Event Review by DailyCADCAM
The picturesque city of Colombo, Sri Lanka, played host to ZCON India 2025, held from May 14 to 18, 2025, at the Courtyard Colombo. Organized by ZWSOFT in collaboration with Hope Technologies, this flagship partner event was a celebration of collaboration, innovation, and shared success. The event served as a unique platform for ZWSOFT’s Indian partners to engage in meaningful discussions, align on future strategies, and recognize collective accomplishments, all while enjoying an immersive cultural and professional experience.
The event commenced on May 15 with a warm welcome from Seven Xie, Overseas Marketing Manager at ZWSOFT, who outlined the agenda and set the tone for an inspiring and productive gathering. The opening was marked by a traditional lamp lighting ceremony, symbolizing the beginning of a new chapter of innovation and partnership. Following this, Vicky Su, Head of Asia Business at ZWSOFT, delivered a compelling keynote on “Marketing & Partner Enablement: Drives a Win-Win Business.” Her address highlighted the impressive growth of ZWSOFT’s international business, which has doubled over the past three years. She also shared the exciting news of over 45 new features introduced in ZWCAD 2026, as well as the expanded availability of ZW3D in Lite and Standard versions to better suit diverse customer needs. Vicky proudly noted ZWCAD’s inclusion in G2’s list of the top 50 software products of 2024 and discussed ongoing efforts to localize brand awareness globally. She emphasized that ZWCAD and ZW3D have evolved from being mere alternatives to becoming complete industry solutions, reflecting a shift from software sales to customer success, supported by a strong ecosystem model.
Jacob Panamthanath, CEO of Hope Technologies and the driving force behind ZWCAD’s growth in India, took the stage next to present a detailed review and forward-looking strategy for 2025. He shared that Hope Technologies achieved a remarkable 30% year-on-year revenue growth, a clear indication of strong market traction and partner success. Jacob discussed the company’s strategic priorities for FY25–26, which include expanding into Tier II and III cities across India, offering targeted training for ZWCAD and ZW3D, and enhancing partner capabilities through a newly developed CRM system aimed at improving sales visibility and planning. He also provided a comprehensive overview of the marketing initiatives undertaken in FY24–25, including exhibitions, webinars, and promotional campaigns, and previewed exciting plans for the year ahead. Jacob praised the dedication of Hope Technologies’ support team, which plays a crucial role in resolving post-sales challenges and ensuring customer satisfaction. He concluded by outlining the risks faced by the ecosystem, including competitive pricing, and discussed mitigation strategies.
Bryan Huang, India Channel Manager at ZWSOFT, presented the ZWSOFT Product Development Roadmap, with a strong focus on digital transformation in the AEC and manufacturing sectors. He spoke about ZWCAD’s operational efficiency and its capabilities in 3D modeling, artificial intelligence, and smart design tools. Bryan highlighted how ZWCAD MFG is being adopted in industries such as machine tools, automotive, and equipment manufacturing, while ZWCAD Architectural is supporting architectural design and construction. ZWCAD GIS and ZWCAD Cloud are also gaining popularity. His presentation included glimpses into the 2026 versions of ZWCAD and ZW3D, both of which promise enhanced capabilities. ZW3D, with its integrated CAx solution encompassing CAD, CAM, simulation, inspection, and PLM (Teammate), is steadily positioning itself as an industry favorite. Bryan reinforced ZWSOFT’s commitment to sustainable innovation and strategic partnerships with other technology providers to expand reach and deliver greater value.
Gurumurthy N, Technical Manager at Hope Technologies, gave a comprehensive demonstration of the new features in ZWCAD 2026, ZWCAD MFG 2026, and ZW3D 2026. Officially launched on May 8, 2025, ZWCAD 2026 focuses on user-centric innovation, incorporating AI tools and improving core functions to enhance design efficiency and user experience.
After lunch, Roy Zhang, India Country Manager at ZWSOFT, spoke about “Win Together: Sustainable Partner Enablement.” His session shed light on initiatives such as the marketing accelerator, sales and technical enablement programs, and online training and certification platforms. Roy highlighted ZWSOFT’s active participation in Indian expos and its investment in online courses tailored for specialized domains like piping, ECAD, and structural design.
One of the most anticipated presentations came from Adam Yao, Head of Global Marketing at ZWSOFT, who shared ZWSOFT’s India Marketing Strategy for 2025. Drawing on his 15+ years with the company, Adam reflected on ZWCAD’s journey since its inception in 2004 and its partnership with Hope Technologies since 2009. He proudly noted that India now represents ZWSOFT’s largest install base outside of China. Adam addressed brand awareness challenges and emphasized bridging these gaps through clear product positioning, refined conversion funnels, and a comprehensive CRM system. He provided partners with valuable marketing insights, explaining the full-funnel strategy of ToFu (top-of-funnel activities such as blogs and social media), MoFu (educational activities like webinars), and BoFu (conversion-oriented efforts such as demos and customer success stories). He also shared details on marketing investments and asset support for partners, including demo videos, landing pages, and email campaigns. His session served as a masterclass in product marketing and strategic planning.
Sam Li followed with a detailed presentation on why ZWCAD is more than just an AutoCAD alternative, highlighting its speed, lightweight, intuitive user interface, exceptional customer support, and flexible licensing. Mr. D. Balaji from Hope Technologies shared an inspiring customer success story, demonstrating how his team collaboratively secured a major account previously reliant on competing CAD solutions. This was followed by an insightful session from John Zhuang and Nagaraj Boregowda on strategies for competing with SolidWorks in the mechanical sector, complete with real-world examples.
The evening concluded with the much-awaited Dinner Gala & Partner Awards Ceremony. DailyCADCAM was honored with the Guest of Honour award, presented by Adam Yao. The night celebrated excellence and dedication across the ZWCAD partner ecosystem. Sales Star of the Year awards were presented to standout performers including Shubban Technologies, Invensys CAD Solutions, SOFTTECH Solutions, Concept Technology Solutions, Vaidesh IT Solutions, and individual achievers like Ninad Oak, Tanmay Lakhan, Srinivasa Reddy, Nagaraj Boregowda, and Aruna Gavigatti. Promising Partner of the Year honors went to CUBE CADTech, Rainbow Technologies, and BlueCAD Technologies. The Outstanding Performance 2024 awards were given to Tridex Engineering Software, UG Technologies, Vaidesh IT Solutions, and Sravani Infotech. The prestigious Partner of the Year 2024 awards were presented to V Global Business Solutions, Concept Technology Solutions, Satao CAMtech Solutions, SOFTTECH Solutions, and Blue Bell Engineering Solutions. The awards not only recognized exceptional performance but also highlighted the collaborative spirit and strategic execution across the partner network.
On May 16, the second day opened with a presentation by Sam Li on ZWSOFT Viewer Solutions, a cost-effective CAD viewer now trusted by clients like GM and BMW. Several long-term partners then shared their journeys and success stories, many having worked with ZWSOFT and Hope Technologies for over a decade. Ninad Oak provided an in-depth look at the upgraded Hope CRM 2.0, which aims to streamline partner sales processes. A dynamic Q&A session between partners and ZWSOFT leaders addressed topics ranging from future technologies to sales strategies. The afternoon was reserved for one-on-one meetings, offering valuable face time between partners and ZWSOFT’s leadership team.
Next day, partners were treated to a scenic and cultural tour of Kandy, Sri Lanka. Highlights included a visit to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, the sacred Temple of the Tooth Relic (Sri Dalada Maligawa), a Gem Museum, and a vibrant Kandyan cultural dance performance. The tour was a relaxing and enriching experience, showcasing the natural beauty and heritage of Sri Lanka.
ZCON India 2025 was a resounding success. It brought together innovation, knowledge sharing, and relationship building in an inspiring setting. With clear strategies, strong support systems, and a passionate partner network, ZWSOFT and Hope Technologies are well-positioned to lead the Indian CAD market in 2025 and beyond. DailyCADCAM is proud to have been a part of this incredible journey and looks forward to the continued success of ZWCAD and its partners in India.
A big thank you to Kashif Ikbal, Marketing Manager, and the entire HOPE Technologies team for the outstanding event arrangements in Colombo. Everything was perfectly organized and made the experience truly memorable!
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