Understanding Bentley Systems’ Connected Data Environment Approach

Summary

Bentley Systems is a leading global supplier of software for designing, engineering, and managing infrastructure.   Over the past few years, ARC Advisory Group has become even more familiar with the company’s capabilities, strengths, and offerings. As we’ve learned at recent ARC Industry Forums (including our just-concluded ARC India Forum) and Bentley’s own Year in Infrastructure Conferences, Bentley has been collaborating and joining hands with companies we once considered its competitors. When competitors form partnerships, they create the right environment for innovation and industrial and economic growth, typically with connected data.

As a Global Sponsor at the ARC India Forum, Bentley Systems made two impactful presentations. Again, we noted the focus on connectivity and interoperability – not just between systems, technologies, processes, and people; but across organizations and geographies. In a recent follow-up discussion with ARC, Anne-Marie Walters, Global Marketing Director, Bentley Systems, provided additional clarity. 

Key Differentiators of Bentley’s Connected Data Environment Approach and How It Has Contributed to User Success  

According to Ms. Walters, Bentley’s connected data environment is client-centric and PAS 1192-compatible. It manages information throughout the asset lifecycle, providing an environment for seamless integrated design, project, and asset information management. Other salient features that contribute to its users’ success include:

• Interoperability and the ability to handle data from all sources, including third-party software vendors
• Strong configuration management, change management, and data validation capabilities that ensure information is accurate and reliable
• Hosted cloud services

• Flexibility and value

All these features are getting better with iModelHub, a cloud service that notifies project participants that changes have occurred on a given project. It provides a hub for engineering data and change in the connected data environment. Recently, Bentley announced the commercial availability of OpenPlant CONNECT Edition, which includes iModelHub. The application is designed to allow users in the process and manufacturing industries to improve design and operations with a collaborative, intelligent 2D and 3D plant design environment based on open data standards. This application is the first in Bentley’s multi-discipline plant design to utilize iModelHub. The integration enables users to synchronize 3D models from OpenPlant with iModelHub to view and query the model data in a web-based interface. The full history of all the changes (who, what, where, and when) made to the 3D model/2D design are synchronized into iModelHub for future reference.

Key Drivers for the Collaboration Between Siemens and Bentley in the Process Industry 

Ms. Walters explained that Siemens and Bentley have a history of complementing their respective portfolios by licensing each other’s technology. Despite the interoperability that Bentley offers, users need an easier and more streamlined way to keep data current, manage change, and enable access to more data. Bentley wants to make the maintenance of digital engineering models much easier, so data is always up to date, with changes managed and tracked faster to support decision making. The company also wants to enable new digital work processes, such as reliability-driven engineering. Bentley and Siemens recently briefed ARC Advisory Group about their vision for an open, cloud-based solution for engineering and operations. The cloud solution – a portal accessed through a browser – will federate data sources, provide functionalities, and facilitate the management of digital engineering models of the asset throughout its lifecycle.

The Siemens and Bentley alliance aims to drive new business value by accelerating digitalization to advance infrastructure project delivery and asset performance in complementary business areas. This cooperation aims to leverage new cloud services for a connected data environment to converge respective digital engineering models from both companies. The goal is to achieve systematic optimization of process plants throughout their lifecycles. 

Drivers and Objectives Behind the Process Industries Academy Initiative

Developing innovative solutions is just one aspect of what Bentley does, explained Ms. Walters.  To use these new solutions effectively, different ways of working are required. The Process Industries Academy, a recently announced joint initiative between Bentley and Siemens, is modeled on the success of other academies, especially the one in the UK that has helped Crossrail educate its supply chain to deliver data. As the physical railway is built and delivered, the digital asset is also created for effective operations and maintenance.

The Process Industries Academy will help organizations better understand and develop an effective digital strategy across all aspects of the asset lifecycle, based on the practical experience and knowledge of industry experts. The Academy shares best practices and enables dialogs for best digital outcome. Participants will experience how developing a clear digital strategy improves collaboration, communication, and coordination among the project teams. This strategy also generates an ideal environment for generating optimized information and digital workflows. It goes beyond training– it is about changing an industry.

Have Clients in India Adopted the Connected Data Environment? 

Since these discussions took place in India, we were particularly interested to learn about the acceptance of Bentley’s connected data environment in that country.  According to Ms. Walters, several public and private sector companies in India have adopted the connected data environment.  These organizations realize the importance of having good data for decision making. But even when their data is good, the information is often siloed in different systems that do not talk to each other. These companies want Bentley's connected data environment to serve as an integrated platform for their engineering and operational information. Bentley is working with the largest private refinery in India to create an integrated data management system and provide a single source of information for operations and engineering.

In What Industries Do Bentley and Siemens Collaborate in India?

Both companies are exploring opportunities in the oil & gas, power generation, and water distribution sectors. Ms. Walters believes that this partnership, and the use of complementary technologies, will bring both companies future success in India.

Conclusion

Bentley’s connected data environment approach is much broader than the conventional supplier solution – it is about interoperability, connectivity, collaboration, and integrated operations across project teams, organizations, and different regions of the world. Partnerships with other companies such as Siemens drives home the point that building on strengths lays the foundation for a better future – not just for the partners, but for global industrial growth.

ARC Advisory Group clients can view the complete report at ARC Main Client Portal or at ARC Office 365 Client Portal

If you would like to buy this report or obtain information about how to become a client, please Contact Us     

Keywords: Bentley Systems, ARC India Forum, Connected Data Environment, ARC Advisory Group.