Savaco Windchill PLM Buddy

Get more out of your PLM data with AI

Windchill contains all your product data. But how quickly do you find what you are looking for? Savaco Windchill PLM Buddy creates your PLM data from PTC Windchill conversational - directly via Microsoft Copilot.

  • Ask questions in plain language and get answers directly from PTC Windchill
  • Perform actions from the chat (e.g. change requests, issues logging)
  • Work safely within your existing tenant and governance
Discover the possibilities

Your Digital Thread, now with built-in AI

In theory, all important product data is neatly in your PLM system by PTC Windchill. In practice, it often takes too much time to get that information out quickly. Engineers and teams click through complex screens, search for the right BOM and lose time with manual searches. At the same time, the pressure to get started with AI is growing – but without direct access to Windchill, that value often remains untapped. With Windchill PLM Buddy, things will change: what if you could simply retrieve the same data in plain language and immediately get useful answers, without additional risks or complexity?

Watch Savaco Windchill PLM Buddy - your Digital Thread, now AI-native on YouTube.

Always the right information from your PLM at hand

With Windchill PLM Buddy, you no longer have to waste time searching for the right information in PTC Windchill. You simply ask a question and immediately receive a useful answer, which you can also immediately convert into action.

What is actually changing in your day-to-day operations?

  • Find the right BOM, parts and documents faster
  • Get immediate insight into changes and statuses
  • You perform actions directly from the chat
  • You save time on repetitive searches
  • You make Windchill accessible to a wider group of users

What can Windchill PLM Buddy do for you?

Windchill PLM Buddy forms a secure AI layer on top of Windchill and acts as a smart bridge between your product data and Microsoft Copilot.

  • You ask questions in plain language via Copilot: Think of: "What is the structure of this assembly?" or "What has changed in the last release?"
  • Copilot retrieves the right PLM data and makes it understandable: You get correct, usable answers without manual search
  • Everything stays within your own tenant: Your data does not leave your environment and is not exposed to public AI models
  • Existing rights and governance remain in place: Users only see what they are allowed to see – entirely according to your current structure within Windchill.
  • You can not only ask questions, but also perform actions: For example, creating a problem message or change directly from the chat

How does Windchill PLM Buddy work?

Installing PLM buddy will create an MCP server that you can connect to your existing Windchill instance without making any changes to that instance. Why is this possible? PLM Buddy only uses existing API’s that are already present in Windchill. This means it only uses API’s fully supported and created by PTC. 

The MCP server works as an intermediate layer between the Windchill API and your agent, creating a controlled and well managed interface. Only a selection of API’s are exposed, giving you full control over what the agent can and cannot do. The MCP server also controls access, making sure that only users that are actually allowed to see your PLM data can access it. Moreover, the MCP server is deployed in your own Azure tenant, giving you full control and making it easier to connect to your Windchill instance. 

MCP is an open protocol, so any agent that can consume that protocol can use the MCP server. 

Find out more about Windchill PLM Buddy

Podcast

On Track: Get More Out of Your PLM Data with AI

In this episode of our On Track podcast for engineers, host Lien talks with Aster Chys (software developer) and Lieven Vandamme (CTO) about the why, the technique and the pitfalls of AI on your PLM data.


Listen on Spotify
View on YouTube
Webinar

From PLM data to direct answers with Copilot

In this webinar you will discover how Windchill PLM Buddy works, how you can use this AI layer to request PLM data, but also perform actions, and how you can use AI without exposing your PLM data to public models.


Watch the on-demand webinar
How does Windchill PLM Buddy differ from standard Copilot?

By default, Microsoft Copilot does not have access to your Windchill PLM data. Windchill PLM Buddy enables that connection in a secure and controlled way, so you can effectively use Copilot on your engineering data.

Is my data safe?

Yes. Your data remains fully within your own Microsoft tenant and is not exposed to public AI models. Existing rights and governance always apply.

Does Windchill PLM Buddy work with our existing PLM system?

Windchill PLM Buddy works today specifically on top of PTC Windchill. You don’t need to make any major changes to your existing Windchill environment.

Is this approach scalable to other systems?

Yes. The same approach can also be applied to other systems within your digital thread, such as ERP, MES, or QMS.

The foundation of Windchill PLM Buddy is PTC Windchill!

Windchill PLM Buddy builds on your existing PTC PLM system. Windchill is the central source of your product data and processes, and therefore the foundation on which your AI solution runs.

Learn more about PTC Windchill

Discover what this can mean for your organisation

Want to know how you can work faster and more efficiently with your PLM data? We would be happy to discuss how the Windchill PLM Buddy can make a difference in your environment – with concrete use cases and a clear approach.

Savaco - Engineering & Industry - contact