Bentley Tech Summit: How Bentley Systems is Redefining the Infrastructure

• 24 January 2026
• Construction Focus
• 882 Views

The Bentley Tech Summit (BTS25) brought together more than 500 engineers, product managers, and software users to work side-by-side, signaling a shift in how the infrastructure giant develops its technology.

Under the theme “Breaking Barriers to Build Value,” the three-day summit functioned as a “hive mind” where the usual walls between software creators and software users were intentionally dismantled.

Unlike standard industry presentations, BTS25 focused on workflows rather than products. Users brought live project data to the table, allowing Bentley’s development teams to test assumptions and adapt tools on the fly.

This “enablement” went both ways, with customers teaching Bentley staff how their technology is being applied to solve real-world infrastructure problems.

The summit highlighted a strategic pivot for Bentley that involves disappearing boundaries between cloud and desktop, human and AI, as well as siloed tools and end-to-end solutions.

“We want the boundaries to disappear,” said  Chief Technology Officer Julien Moutte, emphasizing that the goal is to provide engineers with the insights they need to do their best work without technical friction.

The summit’s hands-on approach resonated with industry leaders. Ross Brown, Technical Director at the engineering firm Beca, described the experience as “inspirational,” noting that the collaborative environment built confidence in Bentley’s long-term roadmap.

Brock Ballard, Bentley’s Chief Revenue Officer, emphasized that the true value of the summit was the “noise” of communication. By listening to the challenges of users—such as those from Collins Engineering—Bentley aims to move from being a software vendor to a strategic partner.

As infrastructure projects grow in complexity, the collaboration suggests that the future of engineering software won’t be built in a vacuum, but in the crowded, noisy, and highly productive rooms where the builders and the coders finally meet.

• AI
• Bentley Systems
• Cloud connect
• BTS2025