At this month’s LiveWorx event put on by PTC (formerly known as Parametric Technology Corp.), the news highlight was the company’s acquisition of IoT analytics firm ColdLight. (See press release here.) ColdLight’s Neuron software for cloud or on-premise datacenters applies machine learning technology to M2M and IoT data, automating predictive analytics tasks. The ColdLight acquisition was a logical extension to PTC’s prior acquisition of ThingWorx and Axeda in the IoT space.

At the front end of the product development process, PTC has assembled software offerings for product lifecycle management (Windchill), computer-aided design (Creo), application lifecycle management and systems engineering (Integrity). Combined with service lifecycle management and the IoT pieces, PTC has essentially created a set of end-to-end solutions for IoT product development and deployment. However, VDC believes that PTC could do more to fill out the middle of its end-to-end portfolio.

Design of embedded devices generally consists of three major areas: mechanical engineering, electronic engineering, and software development. PTC has the first and last of those well covered, but it offers little in the way of electronic engineering tools, save for electronic design automation software for circuit boards, acquired with the company OHIO Design Automation back in 2004 (and since integrated into Windchill).

There are many types of electronic hardware system development tools, and it may be challenging for PTC to dip another toe into that market without diving in completely. Nevertheless, VDC believes that one particular type of electronic design tool would dovetail nicely with PTC’s software development offerings without necessarily getting the company in over its head in electronic design:  virtual prototyping/simulation. Such tools enable the simulation of electronic hardware systems. Although virtual prototyping is often used by semiconductor makers to simulate the behavior of their own chips prior to fabrication, a growing market for virtual prototyping is as a tool for software developers to get a head start on their development work prior to the existence of physical prototypes of the electronic hardware.

PTC already offers mechanical/CAD simulation for Creo. An electronic hardware simulation tool could enable earlier software development for customers using PTC’s Integrity, acting as a bridge between hardware and software development.

Wherever PTC chooses to aim next, its acquisition days aren't over. View the 2017 IoT & Embedded Technology Research Outline to learn more.