Bentley Systems, Incorporated recently announced that it has acquired all operations of KIWI Software, a leading provider of structural modeling, detailing, and fabrication software for industrial plants, buildings, and civil structures.
KIWI Software’s flagship product line, ProSteel 3D, is a globally recognized solution for structural steel detailing and fabrication that supports multiple platforms, including AutoCAD, Inventor, and now MicroStation. The total number of ProSteel 3D users exceeds 6000. Typical applications include structural steel and steel building construction, plant construction, conveying equipment and heavy machinery, aluminum construction, and naval architecture.
Read more about Bentley's acquisition of KIWI Software.
Below are some frequently asked questions from KIWI Software users regarding the recent acquisition:
Q: Why did Bentley purchase KIWI Software?
A: Bentley is a leading supplier of software solutions for architecture, engineering, construction (AEC) and operations, and KIWI Software provides market-leading structural modeling and detailing solutions— most notably, ProSteel3D, which is also marketed by Bentley as AutoPLANT Structural. Together with last year’s acquisition of RAM International and the STAAD product lines for structural engineering analysis, design, and drafting, ProSteel 3D expands Bentley’s structural product lines to fully encompass the workflow of design teams from modeling, analysis, and design through the shop drawing and fabrication process. KIWI Software customers will see immediate benefits from the integration initiatives currently being undertaken to make these solutions fully interoperable.
Q: Why did KIWI Software decide to sell the company to Bentley?
A: The push to provide more comprehensive software solutions for AEC and operations is leading to vendor consolidation, and KIWI Software believes it can better serve its users through increased interoperability and the global reach and financial strength of a company like Bentley. Bentley believes that the future of detailing software lies in its integration with both downstream and upstream solutions, and Bentley provides the best and most complete software solutions in these areas. To this end, Bentley is extremely excited about the potential KIWI Software’s solutions hold for increasing the productivity of its users.
Q: Will we still be receiving support from the people who have provided us with support in the past?
A: Yes, it is Bentley’s intention to retain all employees and resellers of KIWI Software, GmbH and KIWI-CAD Ltd. so that KIWI Software users continue to receive support services from the same people who have been providing them with expert assistance in the past. At the same time, Bentley will add new support services through the Bentley global support offices to better serve its users throughout the world. Bentley will transition KIWI Software users over time to the Bentley Support Policy, but services will remain the same and be executed by the same qualified people.
Q: Will ProSteel 3D continue to work on both Autodesk products as well as MicroStation?
A: Yes. Bentley is committed to having its engineering and detailing solutions integrate with all major platforms. Bentley has many industry-leading applications that work on AutoCAD in addition to MicroStation. Bentley has continued to enhance these applications as well as to port them to newer versions of AutoCAD as they have become available. Bentley’s goal is to provide interoperable engineering solutions that fit into users’ workflow processes and this includes the ability to link and exchange information with all of the popular CAD and drawing production tools in the market, not only MicroStation.
Bentley is also a staunch supporter of open standards, and a founding member of the Industry Alliance for Interoperability, Open Design Alliance, and numerous other international standards groups. Bentley’s corporate philosophy includes a clear commitment to deliver and support open platforms and solutions. This support for open standards will also help its users exchange information with many other systems.
Q: Will ProSteel 3D be integrated with Bentley products and no longer offered as stand-alone solutions?
A: All KIWI Software products will continue to be available in their current configurations. Bentley’s goal for detailing customers does not include dictating the CAD or BIM platforms that they choose. Rather, Bentley’s goal is to provide engineering and detailing solutions that integrate and interoperate with all major CAD and BIM platforms. Bentley will continue to develop its CAD and BIM platforms as the most productive in the industry, and enable its detailing customers to adopt whatever CAD or BIM platform works best for their needs.
Q: Are KIWI Software products heading in the same direction as they have been over the past several years?
A: While Bentley certainly will be providing further integration with Bentley, RAM, and STAAD products that will greatly benefit its users, Bentley is increasing its available resources through this acquisition to enable it to increase the speed at which the firm can deliver on the enhancements planned in the KIWI Software product line.
Q: Our company is both a Bentley and KIWI Software user. What does this union mean to us?
A: Bentley will be offering the KIWI Software products under Bentley’s sales, support, and licensing programs. In the near term, Bentley will continue the existing licensing programs of both companies, so your relationship will continue with both your Bentley account manager and existing contacts at KIWI Software and/or its resellers.
Q: How do I get more information about the potential impact this transaction may have on my firm?
A: KIWI Software customers are encouraged to email or call Barbara Russwurm, former business manager of KIWI Software and current director of business development at Bentley, with any further questions or concerns. She can be reached at Barbara.Russwurm@Bentley.com or at +49-178-4897971.