Through in-depth conversations with manufacturing leaders, we explored how organizations are approaching engineering data challenges today and preparing for what's next. That means choosing when to build a custom, in-house solution and when to buy a commercial, off-the-shelf tool, and why many do both. The report highlights common themes, differing perspectives, and practical takeaways from those discussions.
Build, Buy, or Hybrid Decisions
How manufacturing leaders approach building custom 3D data solutions, buying off-the-shelf tools, or blending both.
The Drivers Behind Each Approach
The business and technical factors, cost, speed, talent, differentiation, that push teams toward one path or the other.
Managing Data Across Formats
The real-world challenges of moving CAD and engineering data across formats, systems, and teams.
AI's Growing Influence
How AI is reshaping engineering software strategy and what it demands from your data.
Practical Takeaways
Insights you can apply to your own engineering data initiatives, starting now.
Build, Buy, or Both?
Explore how manufacturers are balancing commercial software with custom development to meet evolving engineering data needs.
Independent. Objective. Built Around Industry Perspectives.
This report was commissioned by Tech Soft 3D and researched independently by Tech-Clarity, drawing on in-depth interviews with manager, director, and VP-level leaders responsible for build-or-buy decisions on 3D engineering data.
Participants spanned Aerospace, Automotive, Industrial Machinery, Electronics/High Tech, and MedTech, all from companies with over $1 billion in revenue (the majority above $10 billion), across Europe and North America.
It captures qualitative insights, recurring themes, and real-world perspectives from organizations navigating today's engineering data challenges.
This report is based on independent qualitative research commissioned by Tech Soft 3D. Through interviews with manufacturing leaders, it explores how organizations are approaching build, buy, and hybrid engineering data strategies.
The report is based on a series of in-depth interviews with manufacturing leaders across multiple organizations. Rather than measuring broad market trends through a large-scale survey, it highlights common themes, differing viewpoints, and practical lessons from these conversations.
