Frequently Asked Questions

To summarize, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform is a business wide tool that provides access to Dassault Systèmes huge range of engineering software solutions enabling teams to design, test, manufacture and market their products.

Every program on the platform connects seamlessly and uses the same files, which helps companies improve collaboration between departments, simplifies data management and provides easy access to key information.

But what does this mean for a business using SOLIDWORKS?

The main areas that SOLIDWORKS users can immediately take advantage of are the CAD intelligent cloud data storage and the straightforward design sharing tools. These capabilities are included as part of the SOLIDWORKS Cloud Services.

The SOLIDWORKS Cloud Services provide a connection from SOLIDWORKS to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform and access to a small subsection of tools on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

The platform's capabilities are vast, but they are also completely modular, we recommend that you start by taking advantage of the cloud data storage and collaboration tools and expanding into other areas as and when you need.

Learn more about the SOLIDWORKS Cloud Services here.

There are many potential reasons but one that we can recommend to most users is that with the platform you get secure cloud-based data management.

This data management is CAD intelligent and it has many advantages, you don't need to purchase and maintain servers, you avoid any cyber security issues and you can access your data anywhere and on any device.

To help you make the most out of the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, and the new SOLIDWORKS Cloud Services included in your subscription, we are preparing a self start guide for you to follow.

The guide will be comprised of short tutorial videos that have been grouped into digestible sections, it has been designed to allow you to learn about the different aspects of the platform at your own pace.

This guide will become available later in May on this site, so make sure to bookmark this page.

If you can't wait to get started and want the most efficient set up possible then we also offer a paid Quick Start service. During this service one of our engineers will run through the initial setup with you and make sure that everything is configured optimally for your company's requirements.

Contact us to find out more.

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There are tools for every department within a business on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform but for most customers we expect it will be the design and engineering teams that get the most out of using the platform.

Please explore this site for more information about 3DEXPERIENCE or contact us with your questions.

We regularly run online demos though the schedules for these vary between the U.S.A., Canada, the U.K. and Ireland. To find out more or organise a demonstration at a time that is convenient for you then we recommend that you contact us.

During the demo we will cover common use-case scenarios and be available for you to ask questions that apply to your specific project or company needs.

To access different tools on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform you need to purchase roles. There are many different roles available so the cost of purchasing 3DEXPERIENCE will vary depending on your requirements.

We're here to advise you and can help to tailor a package that perfectly suits your company's needs.

For many users the new SOLIDWORKS Cloud Services will be included in the price of their subscriptions, this grants access to three 3DEXPERIENCE roles and provides a perfect entry point for SOLIDWORKS users.

Yes, with the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, your data is stored on servers managed by Dassault Systèmes.

There are no costs such as buying and managing a physical server, backup software, network switches, and so on. The only hardware you need is a PC to run SOLIDWORKS.

There are a number of similarly named offers available surrounding SOLIDWORKS and 3DEXPERIENCE, and while there is overlap between them they are not the same thing.

To clear things up here is a brief explanation of the main offerings including SOLIDWORKS Cloud, SOLIDWORKS Desktop with SOLIDWORKS Cloud Services, 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS and 3DEXPERIENCE Works.

SOLIDWORKS Cloud
SOLIDWORKS Cloud is a bundle of cloud-based modeling apps that allows users to access and use best in class CAD functionality and files from any device with an internet connection.

These apps provide many of the same design capabilities as SOLIDWORKS Desktop but without the need to install the software on a PC. These apps will feel very familiar to SOLIDWORKS users but they have been developed from the ground up and are not the exact same as SOLIDWORKS Desktop.

The apps in the SOLIDWORKS Cloud offer make an ideal solution for users who need to access CAD tools on multiple devices or locations and those who do not want to maintain the software locally. These apps all run on the cloud based 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

Learn more about SOLIDWORKS Cloud.

SOLIDWORKS Desktop (with SOLIDWORKS Cloud Services)
SOLIDWORKS Desktop is a standard installation of SOLIDWORKS software on a local device. It provides users with the full range of capabilities and features of SOLIDWORKS but requires the software to be installed and maintained locally.

SOLIDWORKS Cloud Services is a collection of tools that will be included with new SOLIDWORKS Subscriptions and term licenses.

They connect desktop SOLIDWORKS to the cloud based 3DEXPERIENCE platform and enable SOLIDWORKS users to easily share and markup designs, access CAD intelligent online storage and manage their design data effectively. In a nutshell, they provide a secure online hub for storage and collaboration.

SOLIDWORKS Cloud Services is best suited for traditional SOLIDWORKS users that want to take advantage of better design sharing and cloud data storage.

3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS
3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS is a cloud-focused version of SOLIDWORKS that has a virtually identical set of capabilities as SOLIDWORKS Desktop but has a built in connection to the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.

3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS launches from and saves files to the 3DEXPERIENCE but it still runs locally, this means that you still need a machine with the power to run SOLIDWORKS.

3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS software provides access to the same tools contained within SOLIDWORKS Cloud Services and can be bundled other cloud applications for flexible sub-divisional modelling and simulation.

Overall using 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS will be very similar to using desktop SOLIDWORKS with Cloud Services, it's a great choice for companies looking to simplify license management and consolidate their tools in one place, providing a more consistent user experience.

Learn more about 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS

3DEXPERIENCE Works

3DEXPERIENCE Works refers to a wider portfolio of applications on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform that are the most beneficial for typical teams that use SOLIDWORKS.

3DEXPERIENCE Works includes 3DEXPERIENCE SOLIDWORKS alongside a number of cloud-based tools for simulation, manufacturing, data management and marketing.

All of these applications are seamlessly connected and make use of the same SOLIDWORKS CAD data, which enables the key stakeholders of every project to work smoothly together.