How did SOLIDWORKS become an essential solution for the digital transformation of industrial SMEs?
We were present at Bpifrance InnoGeneration 2019, alongside our customers and partners. Discover here the interview of Olivier Blachon, Deputy CEO of Visiativ, long-standing partner of SOLIDWORKS and the video of our meeting with Guillaume Anelli, Director of Visiativ operations accompanied by Jean-Philippe Schoettel, CIO of Sewozy, Visiativ client, user from SOLIDWORKS.
Interview Olivier Blachon – DGA Visiativ
Produced for SOLIDWORKS France on the occasion of Bpifrance InnoGeneration 2019
Patrice: Hello Olivier, Visiativ is present again this year on the BIG, can you remind us why it is obvious for this innovative company?
Olivier Blachon: “I would like to start by locating ourselves. Visiativ is now 32 years old and even though the company is still young, we are no longer a start-up. However, our mobilization comes from our ability to be close to our customers in the search for real satisfaction, with an unwavering passion. Originally, it was even our only subject: how to enable French manufacturers to use the best technology for the development and fine-tuning of their products? Initially, we were on CAD, we were selling two-dimensional (2D) drawing software (CAD). Quickly, we moved towards 3D and we took them to new solutions. 3D was very technical and rather expensive, which prompted us to optimize our advisory role.
We discovered SOLIDWORKS, then a company based in Boston (USA), before it was acquired by Dassault Systèmes at the end of 1997. It was a real value proposition, both disruptive and accessible for SMEs. This is how we can affirm that we participate fully in the innovation of industrial companies, without being the innovation ourselves! Our entire history is focused on innovation and supporting SME managers towards it. With the evolution of trades and industries, it is natural that we are promoters of change and transformation. This is the whole meaning of our presence at this event. A question of consistency, without a doubt. Moreover, to go further, I would say that our customers identify with us this ability to accelerate on two axes: innovation in the broad sense of the term (and no longer just product) and digital transformation. We accomplish this by relying on two key values at Visiativ: pragmatism and agility. These dimensions are also those of SMEs and this is why we have chosen this market segment to develop ourselves. They are led by men and women who have a well-defined strategic culture and vision and, rather than trying to change course, we are by their side to help them accelerate the implementation of their strategy. . They need a powerful organization but a real partner associated with their dynamism. I am convinced that SMEs are the economic land of France and, unfortunately, they are not in the light as are the large CAC40 groups or start-ups. We are on the BIG precisely to underline our commitment, our activism in favor of SMEs and mid-cap companies. “
Patrice: “You still have a commercial objective by coming to such an event, don’t you? “
OB: “We are not enemies of our interests, is a sentence that sums up the situation well. It should be understood that Higher Education is fueling the trend which pushes talents towards the CAC40 or start-ups. Between these two extremes, there is no salvation, their message seems. So, we are supporting innovation for SMEs, for example with the creation 5 years ago of the “Companies of the future” event. You have to understand that the SME manager is often called out by his employees in an abrupt manner: “you know from your father’s time, it would not have happened like that!” “. So we must support them, guide them towards innovative solutions and means to transform their business and lead it towards the future and new markets. This is also innovation! “
Patrice: “Why did you choose SOLIDWORKS and why Dassault Systèmes solutions?
OB: First and foremost, because this company has the ability to make high technology accessible to our favorite customers. We don’t say it enough, but Dassault Systèmes is a great company. It is a French world leader, which has been able to anticipate the future and always make the right strategic choices, as with the early takeover of SOLIDWORKS in 1997. Their objective was, and still is, to put technology on the offices of all engineers. This is why we are developing real interdependence with their teams. “
Patrice: “What is Visiativ’s mission today? How do you define it?
OB: “We are trying with great passion and energy to address two paths, two goals: the first is how could we remove all the obstacles to the happiness and growth of our customers? For example, on this path, we reflect with our customers on the development of solutions improving the relationship between employees on a daily basis. And the other path is precisely that of capturing value on a daily basis, how to capture it, visualize it through the actions implemented. We join the very strong pragmatism of the world of SMEs. The successes of our clients come from the management of the leader and the good support he receives to move his business forward. This is what we call co-construction. “
Patrice: “Can you explain to us how we visualize value on a daily basis? “
OB: “This consists first of all in making the creation of value visible, by making the interactions between departments, the company and its customers visible, in short all interactions. A kind of dynamic photograph of all the exchanges. Let’s take an example: we can see that today, we do not necessarily have the means to correctly trace customer complaints and to go back all the way. Very few companies know how to do it! But if the subject is the very design of the product, what feedback can lead us to discover it? We then have to imagine the entire customer journey starting with their order. And this is a real challenge for an SME. We are going to implement the solutions that will allow the company to visualize all the stages and to trace them to better develop its processes. “
Patrice: “To conclude, what makes your difference in the market? “
OB: “I believe that we have kept within us this vocation and this taste for real challenges. We like big challenges and we help our clients meet them. We are in the transformation of companies because this transformation is vital to them. Transformation is human, digital is technology. We are the alliance of the two and this is our real strength. We are the only ones who can say it. “
Patrice: “Thank you for this conversation”.
OB: “Thanks to you! ”
