Bentley Systems, Incorporated is a US-based software development company that develops, manufactures, licenses, sells and supports computer software and services for the design, construction, and operation of infrastructure globally. The company's software serves the building, plant, civil, and geospatial markets in the areas of architecture, engineering, construction (AEC) and operations. Their software products are used to design, engineer, build, and operate large constructed assets such as roadways, railways, bridges, buildings, industrial plants, power plants, and utility networks.
Bentley Systems is headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania, United States, but reports development, sales and other departments in 45 countries. In 2025, the company reported revenue of $1.5 billion in 189 countries.
History
Keith A. Bentley and Barry J. Bentley founded Bentley Systems in 1984.Section 10: CAD/CAM/CAE/CADD: Section 10: CAD/CAM/CAE/CADD , access-date: September 14, 2016 In an interview with trade publication Geo Week News, Keith Bentley recounted how he had previously developed CAD software while working as a programmer at DuPont. After retaining rights to this software, he joined his brother Barry's chemistry software startup, and they later pivoted to the CAD software market. Their brothers Greg, Scott, and Ray later joined the company, which relocated to Pennsylvania. 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. An MS-DOS version of MicroStation was introduced in 1986.
In April 2002, Bentley filed for an initial public offering, but it was withdrawn before taking effect. 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.
In September 2020, Bentley Systems set 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.
In 2023, the company reported that its annual 2022 revenue exceeded $1 billion.
Also in 2023, Keith Bentley retired from his Chief Technology role, and Greg Bentley retired in March 2024. In July 2024, Chief Operating Officer Nicholas Cumins became the first non-family member to lead the company as CEO.
Products
Bentley Systems sells software for infrastructure modeling, simulation, construction, operations, and analytics. The company's Seequent subsidiary sells geological and geophysical modeling and analysis software. Principle offerings include:
Engineering and simulation applications
MicroStation is computer-aided design (CAD) software used in infrastructure projects. It provides tools for drafting, modeling, and visualization. The platform includes features for referencing external files, conducting design reviews, and integrating geospatial data. The company also provides Open applications for modelling and simulation based on MicroStation technology, designed to support workflows across infrastructure sectors. Modeling applications include:
OpenRoads - for transportation infrastructure design OpenRail - for railway design OpenBridge Designer - for bridge design OpenBuildings Designer, including Openbuildings Station Designer - for architectural and building design OpenFlows Flood - for hydraulic and hydrologic modeling, analysis, design & operation OpenPlant - for process plant design and operations OpenUtilities - for electrical systems and substations design OpenSite Designer - for modeling and analysis of site design project
Open simulation applications include:
STAAD - structural analysis and design software AutoPipe - pipe stress analysis software Power Line Systems (PLS) - for analysis and simulation of overhead electric power transmission lines and their structures
Bentley Infrastructure Cloud
Bentley Infrastructure Cloud is an integrated online application that combines ProjectWise software for project delivery, SYNCHRO for construction management, and AssetWise for asset operations. It provides a unified data environment to improve collaboration.
ProjectWise is information management software used to manage CAD, BIM, geospatial and project data from a variety of vendors. AssetWise is asset lifecycle information management (ALIM) software used to manage project assets including documents, tags, associated metadata, and 3D models. The company's SYNCHRO software is used for 4D construction planning, scheduling, and productivity tracking, for teams on construction sites and in the office.
Asset Analytics
Bentley's Asset Analytics portfolio applies artificial intelligence and digital twin workflows to improve infrastructure monitoring and maintenance. The product integrates data captured with physical devices such as IoT sensors, drones, and dashcams, with digital twins to create a comprehensive view of infrastructure such as bridges, dams, and large transportation networks.
The portfolio includes Blyncsy, AI-powered software that analyzes roadway conditions using image date and machine learning.
Seequent
Bentley's Seequent subsidiary develops and sells 3D modeling and analysis software for the geosciences, mining, civil engineering, and energy industries. Seequent's portfolio includes Leapfrog for 3D geological modeling and visualization, GeoStudio for geotechnical and geoenvironmental analysis, and Geosoft for 3D earth modeling and geoscience data management. Seequent's Evo cloud platform integrates geoscience data from Seequent and third-party applications into one platform.
iTwin Platform
Bentley's iTwin Platform is a cloud-native platform designed to enable digital twin workflows for infrastructure. Digital twins representations allow customers to simulate physical assets such as roads, bridges, and buildings, while integrating engineering models, geospatial data, and enterprise information.
The iTwin platform integrates with 3D Tiles, through Bentley's acquisition of Cesium, the creator of the 3D Tiles community standard. This allows developers to combine 3D geospatial data with digital asset data to create scalable digital twins.
Cesium
Bentley Systems Cesium software is an open platform for building 3D geospatial applications. Cesium also created the 3D Tiles community standard, an Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standard for streaming large 3D data sets.
In 2025, Bentley started integrating its iTwin Platform with Cesium, beginning with adding iTwin Capture reality modeling services to Cesium. The company also announced 3D tile integration with its MicroStation product.
Artificial intelligence
Bentley invests in artificial intelligence and machine learning, through internal research and development, and acquisitions, including AIworx (2018) and Blyncsy (2023). Bentley software, including OpenRoads, OpenRail, and ProjectWise, includes the Bentley Copilot, a context-aware AI assistant that guides users through workflows, surfaces relevant documents, and can modify 3D models.
OpenSite+ is Bentley's first application to incorporate generative AI. It also offers AI-driven variants of its SYNCHRO (SYNCHRO+) and Substation (Substation+) applications.
In May 2026, Bentley Systems published the STAAD MCP server to the open Model Context Protocol (MCP) Registry. This development connects AI agents directly with STAAD.Pro, allowing different AI systems to access the application's structural validation functions and data.
Operations
Bentley is headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania. Nicholas Cumins is the company's CEO. The company reports 5,800 employees in 45 countries, and in 2025 reported $1.5 Billion in revenue in 189 countries.
Partnerships
Microsoft - Since 2014, some products have been based on the Microsoft Azure cloud computing platform.SPAR 3D: www.spar3d.com/news/software/vol12no45-bentley-announces-next-gen-connect-software-platform/, access-date: September 7, 2016 In 2020 Bentley and Microsoft announced expansion of a strategic alliance to advance the use of digital twin in city planning and citizen engagement.
NVIDIA - in 2021, Bentley announced a partnership with NVIDIA to bring infrastructure digital twins to NVIDIA Omniverse.
Acquisitions
On June 18, 1997, Bentley acquired IdeaGraphix, a developer of MicroStation-based application software for architecture, engineering, and facilities management.IdeaGraphix to be Acquired by Bentley Systems: , access-date: August 18, 2016 On January 15, 1998, Bentley acquired Jacobus.Bentley Acquires Jacobus and Strengthens Commitment to Plant Engineering and Design Industry; Sales of PlantSpace Software Show Impressive Growth in 1997. - Free Online Library , access-date: August 18, 2016 On January 2, 2001, Bentley acquired Intergraph's civil engineering, plot-services and raster conversion software businesses.Bentley's acquires Intergraph's civil engineering, plot-services and raster-conversion software businesses: Bentley's acquires Intergraph's civil engineering, plot-services and raster-conversion software businesses, access-date: August 18, 2016 On October 17, 2001, Bentley Systems bought Geopak design software for road and rail infrastructure.Philadelphia Business Journal: www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2001/10/15/daily25.html, access-date: August 18, 2016
Bentley Systems acquired Rebis in 2003,Software Equity Group’s Client, Rebis, Acquired by Bentley Systems: Software Equity Group’s Client, Rebis, Acquired by Bentley Systems, access-date: August 18, 2016 Infrasoft Corporation in 2003,Free Online Library: Bentley to Acquire Infrasoft Corporation; Software and Services Company Specializes in Infrastructure Solutions for Civil Engineering. - Free Online Library , access-date: August 18, 2016 Haestad Methods, Inc. in 2004, 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.Geospatial World: www.geospatialworld.net/news-posts/bentley-agrees-to-acquire-staad-product-lines-from-netguru/, access-date: August 18, 2016 Bentley acquired GEF-RIS AG in 2006,Bentley Acquires GEF-RIS AG: www.gim-international.com/content/news/bentley-acquires-gef-ris-ag, access-date: August 18, 2016 KIWI Software in 2007,Houston Chronicle: www.chron.com/news/article/BW-Bentley-Acquires-KIWI-Software-to-Deliver-1839766.php, access-date: August 18, 2016 C.W. Beilfuss and Associates in 2007,Business Wire: Bentley Acquires C.W. Beilfuss & Associates Business Wire, access-date: August 18, 2016 and TDV GmbH, an analysis and design software provider for bridge engineering, in May 2007.Geospatial World: www.geospatialworld.net/news-posts/bentley-acquires-tdv-gmbh-analysis-and-design-software-provider-for-bridge-engineering/, access-date: August 18, 2016
In early 2008, Bentley acquired Hevacomp, Ltd.,Business Wire: Bentley Acquires Hevacomp, Ltd., Expanding Portfolio of Software to Improve Performance of Buildings, access-date: August 18, 2016 LEAP Software, Inc.,Business Wire: Bentley Acquires LEAP Software, Inc., Expanding Portfolio of Software for Analysis and Design of Concrete Bridges, access-date: August 18, 2016 the promis•e product line from ECT International,Cadalyst: www.cadalyst.com/aec/news/bentley-acquires-promisampbulle-product-line-4479 , access-date: August 18, 2016 and Common Point for mainstream construction simulation.Philadelphia Business Journal: www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2008/05/26/daily19.html, access-date: August 18, 2016