What CDS Visual does

CDS Visual, founded in 2005 and headquartered in Watertown, Massachusetts, is a cloud-based software company providing AI-powered 3D visualization solutions for industrial equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their distribution networks. The company is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dover Corporation (NYSE: DOV), a diversified global manufacturer with approximately $7 billion in annual revenue. CDS Visual's platform enables manufacturers to convert existing CAD engineering data into interactive 2D and 3D visual experiences spanning aftermarket parts commerce, connected worker operations, sales configuration, and B2B customer portals. The company's customer base includes named enterprise OEMs such as Gates, Emerson, Markem-Imaje, OPW Vehicle Wash Solutions, Environmental Solutions Group, and GAM, with target segments spanning industrial equipment OEMs, parts distributors, and manufacturing operations teams.

The product suite comprises six integrated modules: CDS Partable (AI-powered spare parts identification via visual search, serial number lookup, and BOM search), CDS Mentor (digital work instructions, skills management, quality control, and real-time shop floor execution, recently launched as version 3.0 in October 2025), CDS Visual Configuration for CPQ (real-time 3D product configuration with auto-generated CAD drawings and BOM creation), CDS Specview (photorealistic 3D ecommerce visuals with 360-spin), CDS Digital Portal (B2B account, order, quote, and warranty management), and CDS Photorealistic Images (a PRI add-on service for at-scale photorealistic rendering from CAD). The platform's stated technical differentiator is its foundation in CAD-based engineering data rather than generic 3D graphics, ensuring engineering-grade accuracy and a maintained digital thread from design to customer-facing applications. AI capabilities span computer vision, recommendation engines, process automation for data extraction and cleansing, and generative AI for work instruction authoring. CDS Mentor is hosted on AWS and carries SOC 2 Type II compliance.

CDS Visual operates a SaaS subscription revenue model with annual renewals and CPI/5%-linked escalators, supplemented by separately quoted professional services for implementation, custom development, and integration work delivered under statements of work. The go-to-market is hybrid: direct enterprise field sales targeting OEM manufacturers, digital commerce leaders, and aftermarket sales leaders, combined with product-led growth levers including interactive demos, SEO-driven content marketing, and a marketplace listing on the Salesforce AppExchange. Distribution is anchored by Core-tier strategic integrations with Salesforce (CDS Partable is the only approved spare parts solution on AppExchange), SAP, Oracle, and Autodesk, with a partner ecosystem covering CPQ providers, system integrators, and value-added resellers to extend reach into global industrial markets.

Name

CDS Visual

Legal name

CDS Visual Inc.

Website

https://cdsvisual.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CDS Visual provides AI-powered 3D visualization software that converts CAD data into interactive experiences for spare parts identification, digital work instructions, CPQ configuration, and B2B portals. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Dover Corporation, the company serves industrial equipment OEMs and parts distributors globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial 3D Visualization Software

NAICS

Industrial Design Services (541420)

SIC

Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial CAD/CAM for Manufacturing (EDAOAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

3D Design & CAD for Additive Manufacturing (IMAAACAA)

Keywords

• 3D visualization software
• Digital work instructions
• Spare parts ecommerce
• Visual CPQ configuration
• B2B digital commerce

Headquarters

HQ city

Watertown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. SaaS Subscription: CDS Visual operates on a SaaS subscription model with annual renewals. Fees automatically increase upon renewal by the greater of 5% or the percentage increase in CPI-U. The company provides access to its software-as-a-service platform via the Internet.
2. Professional Services: Professional services for implementation, custom development, and integration work are quoted separately and governed by Statements of Work.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

CDS Visual provides a cloud-based AI-powered 3D visualization platform that enables industrial manufacturers and OEMs to convert existing CAD assets into interactive visual customer experiences. Its offerings span spare parts identification and ordering (CDS Partable), connected-worker digital work instructions (CDS Mentor), 3D visual configuration for CPQ, photorealistic 3D ecommerce (CDS Specview), B2B digital commerce portals, and photorealistic product image generation, all delivered as subscription SaaS to manufacturing enterprises.

Product overview

CDS Visual offers a cloud-based AI-powered visualization platform comprising five integrated products: CDS Partable for AI-powered spare parts identification and ordering, CDS Mentor for digital work instructions and connected worker operations, CDS Visual Configuration for CPQ to enable 3D product configuration, CDS Specview for 3D visual ecommerce, and CDS Digital Portal for unified customer and partner account management. The platform leverages existing CAD assets to deliver 2D and 3D visual experiences across the complete customer and product lifecycle.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CDS Partable: AI-powered spare part identification and ordering platform for OEMs to maximize genuine spare part sales
• CDS Mentor
• CDS Specview
• CDS Visual Configuration

Products and services

• CDS Partable AI-powered spare parts identification and ordering platform that enables anyone to search and procure spare parts for industrial equipment using visual search, serial number lookup, BOM part search, and 2D/3D exploded view interactions; targeted at OEMs, distributors, and service technicians.
• CDS Mentor AI-powered connected-worker platform that unifies the shop floor execution lifecycle through digital work instruction authoring, execution, quality management, skills management, and real-time insights; designed for manufacturing operations teams in industrial enterprises.
• CDS Visual Configuration for CPQ 3D visual configurator integration for CPQ systems that converts CAD models into interactive visualizations enabling real-time configuration of complex products across all sales channels; built for industrial OEMs with configurable product portfolios.
• CDS Specview 3D visual ecommerce solution for standard products that generates photorealistic images from CAD models with 360-spin and interactive visualization to lift ecommerce conversion rates and eliminate manual product photography.
• CDS Digital Portal All-in-one B2B digital commerce portal that centralizes account management, transactions, and support for customers and partners, enabling 24/7 self-service access to quotes, orders, and warranty management; targeted at manufacturers and their distributors.
• CDS Photorealistic Images (PRI) Service that generates photorealistic product images from 3D CAD models at scale, eliminating the need for traditional product photography while increasing ecommerce conversion rates up to 22%.

Quantifiable outcome

• Increase genuine spare part sales by 25%
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

AI capability7 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• SalesforcecoreTechnology or IntegrationCDS Visual has a strategic integration with Salesforce, with CDS Partable being the only approved spare parts solution on Salesforce AppExchange. The integration enables seamless spare parts identification and ordering within Salesforce CRM environments.
• SAPcoreTechnology or IntegrationCDS Visual integrates with SAP systems enabling seamless data synchronization between CDS visualization solutions and SAP ERP platforms for manufacturers.
• OraclecoreTechnology or IntegrationCDS Visual integrates with Oracle platforms enabling visualization solutions within Oracle ERP environments for industrial manufacturers.
• AutodeskcoreTechnology or IntegrationCDS Visual leverages Autodesk CAD data for 3D visualization, enabling manufacturers to utilize existing Autodesk design assets for customer-facing visual experiences.
• System IntegratorscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCDS Visual partners with system integrators to deploy and implement visualization solutions across manufacturing enterprise environments.
• CPQ Solution ProviderscoreTechnology or IntegrationCDS Visual partners with CPQ (Configure, Price, Quote) providers to deliver integrated 3D visual configuration capabilities across sales channels.
• Value-Added ResellerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCDS Visual maintains a VAR partner program for reselling and distributing visualization solutions to manufacturing customers.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• PTC: PTC competes through Creo, ThingWorx, and Vuforia — a broad PLM/IoT/AR suite that overlaps with CDS Visual's digital thread from CAD through service and AR-enabled worker guidance.
• Autodesk: Autodesk is both a CDS Visual integration partner (CAD data source) and a broad incumbent in 3D visualization via VRED and Fusion 360, competing for the same OEM visualization/AR/CPQ wallet.
• Siemens Digital Industries Software: Siemens (NX, Teamcenter Visualization) is a broad PLM/CAD incumbent whose digital-twin and visualization offerings compete with CDS Visual across large industrial OEM accounts globally.

Direct peers

• Threekit: Threekit is a direct competitor offering 3D product visualization, configuration, and AR for ecommerce — closely aligned with CDS Visual's Specview and Visual Configuration for CPQ products across both B2B and B2C commerce use cases.
• Configura: Configura (CET/Configura) provides visual space planning and CPQ configuration for complex configurable products — overlapping directly with CDS Visual Configuration in industrial verticals like furniture, kitchen/bath, and material handling.
• Topology: Topology provides a 3D visualization and configuration platform for ecommerce and CPQ, targeting manufacturers selling configurable products online — direct overlap with CDS Specview and Visual Configuration offerings.
• Emersya: Emersya delivers 3D and AR product visualization, configuration, and customization for manufacturers and brands — directly comparable to CDS Visual's 3D ecommerce and configuration capabilities, especially for industrial product catalogs.
• Tulip Interfaces: Tulip is a frontline operations / connected-worker platform that overlaps directly with CDS Mentor — both target manufacturing shop-floor digital work instructions, quality, and skills, addressing the same labor-shortage pain points.
• Dozuki: Dozuki (by iFixit) provides digital work instructions and connected-worker software for manufacturers, directly comparable to CDS Mentor's multimedia instruction authoring and execution capabilities.
• Augmentir: Augmentir offers AI-powered connected-worker software for digital work instructions, skills, and quality — overlapping with CDS Mentor's AI-driven instruction and analytics capabilities for industrial manufacturers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@gocdsvideos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cds-catalog-data-solutions-inc

Compliance1 record

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 CDS Visual