Press release - August 20, 2019

New CONTACT Elements Release: Faster time to market for innovative products


The latest version of CONTACT Elements focuses on efficient product development. Users benefit from comprehensive functional enhancements and the unique integration of agile processes. Together with the CONTACT Elements Design System, the new platform release offers more user-friendliness and performance along the entire product life cycle.


CONTACT Software presented the new version 15.4 of its open and modular Elements Platform at the CONTACT Open World 2019 for the first time. CONTACT Elements delivers flexibly combinable, coordinated software modules for companies that want to optimize their added value along the product life cycle. State-of-the-art, intuitive web applications based on the CONTACT Elements Design System make Elements the leading platform for the needs of engineers and developers.

The numerous new and further developments are available to users in all products based on the platform, such as CIM Database PLM, Project Office and CONTACT Elements for IoT. Complex projects can now be organized even more efficiently. Thus, the new substitude function simplify the organization within teams. Sub-workflows increase overview and flexibility in complex work processes. With the extension of the element module Universal Classification, relationships between requirements and articles can now be visually displayed and secured using Digital Mock-Ups.

With Requirements Engineering and the xBOM Manager, CONTACT provides two completely revised modules for CIM Database PLM.

Consistent requirements management

The Editor in the new Requirements Engineering App (©CONTACT Software)

Requirements Engineering is a standard building block of the Elements platform. The new editor significantly simplifies the definition of requirements. Users attach images and sketches, create specifications in several languages and thus create an overview. Developers can link their requirement catalogs with those of other locations and make the product development process as transparent as possible. This video shows how Requirements specifically supports users.

Consistent requirements management

Requirements Engineering is a standard building block of the Elements platform. The new editor significantly simplifies the definition of requirements. Users attach images and sketches, create specifications in several languages and thus create an overview. Developers can link their requirement catalogs with those of other locations and make the product development process as transparent as possible. This video shows how Requirements specifically supports users.

The Editor in the new Requirements Engineering App (©CONTACT Software)

Requirements Engineering is a standard building block of the Elements platform. The new editor significantly simplifies the definition of requirements. Users attach images and sketches, create specifications in several languages and thus create an overview. Developers can link their requirement catalogs with those of other locations and make the product development process as transparent as possible. This video shows how Requirements specifically supports users.

Efficient production planning

The xBOM Manager with new 3D preview (©CONTACT Software)

The xBOM Manager extends the synchronization of parts lists beyond the production view. Users have the possibility to compare development BOMs directly with service or plant-related BOMs. Differences between development and production are thus also visible for each plant. Companies with several production sites in particular can thus plan their production as efficiently as possible. Elements 15.4 also integrates the 3D preview directly into the xBOM Manager.

Efficient production planning

The xBOM Manager extends the synchronization of parts lists beyond the production view. Users have the possibility to compare development BOMs directly with service or plant-related BOMs. Differences between development and production are thus also visible for each plant. Companies with several production sites in particular can thus plan their production as efficiently as possible. Elements 15.4 also integrates the 3D preview directly into the xBOM Manager.

The xBOM Manager with new 3D preview (©CONTACT Software)

The xBOM Manager extends the synchronization of parts lists beyond the production view. Users have the possibility to compare development BOMs directly with service or plant-related BOMs. Differences between development and production are thus also visible for each plant. Companies with several production sites in particular can thus plan their production as efficiently as possible. Elements 15.4 also integrates the 3D preview directly into the xBOM Manager.

Agile Project Management

Agile handling of project tasks and open topics with Sprint Boards (©CONTACT Software)

Taskboards are an important tool for an efficient organization of tasks in a team and support agile methods with the new version of CONTACT Elements. New Sprint Boards allow working with SCRUM Sprints. Tasks can be moved and prioritized via drag and drop in the backlog. In addition to tasks, pre-defined actions are also taken up in the taskboard and all changes are documented by Audit Trail.

Agile Project Management

Taskboards are an important tool for an efficient organization of tasks in a team and support agile methods with the new version of CONTACT Elements. New Sprint Boards allow working with SCRUM Sprints. Tasks can be moved and prioritized via drag and drop in the backlog. In addition to tasks, pre-defined actions are also taken up in the taskboard and all changes are documented by Audit Trail.

Agile handling of project tasks and open topics with Sprint Boards (©CONTACT Software)

Taskboards are an important tool for an efficient organization of tasks in a team and support agile methods with the new version of CONTACT Elements. New Sprint Boards allow working with SCRUM Sprints. Tasks can be moved and prioritized via drag and drop in the backlog. In addition to tasks, pre-defined actions are also taken up in the taskboard and all changes are documented by Audit Trail.

Low-Code platform for smart products and services in the Internet of Things (IoT) (IoT)

With version 15.4 CONTACT Elements for IoT receives many innovations and extensions of its best-in-class components for connected products and digital business models. The IoT platform  is easy to configure (Low-Code) and enables users to quickly implement IoT solutions and business applications as well as to optimally add value to their data using the digital twin.

The Fleet Manager provides an overview of same or similar devices in the field (©CONTACT Software)

The new Event Engine provides more transparency about the device status in the field. Status changes or faults are signalled, documented and tracked via the digital twin using predefined system actions. The same or similar devices can be monitored, controlled and evaluated via Fleet Management. Multi Tenancy enables companies to provide their customers with a digital environment for the management of their digital assets or products. 

The release also includes enhanced data providers, a comprehensive Trigger Engine, and numerous additional dashboard widgets. "With Elements for IoT, companies are able to deploy comprehensive and professional IoT solutions in days instead of weeks or months," said Dr. Jan Kickstein, Head of IoT Development at CONTACT Software.

The new Event Engine provides more transparency about the device status in the field. Status changes or faults are signalled, documented and tracked via the digital twin using predefined system actions. The same or similar devices can be monitored, controlled and evaluated via Fleet Management. Multi Tenancy enables companies to provide their customers with a digital environment for the management of their digital assets or products. 

The release also includes enhanced data providers, a comprehensive Trigger Engine, and numerous additional dashboard widgets. "With Elements for IoT, companies are able to deploy comprehensive and professional IoT solutions in days instead of weeks or months," said Dr. Jan Kickstein, Head of IoT Development at CONTACT Software.

The Fleet Manager provides an overview of same or similar devices in the field (©CONTACT Software)

The new Event Engine provides more transparency about the device status in the field. Status changes or faults are signalled, documented and tracked via the digital twin using predefined system actions. The same or similar devices can be monitored, controlled and evaluated via Fleet Management. Multi Tenancy enables companies to provide their customers with a digital environment for the management of their digital assets or products. 

The release also includes enhanced data providers, a comprehensive Trigger Engine, and numerous additional dashboard widgets. "With Elements for IoT, companies are able to deploy comprehensive and professional IoT solutions in days instead of weeks or months," said Dr. Jan Kickstein, Head of IoT Development at CONTACT Software.

The internationally leading PLM consulting and market research company CIMdata is convinced of CONTACT Elements. The experts rate CONTACT Elements as an excellent example of an agile and future-proof digital platform for end-to-end lifecycle management. Read more about it here.


Your contact:

Christoffer David Roentgen
Corporate Communication