Aras is a software company founded in 2000 that develops a product lifecycle management (PLM) platform. Its core offering, Aras Innovator, launched in 2001 as the first fully functional web-based PLM system. The platform is built on a low-code, AI-native foundation, designed to integrate requirements management, CAD data, quality compliance, and supply chain collaboration for engineering and manufacturing firms.
Aras adopted an open-source model in 2007, releasing the core Aras Innovator software under the GNU Affero General Public License. This approach aims to provide democratized access to enterprise-grade PLM and avoid vendor lock-in. The company provides commercial support and services alongside the open-source codebase and maintains a global community of users and developers.
The platform is used by world-leading manufacturers across industries including aerospace, automotive, medical devices, and general industrial sectors. Notable customers include Airbus, General Electric, Honda, Microsoft, and Kawasaki. The technical stack involves web-native applications, low-code platforms, and systems for digital thread integration.
