Leading shipbuilders are shifting towards an integrated layered approach, where platforms and systems work together seamlessly, no matter what vendor they come from. However, those shipyards need to be sure that they aren’t stuck with the task of making the applications work together. That’s why the most successful yards are making sure to find technology partners that have proven they integrate and work well together. Autodesk and SSI have been partners since 1996, and this year we were recognized by them for achieving the highest adoption rate in the Americas. That’s just one example of the type of partnership to look out for.
What is the trend?
Leading shipyards have turned to assessing their digital transformation more holistically. By first identifying the areas where it is crucial to have shipbuilding-specific or activity-specific capabilities and layering those solutions on top of more foundational, lightweight infrastructure, shipyards are minimizing risk.
With a platform of platforms approach, the ecosystem can be tailored to support the specific needs of your shipyard through a layered strategy. At a base level, your teams can implement foundational technologies that deliver the functionality you need but don’t need to be specialized for shipbuilding. On top of that, you can layer shipbuilding-specific tools that help you tackle industry-specific challenges. Finally, to fulfill the last mile needs of your process requirements, you can leverage tools that fit a specific niche, like cable management or hull validation. Together, your organization has a robust technological foundation that fits what needs to get done and reduces costs compared to a one-size-fits-all approach.
How to take advantage
Focus on choosing vendors that are flexible and adaptable to change and have long-standing partnerships. When all three layers of your technology ecosystem (foundational, shipbuilding-specific, and shipyard-specific) have a history of integration, you have confidence that these solutions will work well within your shipyard.
The SSI + Autodesk partnership
SSI was founded by Rolf Oetter based on principles that define our organization to this day. He recognized early on that taking advantage of COTS (commercial off-the-shelf) technology was an advantage for shipbuilders. Through continuous collaboration with industry leaders, Rolf sought to further integrate AutoCAD and SSI (then ARL) products by partnering with Autodesk in 1996. This partnership became the foundation of ShipConstructor and marked a conscious decision by the founder to further the business realities of his vision. The core values across our organizations remain aligned to this day and are a key reason behind the over 25-year partnership.
Recognized as Autodesk Platinum Club Award Winner
2021 saw us further strengthen the decades-long partnership between our organization and Autodesk. Our US team was awarded an Autodesk Platinum Club Award, the top accolade from the 3D design and engineering software company, for achieving the highest adoption rate in the Americas.
The benefit to your shipyard
With the knowledge that the vendors you are working with have a long history of integrating well together, your teams can be confident that they are getting the shipbuilding-specific tools they need, without having to be software development experts to see a benefit.
See all 5 shipbuilding technology trends
To learn more about the latest technology trends leading shipbuilders are embracing as part of their digital transformations, make sure to read our full report Top 5 Shipbuilding Technology Trends. You will find actionable insights and takeaways that you can share with your team.
Read the Report