Advances in computer hardware and software over the past four decades have enabled an unprecedented capability to predict product performance during the early stages of product design and development. "Simulation-driven design" can have an immense payback in product development time, cost, and quality.

Autodesk has grown into a multinational company with product offerings far beyond AutoCAD, their original flagship mechanical design software. Their solutions span architecture, engineering, and construction; manufacturing; and media and entertainment. Their customers range from the world's largest companies to millions of individual consumers. Autodesk has made a substantial investment in acquiring and developing physics-based simulation technology and their offering now covers a range of capabilities similar to those of other major simulation solution providers.

While Autodesk fully supports the traditional product development and simulation processes, their vision to "democratize" simulation as an always-on capability for non-experts is very interesting. It derives from their understanding of their broad customer base, of societal trends, and through innovative application of available technologies.

Autodesk supports a comprehensive set of offerings and a broad strategy in simulation that indeed meets the needs of companies seeking to embrace digital product development.