DriveWorks
DriveWorks Ltd. is a UK-based software firm, founded in 2001, that sells rules-based design automation and 3D CPQ (configure-price-quote) software exclusively for Dassault Systèmes' SOLIDWORKS platform, serving discrete manufacturers across HVAC, machinery, materials handling, and industrial components.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersThelwall, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What DriveWorks does
DriveWorks Ltd. is a privately held UK software company founded in 2001 in Thelwall, Warrington, that sells design automation and 3D product configurator (CPQ) software exclusively for Dassault Systèmes' SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD platform. The company has held SOLIDWORKS Certified Gold Partner status continuously since 2002 and has built its product around rules-based automation: engineers encode part, assembly, and drawing logic once, after which DriveWorks automatically generates order-specific SOLIDWORKS outputs, sales documents, quotes, and manufacturing data without the need for programming or external consultants.
The product portfolio is structured as a three-tier funnel. DriveWorksXpress is bundled free inside every SOLIDWORKS seat as a freemium entry point. DriveWorks Solo is a design automation add-in available via a 30-day free trial and annual subscription for individual engineers. DriveWorks Pro is the enterprise tier, comprising four modules — Administrator (rule and form authoring), Autopilot (server-side batch automation), User (end-user run interface), and Live (browser-based 3D configurator/CPQ) — sold under annual subscription with add-on professional services delivered by certified partners. Pre-built integrations span SOLIDWORKS PDM, SOLIDWORKS CAM/MBD, SAP PLM, Salesforce, DELMIAWorks, SYSPRO ERP, and QuickBooks via ODBC, web services, and the DriveWorks API.
Go-to-market combines a direct sales motion (website demo requests, free trials, ROI calculator) with an authorized global reseller channel covering APAC, EMEA, North America, South America, and the UK. The customer base spans discrete manufacturers in HVAC, materials handling, industrial components, machinery, enclosures, transportation, food processing, medical equipment, and furniture, with named logos including WEG, Weather Guard, ROSE Systemtechnik, Rademaker, Blue Giant, MicroStep, IBR Redutores, Liftech, Wozair, and Dolphin Solutions. Revenue is generated primarily through annual software subscriptions on DriveWorks Solo and Pro, complemented by training, certification, and partner-delivered implementation services.
DriveWorks firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DriveWorks
- Legal name
- DriveWorks Ltd.
- Website
- https://driveworks.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- DriveWorks Ltd. is a UK-based software firm, founded in 2001, that sells rules-based design automation and 3D CPQ (configure-price-quote) software exclusively for Dassault Systèmes' SOLIDWORKS platform, serving discrete manufacturers across HVAC, machinery, materials handling, and industrial components.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DriveWorks industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Design Automation and 3D Product Configuration Software
- NAICS
- Software Publishers (5132)
- SIC
- Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Cost Estimation, Quoting & Scheduling Software (AM) (IMAAACAM)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- 3D Design & CAD for Additive Manufacturing (IMAAACAA)
Keywords
Where DriveWorks is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Thelwall
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
DriveWorks business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Software Licenses and Subscriptions: DriveWorks offers tiered software products (DriveWorksXpress, DriveWorks Solo, DriveWorks Pro) with subscription-based pricing. DriveWorksXpress is free inside SOLIDWORKS. DriveWorks Solo and Pro require paid subscriptions with annual billing. Subscriptions include software downloads, technical support, and access to the MyDriveWorks community.
- Professional Services and Training: DriveWorks provides training programs, certifications, webinars, and learning resources. Authorized DriveWorks Services Partners also deliver implementation and consulting services.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | DriveWorksXpress - Free entry-level design automation |
| Subscription | Annual | DriveWorks Solo - Powerful SOLIDWORKS design automation for individual engineers |
| Subscription | Annual | DriveWorks Pro - Complete design automation and online 3D CPQ configurator |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels11 records
DriveWorks product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DriveWorks sells rules-based design automation and 3D product configurator (CPQ) software built as an add-in for Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS. The software captures a manufacturer's engineering rules once, then automatically generates order-specific SOLIDWORKS parts, assemblies and drawings, and exposes a web- and mobile-based 3D configurator that allows sales teams, dealers and customers to configure, validate and quote custom products. The offering is sold on annual subscription licenses, supplemented by paid training and a partner reseller certification program.
Product overview
DriveWorks is a suite of SOLIDWORKS design automation and product configurator software consisting of three main product tiers: DriveWorksXpress (free entry-level design automation included in SOLIDWORKS), DriveWorks Solo (powerful desktop design automation add-in for individual engineers), and DriveWorks Pro (complete enterprise solution with CPQ, 3D configurator, and design automation modules including Administrator, Autopilot, Live, and User). The products share rules-based automation technology and are exclusively designed for SOLIDWORKS, enabling manufacturers to configure custom products, calculate pricing, and automatically create documents and data for sales and manufacturing. DriveWorks Pro modules work together: Administrator builds the configuration forms and rules, Autopilot automates generation, Live provides web-based customer-facing configurator, and User handles end-user access. A subscription service provides ongoing support, training, and software updates.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DriveWorksXpress: Entry-level design automation tool included free inside SOLIDWORKS.
- DriveWorks Solo
- DriveWorks Pro
- MyDriveWorks
Products and services
- DriveWorksXpress
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% reduction in design errors
- +12 more outcomes
Companies that use DriveWorks
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments14 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
DriveWorks technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
AI capability3 records
Feature12 records
DriveWorks partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.
- VisiativcoreVisiativ is a SOLIDWORKS reseller and authorized DriveWorks reseller partner. Introduced DriveWorks Pro to Rademaker and provides DriveWorks implementation support to customers including Wozair in the UK.
- Ingenieria SAMATcoreAuthorized DriveWorks Services Partner that worked with ESLA (European Special Ladders S.A.) to implement DriveWorks Pro and build an online configurator solution.
- Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKScoreDriveWorks is exclusively designed for SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD. DriveWorks has been automating SOLIDWORKS since 2001 and holds SOLIDWORKS Certified Gold Partner status since 2002. Integration includes SOLIDWORKS PDM, SOLIDWORKS MBD, and SOLIDWORKS CAM.
- SAPmajorDriveWorks integrates with SAP PLM using native SQL integration. Rademaker uses this integration for process standardization, change control, logistics, and sales automation.
- SalesforcemajorDriveWorks integrates with Salesforce CRM. Blue Giant uses this integration to automatically create quotes and manage sales opportunities through their ConfigureBLUE configurator.
- SOLIDWORKS PDMmajorDriveWorks integrates with SOLIDWORKS PDM for document management and product data management capabilities. Tech Talks series available for advanced SOLIDWORKS PDM Pro integration.
- SOLIDWORKS Reseller NetworkcoreDriveWorks software is sold and supported through SOLIDWORKS resellers globally, providing local sales, implementation, and technical support in customer time zones.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DriveWorks competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Autodesk (Fusion 360 / Inventor): Autodesk's Fusion 360 and Inventor include parametric CAD and configuration features. Competes with DriveWorks for design automation workflows among manufacturing customers.
- PTC (Creo / Windchill): PTC offers Creo parametric CAD and Windchill PLM with built-in configuration and design automation capabilities. Competes with DriveWorks for design automation and CPQ budgets among discrete manufacturers.
- Salesforce CPQ (formerly KBMax/Steelbrick): Salesforce CPQ combines configure-price-quote with 3D visualization (acquired via KBMax). Comparable 3D CPQ capabilities and integration with Salesforce CRM, but part of a much larger enterprise SaaS suite.
- PROS: PROS is an AI-powered CPQ and pricing software vendor serving multiple industries including manufacturing. Comparable CPQ functionality targeting similar manufacturer buyers, with broader portfolio across sales optimization.
- Dassault Systèmes (SOLIDWORKS / 3DEXPERIENCE): Dassault Systèmes is the parent of SOLIDWORKS and 3DEXPERIENCE platform. DriveWorks is a Gold Partner built exclusively for SOLIDWORKS; Dassault's broader portfolio includes configuration, PLM, and design automation capabilities that could overlap with DriveWorks.
- Siemens Digital Industries Software (NX / Teamcenter): Siemens offers NX CAD and Teamcenter PLM with configuration management and design automation. Targets similar discrete-manufacturing customers and competes for enterprise CPQ and engineering workflow budgets.
Direct peers
- Tacton: Tacton is a leading CPQ specialist focused on manufacturers of complex configurable products. Highly comparable to DriveWorks Pro's CPQ and 3D configurator capabilities, serving overlapping verticals (industrial equipment, HVAC, machinery).
- Configura: Configura provides 3D product configuration software (CET Designer) for manufacturers of complex configurable products in furniture, kitchen/bath, and material handling. Comparable 3D configurator and CPQ functionality serving similar custom-manufacturing customers.
Others
- Infor CPQ: Infor CPQ is a configure-price-quote solution targeting manufacturers, often sold alongside Infor ERP. Competes with DriveWorks Pro for CPQ budgets in mid-market and enterprise manufacturing customers.
Emerging players
- Onshape (by PTC): Onshape is a cloud-native CAD platform with configuration capabilities, now part of PTC. Represents the architectural shift toward browser-based, cloud-collaborative CAD that challenges DriveWorks' desktop-plugin model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
DriveWorks social profiles
Digital presenceDriveWorks financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DriveWorks leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
DriveWorks funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DriveWorks M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DriveWorks
What does DriveWorks do?
DriveWorks sells rules-based design automation and 3D product configurator (CPQ) software built as an add-in for Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKS. The software captures a manufacturer's engineering rules once, then automatically generates order-specific SOLIDWORKS parts, assemblies and drawings, and exposes a web- and mobile-based 3D configurator that allows sales teams, dealers and customers to configure, validate and quote custom products. The offering is sold on annual subscription licenses, supplemented by paid training and a partner reseller certification program.
Is DriveWorks a public or private company?
DriveWorks is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was DriveWorks founded?
DriveWorks was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is DriveWorks based?
DriveWorks is headquartered in Thelwall, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does DriveWorks make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Software Licenses and Subscriptions are the primary driver. The others are professional Services and Training.
Who are DriveWorks's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Autodesk (Fusion 360 / Inventor), PTC (Creo / Windchill), Salesforce CPQ (formerly KBMax/Steelbrick), PROS, Dassault Systèmes (SOLIDWORKS / 3DEXPERIENCE) and Siemens Digital Industries Software (NX / Teamcenter). Direct peers are Tacton and Configura. Infor CPQ is listed as an others. Onshape (by PTC) is listed as an emerging player.
Does DriveWorks have an API?
Yes. DriveWorks integrates with other systems using ODBC connections, web services, static files, DriveWorks PowerPacks, and the DriveWorks API. DriveWorks integrates with SAP using native SQL integration.
What industry is DriveWorks in?
DriveWorks's product category is Design Automation and 3D Product Configuration Software. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMAAACAM, Cost Estimation, Quoting & Scheduling Software (AM), with a secondary code of IMAAACAA, 3D Design & CAD for Additive Manufacturing. Its NAICS code is 5132 and its SIC code is 7372.