Working with complex product structures requires clarity, orientation, and quick access to the right information. These requirements were at the heart of the development of the new and modern CREALIS® PDM Dashboard. The goal was to make the modeling experience significantly more intuitive and accessible, both for experienced users and for those working with the system for the first time. The modernization delivers greater transparency, enhanced support, and, above all, a more intuitive starting point for everyday work.
Over the past several months, we have consolidated feedback from our sales team, customer requests, and insights gained from our own modeling experience. Discussions with customers quickly revealed that while CREALIS® PDM is a powerful and comprehensive solution, there was still room to further optimize the user experience. New users, in particular, expressed a desire for clearer guidance immediately after login and easier access to support resources. The new dashboard addresses these needs by providing a well-structured home area that assists modelers from the moment they open CREALIS® PDM.
A Dashboard designed to simplify everyday work
The new CREALIS® PDM Home consists of three key areas that work together to make product modeling faster and easier. The new overview page displays recently saved models directly upon login, allowing users to quickly return to ongoing projects without navigating through multiple menus. In addition, the “How to CREALIS®” section provides concise guidance and explanations of important modeling concepts. While particularly valuable for new modelers, it also serves as a useful reference for experienced users who need quick reminders for recurring tasks.
Another major enhancement is the fully integrated user documentation. Users no longer need to search for documents or rely on outdated files, as the latest documentation is always accessible directly within the PDM environment. This makes support resources not only easier to access but also more reliable and consistent.
The project was driven by a wide range of ideas generated through workshops and brainstorming sessions. The greatest challenge was selecting the features that would provide the highest value from the many suggestions collected. Dr. Heidi Weyhausen, Technical Lead for CREALIS® PDM, summarizes the approach: “We deliberately examined the challenges new users face when getting started and at the same time developed features that provide genuine value for experienced modelers as well.”
The development of the PDM Home is far from complete. Several exciting features are already planned for upcoming releases, including personalized favorites, enhanced model overview capabilities, and an expanded documentation area that will eventually include training videos. These enhancements will make the dashboard even more flexible and better tailored to individual user needs.
With the new CREALIS® PDM Home, we have created a modern starting point that provides guidance, simplifies daily work, and offers more intuitive access to knowledge and tools. The result is a clear and supportive entry point into product modeling and another important step toward making CREALIS® PDM even more user-friendly for our customers.