GDS Middle East drives manufacturing innovation through digital design

As manufacturing across the GCC accelerated towards digitalisation, advanced design and engineering software becomes central to competitiveness. GDS Middle East has played a pivotal role in supporting local manufacturers to modernise product development, engineering workflows and production processes.

In an exclusive interview with Technical Review Middle East, director Jimmy Joseph highlighted the company's main offerings, which include bespoke solutions for the manufacturing sector. 

The company enables local firms to shorten product development cycles by facilitating the adoption of tools such as Solidworks, Catia, Enovia and Simulia.

These are platforms which, according to Joseph, allow engineering teams to iterate designs more quickly, test and optimise solutions early in development, and respond faster to market demands.

“These technologies allowed engineering teams to test, refine and optimise designs early in the development phase, which significantly reduced time to market,” he said.

Solutions such as Solidworks Sheet Metal Design also help manufacturers optimise material usage and streamline production processes, reducing waste and lowering costs.

GDS additionally supports firms seeking differentiation through customisation, allowing manufacturers to meet specific client requirements and target niche markets.

But this is not the company's only offerings. 

Training and upskilling forms a core part of GDS Middle East’s approach.

Joseph highlighted the importance of capability building, explaining that “technology alone does not deliver results. It is about enabling engineers and designers to use these tools effectively, and that comes through hands-on training and ongoing support.”

How can automation help? 

Industry insights and analytics provided by GDS further helps manufacturers align their product strategies with market trends, improving efficiency, productivity and competitiveness across the region.

Digital tools also reshaped engineering workflows. Platforms such as Solidworks PDM and Enovia, deployed either on premise or via the 3D Experience cloud platform, enabled real-time collaboration across teams and stakeholders, regardless of location.

Automation through tools like DriveWorks allowed repetitive tasks to be handled efficiently, freeing engineers to focus on complex design and innovation.

Data-driven features and AI-enabled analytics provided insights that helped optimise both processes and products.

Simulation tools such as Abaqus and Solidworks Simulation accelerated development by allowing virtual testing and validation before production, reducing time, costs and risk.

Generative design and additive manufacturing added additional efficiencies by creating optimised, material-efficient designs.

GDS Middle East also addressed the challenges manufacturers faced in adopting new software.

But there are challenges ahead

Resistance to change, integration with existing systems, skill gaps and high initial investment costs were common barriers.

Joseph noted that the company worked closely with clients to demonstrate the long-term value and ROI of technology adoption, and that “annual subscription offerings from Dassault Systèmes help customers reduce the initial cost drastically and absorb it into operating budgets.”

Tailored solutions and ongoing technical support ensured firms could continue optimising their workflows.

Looking ahead, Joseph believes the greatest opportunities for design software lay in streamlining the entire manufacturing lifecycle.

“Advanced design and analysis tools can streamline the design process through simulation, reducing time-to-market and enabling faster iterations and modifications,” he said.

Cloud-based collaboration facilitates communication across dispersed teams, generative design enables customised products, and integration with manufacturing execution and ERP systems creates connected workflows that reduce errors and enhance efficiency.

GDS Middle East positions itself not simply as a software provider but as a technology implementation partner.

A fully integrated platform

Its end-to-end approach—from collaboration and design to manufacturing and dispatch—combined with in-house technical expertise and continuous support, allows manufacturers in the GCC to adopt, integrate and benefit from digital tools effectively, improving competitiveness in an increasingly digital industrial landscape.

As Joseph puts it, “GDS Middle East is uniquely positioned to seize new opportunities in the GCC by serving as a true technology implementation partner rather than just a product supplier.”

He adds that his company's skilled in-house technical team “sets us apart in the region, allowing us to support clients beyond the sale with hands-on customization, training, and continuous support. In short, GDS captures opportunities by being the partner that helps customers implement and succeed with technology, every step of the way.”