Ansys expands cloud solutions through Microsoft partnership

Ansys and Microsoft have announced an extension of their partnership which they say will accelerate virtual product design through cloud-based access to Ansys’ simulation solutions and computer-aided engineering (CAE) tools. 

As a next step, global engineering simulation software leader Ansys will develop a new offering that will enable customers to launch its products using their Azure enrolment and more easily connect third-party tools.

Ansys is the global leader in engineering simulation. Through its strategy of Pervasive Engineering Simulation, Ansys helps the world's most innovative companies deliver radically better products to their customers. By offering the best and broadest portfolio of engineering simulation software, Ansys helps them solve the most complex design challenges and create products limited only by imagination.

As part of the collaboration, Ansys will expand its go-to-market strategy with Microsoft, including digital twins connected to the internet of things, autonomous driving and flying systems development, and simulation data to train AI and ML systems. Mutual customers who migrate to the cloud can increase productivity, reduce in-house technology costs, and improve virtual collaboration. 

Ansys Access on Azure to deliver cost savings and improved data management

Ansys Access on Microsoft Azure will be a new offering available on the Azure Marketplace that will provide an alternative to Ansys’ current managed cloud offering, Ansys Cloud Direct, which also runs on Azure. This new offering will enable customers to use their existing Ansys applications along with Azure services purchased directly from Microsoft to deliver cost savings and improved data management as well as greater flexibility.  

Beyond cloud collaboration, Ansys is also working to integrate Microsoft 365 capabilities into the context of its engineering simulation tools to aid in the highly collaborative process of product design. 

“Ansys Access on Microsoft Azure will enhance the development and design processes of our mutual customers through increased productivity, sharper workflows, and greater access to cloud-based CAE tools,” said Shane Emswiler, senior vice president of products at Ansys. “By pairing Ansys’ industry-leading simulation solutions with Azure, customers can innovate at scale in a virtual environment without compromising design accuracy or product integrity.”

“Our continued collaboration connects the cloud computing capabilities of Microsoft Azure with Ansys’ advanced simulation solutions to better enable virtual design and innovation worldwide,” said Kurt Niebuhr, Principal PDM Manager at Microsoft. “In a time when digital solutions are needed more than ever, our collaboration enables us to provide engineers and innovators with cloud-based tools that meet and exceed their needs.”

In 2020 Ansys and Microsoft announced for the first time that they would work together to deploy public cloud high-performance computing and digital twin solutions intended to significantly advance the state of the art in engineering simulation across several key industries, helping customers increase productivity, cut development costs and speed time to market.