Siemens Digital Industries Software has announced the release of two new software solutions designed to make AI-enhanced electronic systems design more accessible to small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs): PADS Pro Essentials and Xpedition Standard.
These new offerings are built on Siemens’ Xpedition technology and combine intuitive user experiences, integrated cloud collaboration, and AI-driven automation. This empowers small teams and independent engineers with professional-grade capabilities at a fraction of the cost previously available.
“Today’s launch marks a major milestone in our strategy to democratize access to high-performance PCB design and bring the transformative power of AI to the PCB design workflow,” said AJ Incorvaia, senior vice president, Siemens EDA. “With PADS Pro Essentials and Xpedition Standard, we’re delivering scalable solutions that help smaller teams move faster, work smarter, and design with confidence without sacrificing quality or budget.”
PADS Pro Essentials
PADS Pro Essentials offers a streamlined, cloud-connected design environment at an entry-level price, built on Siemens’ proven Xpedition technology. This software is tailored for independent engineers and startups, including schematic capture, layout, and a seamless design experience. The Essentials tier also introduces an integrated, co-branded front-end powered by CELUS, allowing engineers to design using intelligent functional blocks with AI-assisted schematic and BOM generation.
Xpedition Standard
Xpedition Standard is designed for growing teams that need a balance of cost-efficiency and advanced capabilities. It includes features like design reuse, variant management, advanced routing automation, native 3D layout, and deeper collaboration across mechanical, manufacturing, and supply chain stakeholders. Teams can further extend capabilities using token-based options, providing on-demand access to more advanced features such as fully integrated pre- and post-layout signal integrity analysis powered by Siemens’ Hyperlynx software for PCB analysis and rigid-flex design.
“We took a close look at Xpedition Standard and were genuinely impressed,” said Shrouk El-Attar, founder of Shrouk El-Attar consultancy. “Siemens has clearly reimagined the experience. It’s intuitive, modern, and far more connected and integrated than we expected. From day one, it felt like a tool built for the way we actually work. I can get real design work done without fighting the software.”
Both new offerings are part of the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio of industry software and the Xpedition family, designed to grow with engineers from individual users to global enterprises. The unified user experience, design libraries, and cloud-based collaboration infrastructure provide a seamless upgrade path as team and project requirements evolve.
To learn more about Siemens’ next-generation PCB design tools for SMBs, visit: Siemens EDA website
