AU2024 Getting Ready to Start, Autodesk Platform Services (APS), OpenBOM, Preparation and Session Highlights

I’m in San Diego, CA this week for Autodesk University 2024. It is a great spot for everyone who is in the design and manufacturing community, with 12,000+ attendees, more than 650 sessions, and more than 36 hours of networking with people. 

OpenBOM has always been deeply integrated with Autodesk solutions, including Autodesk Platform Services (formerly known as Forge), Autodesk Fusion, Autodesk Inventor, Autodesk Revit, and others. 

OpenBOM’s vision to connect cloud services together to help manufacturing companies to streamline the operation from engineering design to procurement and maintenance is best demonstrated in the synergy between OpenBOM and these Autodesk products. It has driven many of our innovations, especially when it comes to transforming how data is handled in product lifecycle management (PLM).

Yesterday, I had the final rehearsal for my presentation, and I’m all set to go! Here are a few last-minute pictures from the practice run—it’s always a good idea to test everything, so I’m ready to present. 

What Are We Presenting?

At AU, OpenBOM will present our story of integrating Autodesk Platform Services (APS) with Autodesk Fusion. Our session will dive into our integration journey, exploring how workflows are evolving from initial client-side integration with Autodesk Fusion and other desktop applications to full integration with Autodesk Platform Services (APS) and data APIs. 

This shift from files to data is at the heart of digital transformation. The old way of managing files and documents is giving way to new, more dynamic digital workflows where data can be accessed, modified, and shared seamlessly in the cloud. We’ll walk you through that transition and explain how OpenBOM leverages the Autodesk Manufacturing Data Model API to create a connected, cloud-based model for CAD/BOM integrations.

My session, SD3199 | How to Develop Connected Cloud Applications for CAD/BOM Using the Manufacturing Data Model API, will focus on these developments. The Manufacturing Data Model API is a powerful tool that allows you to access the design data. Using OpenBOM as a practical example, I’ll show how we streamline PLM integrations with Autodesk Fusion 360 and connected OpenBOM services. The session will demonstrate how to develop fully connected SaaS applications using OpenBOM, Autodesk Fusion, APS, and the Manufacturing Data Model API.

👉 You can check out my session here: AU2024 Session Link

Autodesk Platform Services (APS) Related Sessions

APS is my favorite part of Autodesk’s cloud strategy because it makes Autodesk tools data available in a seamless form. APS is transforming how data is handled in product development. It offers access to crucial API groups, including the Manufacturing Data APIs and AEC Data APIs. These APIs allow companies like OpenBOM and other vendors to develop connected cloud applications, get the data in a seamless way, and follow the vision of harnessing the power of data for more effective, streamlined operations.

At AU2024, you’ll hear a lot about APS and how it’s pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in PLM, design, and engineering. It’s all about making data more accessible and usable across various platforms, enabling companies to make the leap from static document-driven workflows to dynamic, data-driven ones. I made a small collection of APS related sessions. 

Here are some other sessions focused on Autodesk Platform Services related topics I plan to attend:

• SD1265 | The Autodesk Platform Services Road Map This session is a must for anyone building apps on the Autodesk Platform Services or using it as part of their digital transformation strategy. It will cover everything from the latest APIs to what’s coming next in the APS platform. I’m excited to see how Autodesk is evolving this powerful suite of tools.
• SD3077 | Autodesk Platform Services Data Models: Access Your Data Using GraphQL This session will introduce GraphQL, a modern API technology that allows granular access to data across various Autodesk platforms like Fusion and Forma. I’m particularly interested in how this will facilitate more precise data exchanges in the cloud.
• SD3417 | Intelligent Chatbots for Design Analytics: Leveraging AWS Bedrock and Autodesk Platform Services This session will explore how chatbots can be integrated with APS and AWS Bedrock to streamline design analytics. The idea of having intelligent, real-time responses to design queries is fascinating, and I can’t wait to see how these technologies are being applied.

Conclusion

If you want to see Autodesk Platform Services in action within a commercial application like OpenBOM, join my session at AU2024. We’ll explore how APS APIs and cloud services can be integrated to create more efficient, data-driven workflows in PLM.

I’ll see you on Wednesday at Hall C, Stage 3, 4:30 PM PT. You can register for my session through the following link: AU2024 Session Link

Looking forward to meeting you at AU in San Diego!

Best, Oleg