Aras Innovator Edge Adds API Management, App Development, and Agentic AI for Product Teams
Aras announced new services on Innovator Edge that give product teams secure, governed access to PLM data and workflows across the value chain-while making it easier to adopt agentic AI without losing control or context.
"We see Aras Innovator Edge as a natural extension of our longtime strategy of delivering PLM solutions based on an open, extensible digital thread infrastructure," said Leon Lauritsen, CEO of Aras.
What's new in Edge
- Edge API Manager (Edge API): A low-code service to define, manage, and secure APIs that expose Aras Innovator data and digital thread services to external apps or AI agents with policy, versioning, and audit control.
- Edge App Builder (Edge Builder): A fast app development environment to build, host, and publish lightweight, task-focused apps that consume Edge APIs-ideal for suppliers, shop floor teams, and exec views.
- Edge AI: Services to build, deploy, run, and govern agentic workflows and AI services across the Aras Innovator ecosystem, grounded in product data with permissions and traceability intact.
Why this matters for product development
- Fewer handoffs, more flow: Connect suppliers, manufacturing, and quality directly to the digital thread without giving up control.
- Apps people actually use: Ship simple, targeted tools for non-PLM users and reduce training overhead.
- AI with guardrails: Apply AI to change impact, requirements, compliance, and documentation with permissions, lineage, and review steps preserved.
- Faster integrations: Low-code APIs and governance shorten timelines and lower integration risk.
How the pieces fit together
Edge API publishes governed, contextual endpoints for relevant product data and workflows. Edge Builder turns those endpoints into lightweight apps for specific roles and moments in the process. Edge AI adds agents that can read, reason, and trigger actions across those same workflows-under policy, with a clear audit trail.
Use cases you can launch this quarter
- Supplier RFQ and change collaboration: Expose a controlled BOM/part view via Edge API; collect quotes, alternates, and feedback in an Edge Builder app; keep all interactions traceable to the item record.
- Change impact assistant: An Edge AI agent that summarizes affected parts, requirements, and tests; flags compliance or sourcing risks; and proposes next steps for human review.
- NCR/Deviation capture: A mobile-friendly app for shop floor teams to submit issues with photos; route to the right change workflow automatically.
- Product document Q&A: An AI agent grounded in approved specifications, CAD-derived metadata, and past ECOs-answers link back to source items.
- Simulation and validation routing: Auto-file results to the correct configuration item, notify owners, and enforce sign-off policies.
Governance, security, and context
Edge maintains permissions, traceability, and business context across every API call, app action, and AI step. That means you can open access to external partners and agents without creating shadow data or bypassing controls.
If you're formalizing your controls, align API exposure to the OWASP API Security Top 10 and frame AI policies with the NIST AI Risk Management Framework.
30-day pilot plan
- Week 1: Pick one high-friction workflow (e.g., supplier part alternates during an ECO). Define the API contract and data policy.
- Week 2: Build a minimal Edge Builder app for the external role. Add metrics: cycle time, rework rate, exceptions.
- Week 3: Introduce a narrow-scope Edge AI agent (summaries, gap checks, or next-step suggestions). Keep human-in-the-loop approval.
- Week 4: Security review, user pilot, and iterate on the API and app. Lock in audit logging and retention.
Fit with your stack
Edge is built to sit alongside your existing CAD/PLM, ERP, MES, and QMS integrations and extend them to external users and AI services. The key benefit: external access without losing item-level context, permissions, and full historical traceability.
What Aras announced
Aras expanded Innovator Edge with three services-Edge API Manager, Edge App Builder, and Edge AI-to simplify integration, speed up app delivery, and make agentic AI workable under enterprise governance. Aras also introduced new AI agents that can be configured within any Aras Innovator environment.
About Aras
Aras provides a digital thread platform for PLM and engineering AI, built on an AI-native, low-code foundation. It connects teams across functions to critical product data and agentic AI throughout the lifecycle and extended value chain. Learn more at aras.com.
Further learning
For practical playbooks on bringing AI into your product workflows, see AI for Product Development.
Your membership also unlocks:
