Bentley Systems Study Finds Fragmented Data Blocks Infrastructure Resilience Goals

Schneider Electric agreed to pay $22.6 billion in cash for PTC Inc., the design software company whose revenue fell 6.80% in the most recent quarter while rival Autodesk grew 16.10%. PTC traded at around $194 on October 7, down 4.32% over twelve months, while Autodesk traded near $235, down 25.73% across the year. Autodesk's earnings rose 57.20% against a 16.00% fall at PTC, and Autodesk generated $2.80 billion in free cash flow against $935.48 million at PTC. PTC's net margin of 41.43% sits above its 28.23% operating margin, a gap the article attributes to profit arriving from below the operating line rather than from selling licences. On forward estimates Autodesk trades at 16.55 times earnings against 21.71 times for PTC, with a PEG ratio of 0.78 against 1.81, though PTC carries an agreed cash offer and Autodesk has nothing of the kind.

The Ministry of Transport has joined hands with Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd. to study the feasibility of applying technology and artificial intelligence to upgrade Thailand's travel and logistics systems. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn gave David Li, Chief Executive Officer of Huawei Technologies (Thailand) Co., Ltd., along with a delegation of executives, the opportunity to meet to exchange knowledge and discuss ways to apply technology in line with the country's transport infrastructure, in order to improve safety, reduce the steps and time involved in travel and transport, and raise the level of service to the public. The ministry has assigned the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning, together with the Department of Rail Transport, to work with Huawei and relevant agencies to set up a team to study the feasibility and define pilot projects, focusing on two main tasks: linking freight transport from the rail system to ports, or Rail-Port, and managing passengers and cargo in airport systems, or Passenger & Cargo, which will use AI and data analytics to help manage passenger flow and the handling of cargo in cargo areas. This approach builds on trials of technology in certain missions, such as using data analytics and AI systems to manage passenger flow at airports and studying ways to improve safety at railway crossings. At the same time, there is also the idea of developing an Integrated Transport Command Center to link data across road, rail, water and air transport, as well as exchanging communications technology data for future railway systems, or FRMCS, and approaches to applying 5G technology to transport systems. The ministry will consider these based primarily on standards, safety, suitability with existing systems, and the value of the investment. The Ministry of Transport and Huawei are currently preparing a framework for cooperation in information and communications technology covering five main areas: developing ICT personnel, upgrading digital infrastructure, applying digital technology in the transport sector, improving the efficiency of administration and data integration, and promoting innovation and research. The details of projects under the cooperation framework will need to be studied jointly in each area.