The Magic of COFES

As I was asking the bartender for a beer at the Scottsdale Plaza during COFES 2009, so was another person. We shook hands, introduced ourselves to each other and began a conversation, which then spilled over to another beer.

This person was Francis Cadin, the CEO of DATAKIT, a French CAD software company that specializes in data exchange software. Technically, DATAKIT and SYCODE are business rivals because we have have a few products that overlap. So needless to say, Francis and I, knew quite a bit about each others companies, but we knew absolutely nothing about each other. However, a warm handshake followed by a couple of beers had changed all that. We really enjoyed our conversation, at the end of which, we exchanged business cards and decided to stay in touch.

And stay in touch we did. So much so that today DATAKIT and SYCODE issued a joint press release announcing a collaboration to offer hi-end Data Exchange solutions. DATAKIT's strength lies in their ability to read and write native file formats like CATIA, Pro/ENGINEER, SolidWorks, Solid Edge, Inventor, etc. whereas SYCODE's strength lies in developing plug-ins for a wide range of CAD systems. DATAKIT also developing plug-ins, but not for as wide a range of CAD system like SYCODE and SYCODE also has the ability to read and write native file formats, but not as wide a range as DATAKIT. So by simply adding the two together we will now be able to offer hi-end native file format import and export plug-ins for almost all the major CAD systems.

Its a win-win situation for everyone - DATAKIT, SYCODE and our customers. Funny thing is that this kind of a partnership never struck either of us in all these years. Its a wonder what a couple of beers and the right kind of atmosphere can do to business rivals.

And that, precisely, is the magic of COFES.