DriveWorks

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.

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

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

• Design automation software
• SOLIDWORKS configurator
• CPQ for manufacturing
• 3D product configurator
• CAD automation add-in

Headquarters

HQ city

Thelwall

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core 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

Named customers16 records

Segments14 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

AI capability3 records

Feature12 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• VisiativcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVisiativ 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 SAMATcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAuthorized DriveWorks Services Partner that worked with ESLA (European Special Ladders S.A.) to implement DriveWorks Pro and build an online configurator solution.
• Dassault Systèmes SOLIDWORKScoreTechnology or IntegrationDriveWorks 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.
• SAPmajorTechnology or IntegrationDriveWorks integrates with SAP PLM using native SQL integration. Rademaker uses this integration for process standardization, change control, logistics, and sales automation.
• SalesforcemajorTechnology or IntegrationDriveWorks integrates with Salesforce CRM. Blue Giant uses this integration to automatically create quotes and manage sales opportunities through their ConfigureBLUE configurator.
• SOLIDWORKS PDMmajorTechnology or IntegrationDriveWorks integrates with SOLIDWORKS PDM for document management and product data management capabilities. Tech Talks series available for advanced SOLIDWORKS PDM Pro integration.
• SOLIDWORKS Reseller NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDriveWorks 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

Broad 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/driveworks
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/driveworks
• Xx.com/driveworks

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about DriveWorks