What Publications on CAD/PLM are the Most Popular in Russia?

It seems usual for all kinds of media to announce their year-end statistics. I will now make this for the Russian versions of the isicad portal and of my blog that hopefully gives some impression about distribution of interests and preferences in the Russian market.

Top 10 of isicad.ru (from 527 publications of 2010)

1. Software renewal is rather investments than expenses. An interview with Anastasia Morozova, Field Marketing Area Team Manager, Autodesk Russia and CIS

2. What Affects Adoption of BIM in Russia? Vladimir Talapov (Novosibirsk Architecture Academy)

3. KOMPAS-3D V12 to be Released in May: Interview with Vladimir Zakharov, CTO of ASCON

4. AutoCAD 2011 brings 3D to the Mass Market. Ilya Tatarnikov (LEDAS)

5. What People Usually Mean by BIM. Vladimir Talapov

6. Is it possible to Make CAD 200 Times Faster? Dmitry Ushakov

7. To Increase Adoption of PLM in Russia We Need a Competitive Environment. An Interview with Dmitry Osnatch, Marketing Director of ASCON.

8. How We See CAD/PLM in 2020. Vladimir Malukh, Dmitry Ushakov (both - LEDAS)

9. How We Make CAD. Notes of a Russian Software Developer. Dmitry Kapyshin (CADEZY)

10. Not Just Almost Everything about Autodesk 2010-2011 in Russia. An interview with Anastasia Morozova, Field Marketing Area Team Manager, Autodesk Russia and CIS.

(Note that 9 and 10 were published quite recently).

Top 10 of David Levin Russian Blog (from 215 posts of 2010)

1. Cloud: the Most Fashionable Word in CAD?
2. AutoCAD for $50 or The torrents.ru Case
3. From AutoCAD 2011 and KOMPAS-3D to SolidWorks-2011
4. DS Wants to Kill AutoCAD
5. AutoCAD 2011 is More Cool than Ashton Catcher and Avatar
6. Working Days of CAD Market Competition
7. Innovative Economy in Russia: Inevitable Future or a Dream?
8. On a Reflex of Contempt for What is not a Short-term and Freestuff: in CAD and in General
9. SolidWorks, PLM, and Enovia Meet in Clouds
10. What is New in Autodesk Inventor 2011

Now - some simple conclusions:

- Autodesk and ASCON are definitely the most popular CAD vendors in Russia,

- Inventor hardly enjoys popularity of Autodesk, however its popularity at the level of SW, DS, PLM,... is perhaps honorable for Autodesk,

- People are VERY sensitive to the topics of (il)legal software which from my point of view reflects a considerable progress in overcoming the problem in Russia - definitely an important topic to discuss separately,

- People are more and more interested in technology, trends, overviews, test drives... - if they trust the authors:),

- As always and everywhere, people are obviously attracted by topics of competition, conflicts between vendors, ..., whatever flavor of sensation...

ASCON, the Largest Russian CAD/PLM Company: Results of 2009 and Plans for 2010

ASCON is keeping not less than 25% of the Russian CAD market – approximately as Autodesk and considerably more than other world leading CAD companies. At a press-conference in Moscow on 23rd March, ASCON top executives announced figures characterizing company performance in 2009 and plans for 2010.

In 2009 the company attracted 650 new customers, while the overall number of the companies using ASCON solutions exceeded 5400. Sales reached 544.2 million Rubles (approx. $18 million); in comparison with 2008 the level of revenue decreased by 28%. On the whole, the company closed 2009 with operating profit and positive net profit margin. ASCON is committed to the principle of open information policy and is the only player in its segment of the Russian IT-market that discloses financial results. Maxim Bogdanov, ASCON CEO: “2009 was marked by a sharp drop in industrial production in the major regions of ASCON business. Our customers cut down their investments in automation by half. We have been too optimistic in our forecasting, which we based on our experience of surviving the 1998 crisis. Our efforts to improve internal efficiency, centered on clearly defined priorities, enabled the key achievement – maintaining the scope and momentum for developing new program products”.

With regard to industry markets, 70% of sold software products were design and manufacturing solutions for machine- and instrument- building, 30% - design solutions for industrial and civil construction.

The income from project implementing, training and integration increased by 11% and has now exceeded 20% of the total revenue.

In 2009 ASCON focused its efforts on the two sectors: the military-industrial complex and oil and gas. The largest automation projects were implemented for TATNEFT (one of the largest Russian oil companies), KB Mashynostroyenia (a major development and production center specializing in design, manufacture, test and integration of various armament and military equipment), Russian Federal Nuclear Center, State Research and Production Space-Rocket Center "TsSKB-Progress", Bashneft (Oil of Bashkiria). ASCON entered into an Agreement with the Federal Space Agency for expanding the use of ASCON software by the companies of Russian rocket and space complex.

Overall, in 2009 АSCON increased its revenue from the projects in the military-industrial complex by 9% and in the oil and gas sector– by 14%.

2010: Plans and Events
In 2010 positive economic trends will remain volatile; there is a risk of stagnation of domestic industry. Sales are planned at 2009 level.

The schedule for releasing new versions of ASCON flagship solutions:
May – KOMPAS-3D V12, 3D CAD
July – KOMPAS-SPDS V12, design system for AEC
September – ASCON 2010 integrated solutions for manufacturing and AEC
October – KOMPAS-3D V12 for international market.

The company will focus on implementing the already started and launching new end-to-end automation projects in oil and gas, petrochemicals, defense and nuclear industries. ASCON investment program comprises balanced development of the company’s product line, development of new generation solutions and further advancement on foreign markets. ASCON strategy is to consolidate advantages of a software developer and an integrator. Today the company’s portfolio includes: a professional product line, a powerful team of developers, end-to-end industry IT-solutions, and extended infrastructure for training, maintenance and technical support.

ASCON: key figures - 2009:
Sales - 544.2 million Rubles
Customer base - over 5400 companies
Sales pattern: software (78%) and services (22%)
70% software sold - design and manufacturing solutions for machine- and instrument- building
30% software sold - design solutions for industrial and civil construction.
Regional markets: Russia (89%), Ukraine (4%) and Kazakhstan (3%)
Share of partner network in corporate income - 28%.

See also Ralph Grabowski ‘s detailed article about ASCON.
ASCON Web site in English: www.ascon.net
.