Bentley Systems' Strategic Move into Integrated Infrastructure Cloud Solutions

Bentley Systems' recent launch of Bentley Infrastructure Cloud Connect marks a pivotal shift in the company's strategy to dominate the digital infrastructure transformation. As the global market for cloud-based infrastructure solutions accelerates, Bentley's new platform positions it to capitalize on a $1.06 trillion industry by 2030, growing at a 24.1% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) Digital Infrastructure Market Size & Share Analysis^[1]. This move not only aligns with broader trends in cloud adoption but also leverages Bentley's decades of domain expertise in infrastructure engineering to create a differentiated offering.

Strategic Importance of Bentley Infrastructure Cloud Connect

Bentley Infrastructure Cloud Connect serves as the backbone of the company's Infrastructure Cloud ecosystem, enabling seamless collaboration across the infrastructure lifecycle-from design and construction to operations. Built on Bentley's iTwin platform, the solution ingests data from over 50 file formats and integrates with enterprise systems to generate contextualized digital twins of physical assets Digital Infrastructure Market Size & Share Analysis^[1]. These digital twins, powered by Cesium 3D geospatial capabilities, allow stakeholders to visualize and manage infrastructure projects in real-world environments, reducing inefficiencies and fostering cross-ecosystem collaboration Digital Infrastructure Market Size & Share Analysis^[1].

The platform's general availability in December 2025 positions Bentley to accelerate its transition to cloud-native solutions, a critical step in capturing the $600.5 billion public cloud market expansion projected through 2029 BENTLEY SYSTEMS SWOT Analysis & Strategic Plan 2025-Q3^[2]. By embedding AI-driven analytics into its workflows, Bentley is also aligning with industry demands for automation and predictive insights, further differentiating its offerings from traditional CAD/BIM tools The Future of Autodesk and Bentley with AI: Revolutionizing Infrastructure Design^[3].

Market Positioning and Competitive Advantages

Bentley's financials underscore its strong market position. In 2025, the company reported $1.353 billion in revenue, a 10.1% increase from 2023, with a gross profit margin of 81%-a figure expected to rise to 84% by 2029 BENTLEY SYSTEMS SWOT Analysis & Strategic Plan 2025-Q3^[2]. Its 90% customer retention rate and 110% dollar-based net retention rate highlight the loyalty of its client base, particularly in niche markets like transportation, water, and buildings BENTLEY SYSTEMS SWOT Analysis & Strategic Plan 2025-Q3^[2]. These metrics contrast with broader cloud market dynamics, where AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud collectively hold 63% of the 2025 market share but lack Bentley's deep infrastructure domain expertise Bentley Systems Announces Bentley Infrastructure Cloud Connect^[4].

While competitors like Autodesk are aggressively integrating AI into design workflows (e.g., generative modeling via prompts), Bentley's focus on end-to-end infrastructure lifecycle management creates a unique value proposition. For instance, Bentley's digital twin technology enables real-time asset monitoring and predictive maintenance, addressing pain points in aging infrastructure and sustainability goals The Future of Autodesk and Bentley with AI: Revolutionizing Infrastructure Design^[3]. This strategic alignment with AI and SaaS trends is expected to drive Bentley's growth as the engineering software market expands at a 20.9% CAGR through 2030 Bentley Systems Announces Bentley Infrastructure Cloud Connect^[4].

Long-Term Implications for Digital Infrastructure Transformation

The global digital infrastructure market's projected growth to $1.06 trillion by 2030 Digital Infrastructure Market Size & Share Analysis^[1] underscores the urgency for companies to adopt cloud-native solutions. Bentley's Infrastructure Cloud Connect is uniquely positioned to benefit from this trend, as it addresses three key industry challenges:
1. Data Fragmentation: By centralizing project and asset data in a unified platform, Bentley reduces silos and enhances decision-making.
2. Collaboration Gaps: The platform's mobile app and web-based interface enable real-time collaboration across stakeholders, including contractors, operators, and regulators.
3. AI and Automation: Bentley's integration of AI into its cloud ecosystem allows for predictive analytics, optimizing resource allocation and reducing operational costs The Future of Autodesk and Bentley with AI: Revolutionizing Infrastructure Design^[3].

Conclusion

Bentley Systems' strategic pivot to integrated infrastructure cloud solutions reflects a calculated response to the convergence of AI, SaaS, and digital twin technologies. With Infrastructure Cloud Connect, the company is not only addressing immediate industry pain points but also positioning itself to lead the next phase of digital infrastructure transformation. As the market grows and competitors scramble to adapt, Bentley's domain expertise, high customer retention, and cloud-native innovation suggest a compelling long-term investment opportunity.