The market for simulation software is experiencing strong growth
Increasing system complexity, a growing share of software, shorter innovation cycles, and a growing variety of variants will fundamentally change the demands placed on engineering. What is still considered advanced today will be a mandatory requirement by 2030: end-to-end, integrated simulation throughout the entire development process. Simulation is evolving from a specialized tool used by individual experts into the essential foundation of successful engineering. Market forecasts also confirm this.
What will companies that already use simulation end-to-end look like in 2030?
They will no longer develop mechanical, electrical, and software systems sequentially, but rather in parallel within a single integrated model. Decisions will be based on validated simulation data rather than on assumptions. The digital twin will not be mere documentation, but a working foundation.
Making complexity manageable
Even today, machines and systems are no longer purely mechanical systems. They are complex integrated systems in which mechanics, electrical systems, drive technology, control systems, and software are inextricably linked.
Traditional development models are reaching their limits in this context. When design, analysis, programming, and commissioning are carried out sequentially, the actual validation is pushed too far back in the process. Errors are detected too late, the resulting changes are costly, and tight schedules come under pressure.
Simulation shifts this verification to the early stages of development. The entire system behavior can be analyzed as early as the design phase. Motion sequences, load cases, control strategies, and interactions can be checked at any time, long before physical hardware exists. This does not reduce complexity, but makes it manageable.
How will companies work in 2030, when simulation is no longer an add-on but the foundation?
Instead of working document-based, they will work model-based. The digital twin will thus become the central development environment with integrated project management.
The digital twin is becoming the primary working environment
By 2030, the digital twin will no longer be merely an additional virtual model, but will serve as the product’s central counterpart. The physical system will follow the digital model, and not the other way around.
A functional digital twin encompasses more than just a copy of the real machine; it also includes geometric and structural data, kinematics and dynamics, drive and energy models, control and regulation logic, and scenarios for validating operating states.
But it is only through simulation that the digital twin becomes operational. It serves as a test environment, an optimization tool, and a communication platform between the teams involved. Without simulation, the digital twin remains static; it is only through simulation that it becomes an active component of the value chain.
Virtual commissioning as standard
By 2030, virtual commissioning will no longer be an optional project step. Control software will be tested against the simulation model long before the actual machine is available.
This fundamentally changes the project logic, as it allows mechanical and automation systems to be developed in parallel. Errors in processes or signal connections are also detected early on, and on-site commissioning times are significantly reduced. This makes project risks calculable.
Without simulation, commissioning would be the critical bottleneck at the end of the project. With simulation, it becomes an ongoing process throughout the entire development cycle.
Speed is becoming the decisive factor
Time-to-market will be one of the key success factors in 2030. This is because new machines must not only be high-performance but also available faster than comparable solutions.
Simulation acts as an accelerator here, as virtual variants can be tested digitally without making physical modifications. Motion profiles can thus be optimized even before the hardware is built. Special cases can be simulated, and development decisions are based on simulation models rather than on mere assumptions or empirical values.
Energy efficiency and sustainability are systemic issues
Information on energy consumption or peak loads provides insights into motion dynamics, control behavior, and mechanical design. Without simulation, these effects cannot be adequately assessed.
By 2030, regulatory requirements and economic pressures in particular will force adaptation. By then, energy efficiency will be a key development goal, not just an option.
Simulation as a platform—not as a standalone solution
What matters is not the specific functions of the simulation software, but how the software can be integrated into the existing engineering environment. Simulation must therefore be linked to CAD data, control systems, automation tools, and data management systems.
This is because an integrated platform enables consistent data models, end-to-end versioning, reproducible test scenarios, and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Simulation thus becomes the connecting element in the engineering process. It creates a common foundation for design, automation, and validation.
2030 starts today
By 2030, simulation will no longer be an option but a fundamental requirement. Companies that use it only sporadically will not be able to survive in the market for long.
The strategic question, therefore, is not whether simulation will be used, but how deeply it is integrated into processes, methods, and platform architectures.
Engineering in 2030 will be model-based, networked, and simulation-driven. Those who begin today to establish simulation as an end-to-end infrastructure will lay the foundation for efficient and future-proof development processes.
Conclusion: Engineering Companies in 2030
What will companies that already use simulation throughout their operations look like in 2030?
- Simulation guides every development decision.
- Virtual commissioning is an integral part of the project.
- Variants are validated digitally before hardware is built.
- The digital twin is an operational reality.
These companies respond faster, systematically reduce risks, and measurably shorten their development cycles.
Want to know more? Request our trend paper now!
Links to the website
General link:
Learn more about iPhysics and our virtual commissioning solutions on our website: www.machineering.com.
Directly to the product page:
Discover iPhysics – your solution for cloud-based simulation: www.machineering.com/en/products/iphysics
Contact page:
Do you have any questions? Contact us for more information: www.machineering.com/en/contact
Overview of VIBN:
Find out more about virtual commissioning and its benefits here www.machineering.com/en/virtual-commissioning
