Application Architecture
PTC Orbit runs on a cloud-based architecture that combines Salesforce authentication, Snowflake analytics storage, PostgreSQL transactional data, and Matillion ELT pipelines.
Platform Layers
PTC Orbit organizes its infrastructure into four layers. Each layer handles a distinct responsibility in the data lifecycle.
• Source systems: External applications that generate asset, product, parts, and maintenance data. ServiceMax Core and Windchill are the primary source systems. Salesforce provides organizational and authentication data. AWS S3 supports bulk CSV and JSON file imports.
• Integration layer: Matillion ELT pipelines extract data from source systems, transform it to the PTC Orbit Canonical Data Model format, and load it into Snowflake. Pipelines run in full sync, incremental sync, or delta modes depending on the data volume and freshness requirements.
• Data layer: Snowflake stores analytical and staging data, including CDM objects for preventive maintenance, asset scores, and demand forecast results. PostgreSQL stores transactional records for the Max platform application layer.
• Application layer: The Max platform hosts the PTC Orbit user interface, business logic, AI Hub analytics engine, and the Maintenance Forecasting Engine. Users interact with dashboards, list views, forms, campaigns, and AI-driven tools through a web browser.
Data Flow
Data moves through PTC Orbit in a unidirectional flow from source systems to the application layer. Matillion pipelines extract records on a configured schedule, apply field mappings and transformations, and write the results to Snowflake staging tables. System jobs then synchronize staged records from Snowflake to the Relational Database, where the application layer reads and displays them.
For assets covered under preventive maintenance plans, the maintenance data pipeline follows a four-stage ELT pattern: extract PM objects from Salesforce, transform them to CDM format, load them into Snowflake, and calculate downstream metrics such as maintenance effectiveness scores and demand forecast inputs.
Authentication
PTC Orbit authenticates with Salesforce through the OAuth Client Credentials Flow. An External Client App configured in Salesforce issues access tokens that the Matillion pipelines and the application layer use for API calls. For setup details, see Configuring Salesforce Authentication.