PITTSBURGH – Ansys is extending its long-term strategic collaboration with Microsoft to improve cloud-based access to Ansys' simulation solutions and computer-aided engineering tools, and will also develop a new offering to enable customers to launch Ansys products using their Azure enrollment and connect third-party tools more easily.

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 the use of simulation data to train artificial intelligence/machine learning systems. Mutual customers who migrate to the cloud can increase productivity, reduce in-house technology costs, and improve virtual collaboration.

Ansys will also offer Ansys Access on Microsoft's Azure Marketplace, which will provide an alternative to Ansys' current managed cloud offering, Ansys Cloud Direct, which also runs on Azure. The new offering will allow 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.

Ansys is also working to integrate Microsoft 365 capabilities into its engineering simulation tools to aid in 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."