Stop losing time to the wrong file version
SOLIDWORKS PDM
Manage and synchronize design data across your organization, and collaborate on designs across multiple locations — without wondering which file is actually the latest one.
SOLIDWORKS PDM
SOLIDWORKS PDM (Product Data Management) stores your CAD data, drawings, and related documents in one secure vault, with automatic version control and a full audit trail.
Automated workflows carry data cleanly from engineering through manufacturing, so less gets lost in translation – and your intellectual property stays protected the whole way through.
WHICH PATH FITS YOU?
The way you manage your data decides which solution you need.
Before you compare features, you need to ask yourself a question: How do you need to manage your data?
For a single-site SOLIDWORKS team, across a broader organization, or through a platform?
A simple solution, staying in SOLIDWORKS
PDM Standard or PDM Professional work inside SOLIDWORKS exactly as you already use it – nothing about how you work changes, only what happens to your files behind the scenes. The feature comparison further down this page covers both in detail.
Managing data across multiple CAD tools and sites
If you’re working across more than SOLIDWORKS – other CAD tools, other sites, or a broader PLM strategy – Cloud Services on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform is a different system built for that, not a SOLIDWORKS add-on. Explore Cloud Services on 3DEXPERIENCE →
Not sure which describes you?
The comparison below covers PDM Standard and Professional in detail.
DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?
“It depended on people’s memory.”
Before PDM, most teams manage files the same way: shared drives, folder structures, and hoping everyone remembers to grab the newest version.
Drawings get corrected, but nothing guarantees the update reaches the next project.
- Nobody can say with certainty who’s holding the current version of a file.
- Work gets redone because someone started from an outdated model.
- Reports and BOMs get rebuilt by hand because the data isn’t structured to pull from.
“When a drawing was corrected – even for a small dimension or tolerance change – it was not always certain that the updated version would be used in the next project.
The choice depended on people’s memory…
At times, work had to be done twice because the model used as a starting point turned out to be an older version.”-Tomi Ikonen, Engineering Management, Pinomatic
What changes with PDM:
Automated workflows and approval processes.
A file’s status is tracked, not remembered.
One version, always current.
Users can’t accidentally keep working from an old file — the system enforces it.
A full audit trail.
Know who changed what, and when, without asking around.
Our packages
SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard
Everything stays the way your team already works – you’re still in SOLIDWORKS, doing what you do today. PDM Standard adds automatic change tracking and status notifications underneath, and manages your parts, assemblies, and drawings from one place instead of a folder structure. It’s included with every SOLIDWORKS Professional and Premium license.
SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional
Built for when a growing team needs more automation than Standard gives you. Everything in Standard, plus automated approval workflows, remote access from any device, Bill of Materials support, and integrations with third-party CAD tools and Microsoft Office. Runs on Microsoft SQL Server, so it scales with your team and data volume – without a rebuild down the line.
Cloud Services
Worth a look if SOLIDWORKS is only part of your data picture – other CAD tools, other sites, or a broader PLM strategy. Cloud Services runs on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, connecting your organization’s people, software, and data in one secure place, with real-time collaboration from anywhere.
Want to see full package features?
SOLIDWORKS PDM comes in two different packages scalable to meet the needs of your business. Find the perfect fit for you, or choose to explore our Cloud Data Management on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform.
Functions and features
| Functions and features | SOLIDWORKS PDM Standard | SOLIDWORKS PDM Professional | Cloud Services |
|---|---|---|---|
| File Management | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Design and Reuse | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Revision Management | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Secure File Vaulting | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Revision Control | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Audit Trail | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integrated Search | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| eDrawings Preview | ✓ | ✓ | – |
| Engineering Change Management | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bill of Materials Management | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Regulatory Compliance | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Distributed Collaboration | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Enterprise Scalability | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Advanced Search and Favorites | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Multi-Document Preview | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Scalability | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automated Neutral File Creation | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Custom Configuration | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automated Data Import and Export | – | ✓ | – |
| Serial Number Generators | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Distributed Design Teams | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Remote Access | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automated Approval Process | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Email Notifications | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Project Management | – | – | ✓ |
| Process Management | – | – | ✓ |
| Item Management | – | – | ✓ |
| 3DPlay | – | – | ✓ |
| User Tasks | – | – | ✓ |
| Dashboards and Reports | – | – | ✓ |
| Microsoft Outlook® Integration | – | – | ✓ |
PDM delivery solutions
However you buy it, you still have to run it.
FastTrack
The fastest way to adopt a standardized out of the box PDM solution.
Customized Implementation
When you need more than a FastTrack. Available only for PDM Professional licenses.
On-premise or hosted?
Run your own on-premise environment, or let PLM Group host it for you.
HostPLM handles setup, migration, and ongoing maintenance on Microsoft Azure, so your team gets secure access from anywhere without the server upkeep.
Read more about HostPLM →
ClampOn AS
“The big learning from the process of moving to SOLIDWORKS and PDM actually has been to see all the capacity we gain by using good systems and working by good routines. And PDM has really helped us with this.”
Frequently asked questions
Here are the answers to the most frequently asked questions about this solution.
Do you have a question that is not displayed here? Contact us here
What’s the difference between PDM Standard and PDM Professional?
Will PDM change how my team already works in SOLIDWORKS?
No. PDM runs underneath SOLIDWORKS, not instead of it. Your team keeps working in the same CAD environment — what changes is where files live, how versions are tracked, and who can see what. Most teams need little to no retraining.
Do I need SOLIDWORKS PDM if I already use 3DEXPERIENCE?
Not necessarily. If your data already lives on the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, Cloud Services covers the same core needs — secure storage, version control, collaboration — without being tied to SOLIDWORKS specifically. See Cloud Services on 3DEXPERIENCE →.
Can I start with Standard and move to Professional later?
Yes. Most teams start with whichever tier matches their current size and complexity, then upgrade to Professional as workflows, team size, or integration needs grow.
What does migration to PDM actually involve?
It starts with reviewing how your data and folders are structured today, so PDM is built on a clean foundation instead of carrying old problems forward. From there, PLM Group handles vault setup, data migration, and configuration – scoped as part of FastTrack or a Customized Implementation, depending on how much tailoring your workflows need
Do I have to run PDM on my own server?
No. PDM runs on-premise by default, but HostPLM lets PLM Group host, secure, and maintain it for you on Microsoft Azure — same software, no server to babysit. See HostPLM →.
What’s the difference between FastTrack and a Customized Implementation?
FastTrack is a standardized, out-of-the-box setup — the fastest way to get running. A Customized Implementation configures workflows, data cards, and approval routines around how your team specifically works, and is available for PDM Professional licenses.
Get a quote
We understand investing in the future is a huge decision. We are happy to have a conversation with you about your goals and how we can help you reach them. Please contact us today, and we’ll guide you every step of the way towards success.