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Did you see mentions of Octave Forte, Octave Facets, or Octave Aspect lately? If so, what became of traditional tools such as Smart 3D, Smart P&ID, and CADWorx? Of course, what happened to CAESAR II and PV Elite?
Many engineering teams are asking the same questions: Will existing projects still work? Do licenses, workflows, or support processes need to change? Now that Octave is its own company, what does that mean for the Hexagon relationship you have relied on?
Hexagon's Asset Lifecycle Intelligence (ALI) software portfolio has become Octave — a newly independent software company that has spun off from Hexagon to focus exclusively on engineering and industrial software solutions.
This transition combines a new brand with a new corporate structure, which has understandably raised questions among existing users about product names, licensing, support, and what independence means for the road ahead. Known products such as Smart 3D, Smart P&ID, CADWorx, CAESAR II, and PV Elite now carry different names under the Octave brand.
This has naturally raised many questions: what this means for licensing and support, how it will affect current projects, what the future roadmap looks like, and how Octave's independence changes its relationship with Hexagon.
Many well-known software names now appear differently across websites, documentation, training materials, and customer communications. You will also notice them in training courses and corporate communications, alongside a new corporate identity that reflects Octave standing on its own. The good news is that the engineering solutions you rely on remain the same.
This guide explains what is changing, what stays the same, how existing products map to the new Octave portfolio and what Octave's independence means for you as a customer going forward. Here is all the information you need.
Hexagon's engineering software portfolio has transitioned into Octave, a newly independent software company spun off from Hexagon. As part of this transition, several products have received new names, and Octave now operates as its own business with its own leadership, roadmap, and direction. The software capabilities, project data, workflows, and support services you rely on remain unchanged.
The Octave transition marks both a rebrand and a corporate restructuring of the engineering software portfolio you trust.
Here are the most important updates:
Octave represents the next evolution of the former Hexagon engineering software business — not just a new name, but a new company. Octave has spun off from Hexagon to become a standalone, independent business focused exclusively on delivering engineering, design, and industrial software solutions.
Operating independently allows Octave to concentrate entirely on its engineering software portfolio, invest directly in the products you use, and make roadmap and innovation decisions without needing to balance priorities against Hexagon's broader, multi-industry business.
For existing customers, this transition affects product branding and corporate ownership. The technology, engineering expertise, and software tools themselves remain the same, and the team behind them will continue to help you achieve your business objectives and meet your current and future technical needs.
Beyond the name change, Octave's spin-off from Hexagon changes how the company is structured — but not how your day-to-day experience with the software works. Here is what independence means in practice:
Hexagon and Octave remain connected through the technology, expertise, and people that transitioned from Hexagon's former Asset Lifecycle Intelligence (ALI) business into Octave. From now on, however, Octave operates as a distinct company with its own strategy, reporting, and decision-making — it is no longer a Hexagon-owned business unit.
If you currently work with Cortex, you can continue using your software as usual.
Your:
Neither the rebrand nor Octave's move to independence requires your organisation to re-design existing processes or migrate project data.
There are no process re-designs or project data migrations.
No. The transition from Hexagon to Octave focuses on branding, product naming, and corporate structure. There will be no impact on current software installations and engineering data. Project models and work processes will also not be affected.
The major impact the changes will have on customers will be visible in communications, documentation, and corporate identity. You will also see new product names reflected across the web and in training materials.
Engineering teams depend on connected design environments to deliver projects efficiently. Under the Octave brand, these solutions now fall within the Forte and Facets portfolios.
Octave Forte (Formerly Smart and CADWorx Design Solutions)
Octave Forte connects CAD engineering solutions, interoperability, model review, and 3D design.
Product Name Changes
Organizations that use Smart 3D and CADWorx solutions can continue working without disruption.
The transition does not affect:
The primary change involves product branding and naming, and the corporate entity behind the software.
Customers will gradually see the new Forte branding appear across software,documentation, and product communications.
Octave Facets (Formerly Smart P&ID and CADWorx P&ID)
Process schematics remain a critical part of engineering design. Octave Facets continues to support intelligent P&ID development and connected engineering documentation.
Product Name Changes
Existing P&ID environments remain fully supported.
Customers can continue using:
Teams do not need to recreate projects or rebuild engineering data because of the branding transition.
Engineering analysis remains essential for safe, compliant, and reliable asset design.
Under the Octave portfolio, these solutions now fall within the Aspect product family.
Octave Aspect (Formerly CAESAR II, PV Elite, GT STRUDL, PIPESTRESS, and TANK)
Octave Aspect provides a toolset for integrating piping, structural, pressure vessel, nuclear, and storage tank analysis.
Product Name Changes
The engineering methodologies behind these solutions remain unchanged.
Organizations can continue using their existing analysis workflows for:
Existing models, calculations, and project data remain available.
The transition introduces a unified naming structure under the Octave Aspect portfolio.
Cortex Insight
Cortex has historically supported and utilised Smart 3D, Smart P&ID, CADWorx, and CAESAR II. We anticipate that the new naming and Octave's move to independence will be the primary adjustment during the transition, rather than the underlying technology. All existing users will be accustomed to the software behind the names, and Cortex remains your consistent point of contact throughout.
Software and corporate transitions often raise questions. Cortex works closely with customers to ensure clarity throughout the process.
Our team helps customers understand:
This helps engineering teams communicate changes internally and maintain consistency across projects.
Octave's branding and corporate changes may also require new training and documentation.Octave's branding changes may also require new training and documentation.
Cortex helps customers:
The product names and company structure may change, but our expertise remains the same.
Cortex continues to support organizations using:
We also work with engineering teams to deliver significant productivity gains. We will also work to enhance your digital workflows and extract the most out of your software investments.
When product naming shifts from Hexagon to Octave — and Octave becomes an independent company in its own right — engineering teams want a partner they can count on to help them navigate the transition. Cortex works with companies to help them understand what independence means, comprehend portfolio changes, update internal processes, and get the most from their engineering software spend.
Get in touch with Cortex to speak about your Octave software strategy, licensing, or support needs. Our experts can help you navigate the transition and maximize the value of your engineering software investment.
Cortex: Empowering better engineering through connected design, analysis, and digital innovation.
Octave has spun off from Hexagon to become a distinct, software-centric company focused on engineering, design, and industrial solutions. As an independent business, Octave can concentrate its investment, leadership, and roadmap entirely on the engineering software you use. Existing software functionality, support services, and customer workflows remain unchanged throughout the transition.
No. Octave is now an independent company, separate from Hexagon. While Octave's technology, people, and expertise originated within Hexagon's former Asset Lifecycle Intelligence (ALI) business, Octave now operates as its own standalone entity with its own leadership, direction, and roadmap.
No, Smart 3D is not being discontinued. It has been renamed Octave Forte 3D. The 3D plant design capabilities, data management, and workflows remain identical. Existing projects, models, and design environments remain fully supported.
Octave Forte 3D is the new name for Smart 3D. Intelligent, data-driven 3D plant design & engineering software also enables complete project execution. The name is brand-new. The features, daily work, and design capabilities remain the same.
Smart P&ID has been rebranded as Octave Facets P&ID. Intelligent P&ID creation, engineering documents, and connected design functionality are still available within this solution. Previous projects, tag databases, and engineering standards will still be supported.
Octave Facets P&IDWorx is the new name for CADWorx P&ID. It helps engineering teams create and manage consistent process schematics and project documentation. The rebranding does not affect software functionality, project data, or existing engineering workflows.
Yes, CAESAR II remains available under its new name,Octave Aspect Pipe Stress. For pipe stress analysis, engineers can use the same set of tools. The piping analysis software checks flexibility and compliance in industrial applications. Overall, it helps maintain a high-performance piping system.
Octave Aspect Pipe Stress is the new name for CAESAR II. This enables detailed pipe stress analysis in the design of industrial piping systems. Engineers can easily verify compliance with codes, system flexibility, and overall structural integrity. Existing models, calculations, and workflows remain unchanged after the rebrand.
No, your existing projects will not be affected by the transition to Octave. Project files, engineering data, models, calculations, and workflows remain intact. Only the name, brand, and corporate ownership are affected, so business continues as normal.
Most customers can continue using their existing licensing arrangements during the transition. Octave, now operating independently, will honour existing agreements and will communicate any future licensing updates directly if required. In general, the change is in the product's branding and corporate structure, not in software access or entitlements.
Yes, Cortex is still your partner. We are still providing all levels of implementation, training, tuning, and support services on all the Octave products. You will work with the same expert resources you currently depend on.
Octave Forte includes Octave Forte 3D (formerly Smart 3D), Octave Forte Review (formerly Smart Review), 3DWorx, StructureWorx, ReviewWorx, and Orthogen, which collectively enable smart 3D modelling, engineering review, and engineering collaboration.
The Octave Aspect range also comprises integrated tools for pipe stress, pressure vessel and structural analysis. Furthermore, Nuclear Pipe Stress and Tank solutions are available. These innovative applications provide complete engineering design and verification.
Octave's roadmap will now be set independently rather than as part of Hexagon's broader portfolio, but the near-term priority is continuity: existing functionality, projects, and support remain unchanged. Octave and Cortex will communicate any roadmap updates as they are announced, so you will hear about changes directly rather than being caught by surprise.
