Press release – November 2, 2021
The new CONTACT Elements release
CONTACT Software is launching a new version of its open, low-code Elements platform. It extends the benefits of the industry solutions built on it and supports companies even better in creating their digital business models end-to-end and expanding them in an agile way.
With its more than 50 harmonized, flexibly combinable specialist applications, the component architecture of CONTACT Elements enables end-to-end digital business processes for the development, manufacture, and operation of smart products. The open technology platform with standard interfaces, open source and third-party components ensures the smooth interaction of IT and OT systems, consistent data and better collaboration, including with suppliers and customers.
With the further development of its platform, CONTACT provides many new functions that significantly increase the performance and user-friendliness of the industry solutions based on it. Optimized interface icons and a higher-contrast color scheme reduce operating barriers and facilitate navigation in all specialist applications.
Users can now also edit posts in rich text format, tag people in posts and link objects with the integrated social media tool Activity Stream. This further simplifies the continuous and transparent exchange of information within the team or across the entire company.
At the same time as the new Elements release, CONTACT is making new versions of CIM Database PLM and the project management solution Project Office available for download in its Aloha Portal. Here are some highlights at a glance.
Planning changes in production in advance
If a part has to be replaced in the product structure in the future, for example due to new DIN standards or the use of other components, product development can now plan this in advance for production. For this purpose, users individually define until when or from when released documents and parts are valid. The new validity automatically takes effect on the specified date and replaces the part in the parts list that was valid up to this point. With a new filter function, documents and parts can also be found quickly and easily based on their validity.
Track new requirements transparently
The CONTACT Elements Requirements Engineering module makes end-to-end requirements management in CIM Database PLM even more efficient and easier. A new "baselining" mechanism allows users to freeze work statuses of object structures at the push of a button and compare the copies created in this way. Changes in specifications are visually highlighted and can be quickly identified and evaluated. The automatic creation of baselines when importing new requirements from external sources further ensures the traceability of changes and integrates partners even better into the overall process.
Faster 3D visualization
CONTACT Elements offers 3D Connect, a universal visualization solution that makes 3D models available across the enterprise, even without a CAD system or separate viewer. Technical improvements "under the hood" now ensure that the conversion of CAD files requires fewer resources and is more performant. Users benefit from shorter loading times, as even very large assemblies are now displayed much faster as a 3D model in the PLM system.
Plan and execute projects more effectively
CONTACT Project Office now supports project teams in planning and executing their tasks even more effectively with a new prognosis function. Users can now enter date prognoses for their tasks in the project plan that deviate from the planned date, for example, to indicate a delay. The valid schedule, including all subsequent dates, remains unchanged.
The difference between the valid planning and the expected achievable dates is visually highlighted in the Gantt chart. Project managers can thus identify potential conflicts in planned and ongoing projects and take preventive action at an early stage.
The new Elements for IoT release will follow in December. CONTACT's offering for the digital factory and smart services also scores with important extensions, whose added value for manufacturing companies will be highlighted in a separate press release.
