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.[3]
Keith A. Bentley and Barry J. Bentley founded Bentley Systems in 1984.[6] 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.[7] 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.[8] A
DOS-based version of MicroStation was introduced in 1986.[9]
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.[12]
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.[13][14]
Acquisitions
On June 18, 1997, Bentley acquired IdeaGraphix, a developer of MicroStation-based application software for architecture, engineering, and facilities management.[15] On January 15, 1998, Bentley acquired Jacobus.[16] On January 2, 2001, Bentley acquired
Intergraph's civil engineering, plot-services and raster conversion software businesses.[17] On October 17, 2001, Bentley Systems bought Geopak design software for road and rail infrastructure.[18]
Bentley Systems acquired Rebis in 2003,[19] Infrasoft Corporation in 2003,[20] Haestad Methods, Inc. in 2004,[21] 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.[22] Bentley acquired GEF-RIS AG in 2006,[23] KIWI Software in 2007,[24] C.W. Beilfuss and Associates in 2007,[25] and TDV GmbH, an analysis and design software provider for bridge engineering, in May 2007.[26]
In early 2008, Bentley acquired Hevacomp, Ltd.,[27] LEAP Software, Inc.,[28] the promis•e product line from ECT International,[29] and Common Point for mainstream construction simulation.[30]
On October 13, 2009, Bentley added geotechnical and geoenvironmental capabilities with the acquisition of gINT Software.[31] On February 9, 2010, Bentley Systems announced two acquisitions: Exor Corporation and Enterprise Informatics.[32] On March 2, 2011, Bentley Systems acquired SACS software for offshore structural analysis from Engineering Dynamics, Inc.[33] Also in 2011, Bentley acquired FormSys[34] and Pointools Ltd., a British developer of point-cloud software technology.[35]
In 2012, Bentley acquired the elcoSystem software business of Hannappel Software,[36] as well as InspectTech Systems, USA, a provider of field inspection applications and asset management services for bridges and other transportation assets.[37] Also that year it acquired Canadian-based Ivara,[38] the Microprotol pressure vessel design and analysis software from EuResearch,[39] and SpecWave.[40]
In 2013, Bentley acquired topoGRAPH, a provider of surveying software,[41] as well as the MOSES software business from Ultramarine.[42] On February 25, 2014, Bentley acquired DocQnet Systems’ eB Services BizDocQnet Systems.[43] Later that year, it acquired SITEOPS, optimization software for enhanced land development site design, from Blueridge Analytics.[44] Bentley acquired C3global for predictive modeling in 2015,[45] and also that year acquired Acute3D,[46] and the reality modeling creator e-on.[47]
In 2016, Bentley acquired the progressive assurance platform ComplyPro from UK-based ComplyServe.[48]
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.[49][50] On April 26, 2018, Bentley acquired Dutch geotechnical modelling company
Plaxis B.V.[51]
On July 15, 2018, Bentley acquired Canadian geotechnical modeling company SOILVISION Systems Ltd. in order to enhance its 3D geotechnical offerings.[51] Also in 2018, the company acquired Synchro,[52] Agency9,[53]LEGION,[54] ACE enterprise Slovakia,[55] and Alworx.[56] In 2019, Bentley acquired SignCAD Systems,[57] Keynetix,[58] and Citilabs, Inc. & Orbit GeoSpatial Technologies.[59]
In 2020, Bentley acquired UK based consultancy Professional Construction Strategies Group (PCSG),[60] and SRO Solutions.[60] In 2021, Bentley acquired Ontracks Consulting,[61] INRO Software,[62] SPIDA Software,[63] and Seequent Holdings Limited,[64] and in 2022 acquisitions included Power Line Systems,[65]ADINA R&D, Inc.,[66] and acquired Eagle.io.[67]
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.[68]