HostPLM speeds up SOLIDWORKS PDM and server maintenance support by 80% — with zero hassle for the customer

SOLIDWORKS PDM is the backbone of many engineering and design teams. It manages CAD data, versions, approvals, and keeps product information secure and traceable. When your PDM system runs smoothly, design work flows. When it slows down or fails, the entire product development chain is affected. HostPLM solves this by moving your SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional environment to the cloud in a controlled way and bringing support directly to the server level, without customers needing to deal with connections, log packages, system copies, or backups.

HostPLM from a support services perspective

HostPLM adds flexibility and significant speed to support work. It makes everyday life easier for customers and especially for PDM administrators, because the HostPLM support team has direct access to the customer’s PDM server. This means troubleshooting can start immediately when a ticket arrives, directly in the customer’s environment. Problems are investigated quickly and efficiently without users having to send error files, vault copies, or other separate attachments.

Cases that require SOLIDWORKS technical support become much easier as well. The HostPLM team can deliver required log packages, database backups, archive copies etc. directly. Normally these would need to be collected from a server that end users often cannot access. Without HostPLM, this typically means waiting for IT or the PDM admin and consuming their work time. With HostPLM, everything needed is already available.

If SOLIDWORKS needs direct access to the customer’s environment, we are ready. In most cases, the investigation can be completed without customer involvement. Normally, solving these cases would require a user, a PDM admin, and IT working together so SOLIDWORKS can connect to the server.

Additionally, troubleshooting intermittent issues often requires proactive monitoring directly on the PDM server and in Microsoft SQL Server, which can quickly consume a PDM administrator’s and IT team’s time. With HostPLM, we take care of these monitoring and follow-up actions for you, saving your internal resources and allowing us to isolate the root cause faster.

Quick reactions to PDM needs

HostPLM also improves efficiency in administrative tasks because we know both SOLIDWORKS PDM and its server infrastructure. Work is fast and straightforward. External IT teams may understand servers well, but not necessarily PDM systems, which often slows progress.

For example, upgrades can be carried out when it suits the customer, and even on a very short schedule if needed. Because we always have server access, there is no need to coordinate time with IT, set up VPN/TeamViewer connections, look for admin credentials, or recover forgotten passwords. All of this usually costs time and money. In HostPLM, upgrades are included as part of the service.

Case example: a full PDM upgrade and server refresh in one day

HostPLM enables extremely fast responses to unexpected needs.

One of our customers urgently needed a SOLIDWORKS PDM upgrade, but the server operating system no longer supported the newest SOLIDWORKS version. The entire server had to be updated before installing the new release. The HostPLM team was able to set up a new server, install an up-to-date SQL Server version, and migrate the data within a day, because everything needed was directly at our disposal.

For an external IT provider, this would have meant purchasing a new server and SQL licenses, building connections, migrating data, contacting a PDM consultant, and running a separate migration project, involving multiple people and thousands of euros in extra cost.

With HostPLM, the entire case was handled through a single support ticket. The customer’s own effort was minimal and there were no additional costs. Everything was included in the HostPLM service.