Are you getting the most out of your CAD software?

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Changing business conditions make financial reviews, budgeting, and resource planning all the more critical. It’s important to make sure your spending, tools, and solutions are aligned with business objectives.

Even with the increasing prevalence of 3D design applications, 2D CAD remains critically important. We rely on 2D CAD for essential workflows including modifying legacy drawings, detailing, construction docs and managing and marking up drawings. As DraftSight customer J. Tyler Thompson, (Young Industries), shared, “There are times you need a hammer and times you need a screwdriver.”

But why are some 2D CAD packages so expensive? Do they need to be?

When evaluating technology budgets, you want to make sure your software has a strong cost/benefit ratio, providing you with the capabilities you need at the best value for your business. It’s smart to do a little homework and compare software products and licensing options to make sure you are maximizing the investment you make in your CAD software.

The first thing you’ll want to do is create a list of capabilities that are important for your workflows and business.

Start with:

  • Is your CAD software easy to learn and use?
  • If you are evaluating switching from another software, will the transition be easy? (familiar user interface, common commands, ability to just start drawing)
  • Do you work with a lot of legacy data and older files (DWG, DXF, DWT, DGN and DWS)? Do you need to create, edit, view, and markup drawings?
  • Do you need to be able to insert and utilize dynamic blocks?
  • Do you need advanced productivity tools, including customizing and automating with APIs, running your existing AutoLISP routines (or creating your own), or time-savers like Power Trim (trim with a click-and-drag) and batch printing?
  • Do you need 3D design capabilities and/or 2D parametric constraints?
  • Do you have an organization with multiple users or sites that would benefit from network licensing?
  • Do you need support and deployment assistance?
  • Would you benefit from cloud-based data management and project management?
  • Does your CAD software cost the same or less than other CAD software that offers similar capabilities?

Use this matrix to create a list of CAD capabilities that your organization really needs and wants, and then compare your current solution:

AutoCAD-alternative-2D-CAD-DraftSight

How well does your current solution measure up? Does another software meet your requirements more affordably? You’ll want to improve your cost/benefit ratio. This frees up budget to invest in other tools or revenue-generating activities. Or you may decide that the minimal cost of increasing your capabilities with the next product tier creates value for your business.

Calculating the return on investment (ROI) of your CAD Software

You want to determine how much efficiency you will gain with your CAD investment. What would your business look like if you couldn’t support your 2D (and potentially 3D) workflows? What revenue-generating activities does your CAD software support? You can calculate a rough ROI with this formula:

For example, if you expect a $10,000 boost to your revenue because of your CAD software, and you have five seats of DraftSight Professional ($199 x 5), you are looking at a 905% ROI.

Making a Smart Investment in your Business

Improving your CAD cost/benefit ratio and maximizing ROI not only saves your organization money but also frees up the budget to support other revenue-generating activities and investments in emerging productivity-enhancing technologies – such as simulation and visualization.

Maximize Return on Your CAD Investment

DraftSight provides comparable if not greater capabilities than alternative CAD products at a fraction of the price. Millions of users worldwide rely on DraftSight to create, edit, view, and markup DWG drawings. Having a range of products to choose from helps you find the best CAD solution for your needs, at the best value:

  • DraftSight PROFESSIONAL – Advanced productivity features and tools, automations, and API access to get your jobs done fast. You can even run your existing AutoLISP routines (or creating your own). $199/annual subscription. Buy now.
  • DraftSight PREMIUM – The Robust 2D drafting features of DraftSight Professional, with full 3D design capabilities and 2D parametric constraints to help meet your drafting, modeling, prototyping, manufacturing, laser cutting, and 3D printing needs. $499/annual subscription. Buy now.
  • DraftSight ENTERPRISE/Enterprise Plus – For organizations who need the power of DraftSight Professional – 2D CAD (Enterprise) or Premium 2D/3D CAD (Enterprise Plus) as well as network licensing and deployment for multiple users or sites. Annual subscriptions start at $399. Get a quote.

DraftSight is a proven CAD solution with the productivity tools, functionality, and compatibility you need with choices in product and license flexibility at the best value. With DraftSight, the choice is yours.

Learn more about how DraftSight can deliver the maximum cost/benefit ratio to you or your organization and start your 30-day free trial.

DraftSight

DraftSight

Proven DWG-file-based CAD at the best value on the market. DraftSight, brought to you by Dassault Systèmes, the 3DEXPERIENCE company, has been trusted by millions of users worldwide. DraftSight provides a familiar, intuitive 2D drafting experience with options for advanced productivity tools, 3D design capabilities, parametric constraints, and flexible licensing options including perpetual licenses and network licenses for organizations with multiple users or sites. DraftSight’s command and file compatibility and support for legacy drawings and data like Dynamic Blocks facilitate a quick transition from AutoCAD with a minimal learning curve. Visit DraftSight.com to learn more.
DraftSight

@DraftSight

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