Arden Software shows AI vision at event

Arden Software unveiled its AI-driven vision for the future of packaging design software at its recent user conference, where attendees were given an exclusive first look.
 
Held in Park City, Utah, in June, the Arden Software Peak Performance Conference (APPC) brought together Arden’s customers, partners and resellers from across the packaging industry for four days of hands-on training, networking and product innovation, including the first public preview of Impact Neo, Arden's next-generation software platform, which is currently in active development.
 
Impact Neo represents Arden's long-term vision for intelligent packaging, bringing together AI, collaboration and connected workflows in a single platform designed specifically for the packaging industry.
 
Rather than treating AI as an add-on, Impact Neo is being developed around Arden's market-leading CAD expertise, applying intelligence where it delivers genuine value, from understanding and matching design styles and structures to enabling smarter collaboration and more efficient workflows.
 
The early preview generated interest at APPC.
 
Jim Silianoff, president and CEO of Arden Software North America (ASNA), said: 'AI dominated conversations throughout APPC, but for us, the focus has always been on how it can solve real challenges for our customers.
 
'For Arden, AI is not a gimmick. Our goal is to create truly intelligent solutions that help packaging professionals design smarter, collaborate more effectively and work more efficiently. The response we received at APPC confirmed that this vision is resonating strongly with our customers.
 
'Impact Neo is an important part of that journey. While it's still in the early stages of development, we're excited by the reaction we've seen so far and look forward to sharing more over the coming months.'
 
Artificial intelligence was a key theme throughout the conference, with attendees also exploring the latest AI-powered capabilities within Arden's software portfolio.
 
Its flagship packaging design software, Impact, used by packaging designers and die-makers around the world, now includes Design Similarity as part of the latest Impact 2026 release. Powered by a highly trained machine learning (ML) model, the feature can search large design databases in seconds to locate existing design matches, helping users accelerate workflows, reduce costs and maximize the reuse of existing designs.
 
Attendees were also given an early look at perFORMance, Arden's new ERP for die-shop management. Designed specifically for the packaging industry, perFORMance is being developed to provide integrated job tracking, estimating, scheduling and shop-floor visibility, fully connected with Impact CAD. Its preview generated strong interest at APPC, reinforcing the demand for a modern, industry-specific business management solution.
 
Alongside showcasing the latest developments in Arden’s software suite, including Impact, WEBcnx, nServer and Enterprise, APPC 2026 featured an extensive program of hands-on training, technical workshops and live demonstrations. Attendees learned directly from Arden’s expert team, shared knowledge with industry peers and discovered new ways to get even more from their software.
 
Integration partners Hybrid Software and Zünd Swiss Cutting Systems were also at APPC, demonstrating how their technologies integrate with Arden's software products to create connected, efficient workflows from structural design through to production.