Gartner places CONTACT among the top four providers in three key PLM use cases and recognizes it as a 2026 Visionary.
In its recent “Critical Capabilities for PLM Software in Discrete Manufacturing Industries” report, Gartner highlights that “Product lifecycle management is core to manufacturers’ product fulfillment.” Among the 14 providers evaluated, CONTACT ranks in the top four in key use cases such as “Model-Based Enterprise” (3.88 out of 5), “Supply Chain Collaboration” (3.87 out of 5), and “Regulatory & Product Compliance” (3.85 out of 5).
According to the Gartner product lifecycle management (PLM) vendor survey, “manufacturers adopt PLM primarily for product innovation and introduction use cases, yet vendors often underperform in these areas due to a lack of strategic and financial product portfolio management capabilities.” CONTACT ranks third in the “Product Innovation and Introduction” use case (3.90 out of 5).
The analysts also identify top trends influencing the PLM market today. According to Gartner, “Manufacturers are prioritizing API-first, composable platforms with low-code configuration capabilities to achieve agility without the need to customize code.” CONTACT ranks first in the “Architectural Composability” capability among all vendors evaluated.
CONTACT Elements offers 77 modules that can be flexibly combined to create seamless solutions integrating PLM, IIoT and AI. This flexibility enables manufacturers to quickly adapt the platform to new business models or changing market demands.
Gartner’s experts also weigh in on the strategic trajectory of AI in PLM. They state that “PLM is shifting from simple conversational AI interfaces and stand-alone analytics toward embedded or bolt-on “agentic” workflows.”
CONTACT’s platform-wide Intelligence Layer Fourier AI embodies this approach, enabling companies to embed AI deep in their processes and significantly increase efficiency across the entire product lifecycle.
CONTACT Software is also recognized as a Visionary in the 2026 Gartner “Magic Quadrant for PLM Software in Discrete Manufacturing Industries”. For CONTACT, this recognition serves as strong validation of its product strategy and its commitment to delivering innovation that creates real value for customers.
For more information, visit contact-software.com.
