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Flexible Delivery Model Makes AutoCAD Updates More Accessible
Subscription users can pick and choose specific feature sets while accessing updates without the pain of a major software upgrade
Beth Stackpole, Contributing Editor -- Design News, August 22, 2008
Following the path blazed by mainstream software stalwarts, Autodesk Inc. has introduced a new Flexible Software Delivery model for AutoCAD in an effort to make timely product updates and bug fixes more readily available to users.
AutoCAD subscription customers are now eligible to receive earlier access to new features, fixes and updates automatically via the online Autodesk Subscription Center portal. The delivery approach, which mimics that of software leaders like Microsoft Corp. and Symantec Corp., for the first time lets AutoCAD users easily select specific new feature sets or standard updates without the pain and complexity of orchestrating a major product upgrade. Given that 75 percent of the AutoCAD user base comprises subscription customers, it makes sense to offer such a service given that most have had to wait an average of six months to get access to a major upgrade, according to Eric Stover, product line manager for the Autodesk Platform group.
"The idea is to provide more frequent upgrades, not wait until the next release," Stover says. "When work is done, we can provide access to it right away."
As part of the Subscription Bonus Pack piece of the new service, AutoCAD customers will be able to pick and choose which bonus packs of features to install, providing them with greater flexibility in how they deploy software. The flexible method of software delivery allows Autodesk to break up new functionality into components based on niche requirements and tasks, so customers can opt for specific bonus packs that best meet their needs. "There's a lot of overhead associated with the deployment of a large release of AutoCAD," Stover says. "With this way, customers can choose the bonus pack that fits the task and deploy and train on individual features ... instead of having to go through a whole upgrade."
The second piece of the new delivery method involves getting automatic and regular updates, including patches and bug fixes. "Now customers don't have to wait for a large release in order to get performance tuning," he adds. "By virtue of engaging in a subscription, they'll have access to [updates] sooner than the rest of the world."
While many mainstream software providers have adopted this method, most CAD vendors have not. The first AutoCAD Subscription Bonus Pack was released in July, and Autodesk has plans to release a regular stream going forward. Officials would not comment, however, on whether this same software delivery model would be adopted for Autodesk Inventor or other Autodesk products.
For CAD users, the biggest benefit of the Flexible Delivery approach is the ability to obtain bug fixes quickly. "This is critical for all CAD managers to help keep their workflow on track," says Ken Versprille, Ph.D., partner and PLM research director at Collaborative Product Development Associates, a PLM consulting company. "Without [bug fixes], they often have to do complicated workarounds that take extra time and effort."
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If you are interested in participating in our global beta program, please sign up here: myfeedback.autodesk.com'>Autodesk has an extensive beta testing program which not only covers our flagship products, but every add-on, bonus pack, and product update. We have customers from the largest engineering organizations to the mom & pop design shops who test these updates in their custom environment.
You're correct in that it does get more complicated as the test matrix goes, but by having each exercised in real world environments prior to launch, really helps weed out the major issues in a very complicated end-user environment.
If you are interested in participating in our global beta program, please sign up here: myfeedback.autodesk.com
Eric Stover - 2008-2-9 06:27:23 EDT -
This sounds like a great idea that could end up being a support trainwreck. The more variations of features - even bug fixes - a population of users generates, the more likely unpredictable breakages will result. Even when compared to the Office suite users, the vast majority of AutoCAD users rely on custom vba, lisp, templates, etc. for daily operation. Again; a great idea, but good luck - to all of us.
ksu92me - 2008-22-8 06:06:35 EDT
