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PTC Japan's Forward-Looking Strategy for 2026

As we enter 2026, we at PTC Japan want to extend our heartfelt New Year greetings. The previous year has been marked by a significant shift in the manufacturing sector, particularly with the practical deployment of generative AI. The entire lifecycle of manufacturing—from design and development to production and service—has begun to witness a rapid expansion of applications in automation, quality forecasting, demand prediction, and maintenance planning optimization. Japanese companies are transforming their digital transformation (DX) initiatives from mere necessities into sources of competitive advantage.

To navigate this transformation, PTC is focusing on enhancing our Intelligent Product Lifecycle (IPL) framework through AI integration. IPL encompasses various solutions, including Creofor 3D CAD, Windchill for Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Codebeamer for Application Lifecycle Management (ALM), and ServiceMAX for Service Lifecycle Management (SLM). Each of these solutions is enhanced with AI capabilities, and we aim for full automation between them without human intervention. This approach not only promises to fundamentally resolve many challenges faced in manufacturing but also to elevate the overall development process and enhance customer experience, marking what we believe to be a significant industrial revolution since the inception of modern manufacturing.

In particular, during this pivotal transformation phase in the automotive industry—often described as a once-in-a-century shift—the competition over Electric Vehicles (EVs) and Software Defined Vehicles (SDVs) is intensifying. The speed and quality of software development have become crucial requirements. Integrating AI into our ALM solutions with Codebeamer, we have strengthened features such as automated test case generation, risk analysis, and compliance checks. In 2026, we are dedicated to further extending these AI applications to robustly support SDV development for automotive manufacturers, both domestically and internationally.

Last year, we also prioritized strengthening alliances with partners, setting up a framework to deliver the value of digitalization to a broad spectrum of manufacturing customers, including those in rural regions. This is particularly significant for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Japan, where workflows heavily involve paper, 2D CAD, and PDF documents. We will continue to promote business reforms through 3D modeling and real-time data sharing powered by PLM, providing new possibilities for modern manufacturers.

In terms of nurturing the talent that will shape the future, we aim to accelerate the deployment of Onshape, the only SaaS-native application in 3D CAD. This will offer an environment where creativity can flourish, regardless of device or location. Furthermore, we believe that design data should not just serve the manufacturing process but should also be maximally utilized in marketing, service, and sales activities. Through our awareness campaigns, we will pursue new avenues of potential in this regard.

This year, we are committed to listening closely to our customers’ voices, as our team works tirelessly as a partner to advance Japan’s manufacturing industry to its next stage. We appreciate your continued support and look forward to the journey ahead.

Written by PTC Japan's President, Executive Officer, Tomonobu Kamiya