Marc here, checking in after a great journey across the Atlantic, where Ilan Madjar and I ventured into the heart of France to connect with our colleagues at xLM Europe, explored the vibrant cities of Toulouse and Paris, and dove into a whirlwind of meetings, conferences, and potential partnerships.
Toulouse Tales: Partners, Customers, and City Connections
Our adventure began on a Saturday, but the real action kicked off with internal meetings at xLM Europe on Sunday. We delved into the intricacies of short-term and long-term strategies, setting the stage for a wave of innovation and new, exciting opportunities in 2024.
Toulouse, the European capital of aeronautics and space, welcomed us with open arms, and it was a pleasure to engage with partners, customers, and even the City of Toulouse. The Invest in Toulouse organization went out of their way to make us feel at home, expressing genuine excitement about having xLM Europe in their midst.
The aerospace and defense industry, with the mighty Airbus headquarters as a testament to its prominence, made the experience even more thrilling. Connecting with the industry on such a level was not just business; it was an opportunity to immerse ourselves in the heartbeat of innovation.
Thank you to our xLM Europe counterparts and hosts, Saindou Salime, Allauddin Ali Ahmad and Deeya Pursun. Between the inspirational strategy sessions and incredible food, we truly can’t wait to return to Toulouse!
Parisian Reunion: Colleagues, Campus Tours, and 3DEXPERIENCE
Come Tuesday night, we took to the skies and landed in the enchanting city of Paris. Wednesday was dedicated to meetings at and a tour of the Dassault Systèmes (DS) headquarters. It was a reunion of sorts as we met with colleagues from DS that we’ve worked with for years, but haven’t had the opportunity to meet with in awhile. There’s something special about putting faces to names, especially when those names represent long-standing partnerships.
The campus tour and exploration of the 3DEXPERIENCE Playground offered a glimpse into the cutting-edge technologies shaping our industry. If you’ve never been to DS HQ, I highly recommend making a trip!
Wednesday afternoon led us to the AFNet Conference, a hub of innovation and sustainability discussions. AFNet, an organization focused on industry standards like AP242, brought leaders from across the industrial sector together to explore emerging best practices in digital, ecological and energy transition. The team uses PHD-level brainstorming sessions to present industry problems alongside hypothetical solutions, with a focus on topics like Product Lifecycle Management (PLM). Standards and interoperability between PLM systems is an exciting avenue that we’re keen to explore further!
Thursday brought us back to DS, where we had the privilege of meeting with a longstanding colleague of ours. We’re active in the ENOVIA user community and look forward to more opportunities to connect and collaborate within the solution. The day concluded with a meeting with a prospective automotive client, right around the corner from DS.
The Vision Ahead: Growth and Collaboration in 2024
A little bit of jet lag is a small price to pay for such an adventure, and the experience has left us energized and inspired. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting xLM Europe in Toulouse and hope to repeat the process next year, this time by welcoming the team to our offices in the US.
As your team plans for success in 2024 and beyond, remember that our experts at xLM Solutions and xLM Europe are available to help every step of the way. Get in touch to learn more about our proven processes for aligning your PLM needs and digital transformation strategy.
Stay tuned for more updates, and until next time.
