Bentley Systems. Bentley Systems, Incorporated is an American-based software development company that develops, manufactures, licenses, sells and supports computer software and services for the design, construction, and operation of infrastructure. The company's software serves the building, plant, civil, and geospatial markets in the areas of architecture, engineering, construction (AEC) and operations. Their software products are used to design, engineer, build, and operate large constructed assets such as roadways, railways, bridges, buildings, industrial plants, power plants, and utility networks. The company re-invests 20% of their revenues in research and development.

Bentley Systems is headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania, United States, but has development, sales and other departments in over 50 countries. In 2021, the company generated revenue of $1 billion in 186 countries.

Software

Bentley has three principal software product lines: MicroStation, ProjectWise, and AssetWise. Since 2014, some products have been based on the Microsoft Azure cloud computing platform. In 2024, it continues to sell software lines such as MicroStation and ProjectWise, as well as several dozen others such as SYNCHRO and OpenRoads Designer.

History

Keith A. Bentley and Barry J. Bentley founded Bentley Systems in 1984. They introduced the commercial version of PseudoStation in 1985, which allowed users of Intergraph's VAX systems to use low-cost graphics terminals to view and modify the designs on their Intergraph IGDS (Interactive Graphics Design System) installations. Their first product was shown to potential users who were polled as to what they would be willing to pay for it. They averaged the answers, arriving at a price of $7,943. A DOS-based version of MicroStation was introduced in 1986.

In April 2002, Bentley filed for an initial public offering, but it was withdrawn before taking effect. In November 2016, German-based Siemens announced it would pay about $76 million for a minority stake in Bentley, as well as invest in developing joint software with it. In September 2020, Bentley Systems sets terms of its IPO valuing the company at about $4.96 billion. The company would offer 10.75 million shares priced between $17 and $19 per share. In October 2024, Bentley Systems began using Google 2D and 3D geospatial content in some of its software. Nicholas Cumins was Bentley chief officer.

Acquisitions
On June 18, 1997, Bentley acquired IdeaGraphix, a developer of MicroStation-based application software for architecture, engineering, and facilities management. On January 15, 1998, Bentley acquired Jacobus. On January 2, 2001, Bentley acquired Intergraph's civil engineering, plot-services and raster conversion software businesses. On October 17, 2001, Bentley Systems bought Geopak design software for road and rail infrastructure.

Bentley Systems acquired Rebis in 2003, Infrasoft Corporation in 2003, Haestad Methods, Inc. in 2004, and then agreed to acquire netGuru's Research Engineers International (REI) business which included its  STAAD structural analysis and design product line on August 31, 2005. Bentley acquired GEF-RIS AG in 2006, KIWI Software in 2007, C.W. Beilfuss and Associates in 2007, and TDV GmbH, an analysis and design software provider for bridge engineering, in May 2007.

In early 2008, Bentley acquired Hevacomp, Ltd., LEAP Software, Inc., the promis•e product line from ECT International, and Common Point for mainstream construction simulation.

On October 13, 2009, Bentley added geotechnical and geoenvironmental capabilities with the acquisition of  Software. On February 9, 2010, Bentley Systems announced two acquisitions: Exor Corporation and Enterprise Informatics. On March 2, 2011, Bentley Systems acquired SACS software for offshore structural analysis from Engineering Dynamics, Inc. Also in 2011, Bentley acquired FormSys and Pointools Ltd., a British developer of point-cloud software technology.

In 2012, Bentley acquired the  software business of Hannappel Software, as well as InspectTech Systems, USA, a provider of field inspection applications and asset management services for bridges and other transportation assets. Also that year it acquired Canadian-based Ivara, the Microprotol pressure vessel design and analysis software from EuResearch, and SpecWave. In 2013, Bentley acquired topoGRAPH, a provider of surveying software, as well as the MOSES software business from Ultramarine. On February 25, 2014, Bentley acquired DocQnet Systems’ eB Services BizDocQnet Systems. Later that year, it acquired SITEOPS, optimization software for enhanced land development site design, from Blueridge Analytics. Bentley acquired C3global for predictive modeling in 2015, and also that year acquired Acute3D, and the reality modeling creator e-on.

In 2016, Bentley acquired the progressive assurance platform ComplyPro from UK-based ComplyServe.

On January 23, 2018, Bentley acquired S-Cube Futuretech Pvt Ltd. to expand its offerings specific to the concrete engineering design and documentation software users in India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. On April 26, 2018, Bentley acquired Dutch geotechnical modelling company Plaxis B.V. On July 15, 2018, Bentley acquired Canadian geotechnical modeling company SOILVISION Systems Ltd. in order to enhance its 3D geotechnical offerings. Also in 2018, the company acquired Synchro, Agency9, LEGION, ACE enterprise Slovakia, and Alworx. 

In 2019, Bentley acquired SignCAD Systems, Keynetix, and Citilabs, Inc. & Orbit GeoSpatial Technologies. In 2020, Bentley acquired UK based consultancy Professional Construction Strategies Group (PCSG), and SRO Solutions. In 2021, Bentley acquired Ontracks Consulting, INRO Software, SPIDA Software, and Seequent Holdings Limited, and in 2022 acquisitions included Power Line Systems, ADINA R&D, Inc., and Eagle.io. In 2023, Bentley acquired Salt Lake City, Utah-based Blyncsy, a provider of breakthrough artificial intelligence services for departments of transportation to support operations and maintenance activities. In September 2024, Bentley announced the acquisition of Cesium GS, Inc., a provider of 3D geospatial software applications and platforms.

Bentley Institute Press

Bentley Systems also is a publisher of textbooks and professional references for the architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC), operations, geospatial, and educational communities, under the name Bentley Institute Press.

Bentley Infrastructure 500

Since 2010, Bentley annually published a ranking of the top owners of infrastructure from both the public and private sectors.

See also

Comparison of computer-aided design software
Comparison of 3D computer graphics software
List of CAx companies
List of companies based in the Philadelphia area
List of collaborative software
List of 3D computer graphics software

References

External links

Software companies based in Pennsylvania
Software companies established in 1984
Privately held companies based in Pennsylvania
Building information modeling
Companies listed on the Nasdaq
Software companies of the United States