorized distributors and Value Added Resellers in North America, Europe and Asia Pacific. Actify is headquartered in San Francisco, California. For more information please visit www.actify.com or call 415.227.3800.
About Razorleaf
Razorleaf is a consulting services provider that helps companies become market leaders through the measured application of technology and best practices to existing business processes. Razorleaf specializes in process analysis, implementation, training and support of enterprise technologies including Design Automation, Enterprise Portal, Product Data Management, and Product Lifecycle Management solutions. Razorleaf is privately held with headquarters in Stow, Ohio. For additional information visit www.razorleaf.com
About Microsoft
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq ''MSFT'') is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential. For more information please visit www.microsoft.com
About Aras
Aras is the leading provider of enterprise open source Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software solutions. Freedom from licensing eliminates up-front expenses and per user costs while superior technology makes Aras the most advanced enterprise PLM solution suite available. Customers include Motorola, Rolls-Royce, Freudenberg, Lockheed Martin, Ingersoll Rand, Klöckner Desma, Hi-P and ACCO Brands. Aras is privately held with global headquarters in Andover, Mass. For additional information visit www.aras.com
