CAD Users across Europe Embracing the Cloud, According to New Autodesk Survey

Phil Black - PII Editor 19/12/2011

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Digital Prototyping Forum Events Reveal Strong User Support for Technologies Enabling the Future of Manufacturing Design

A new survey polling the opinions of CAD users attending Autodesk’s recent series of Digital Prototyping Forums across Europe reveals that many manufacturers are already using the cloud for design and reaping the rewards as a result.

The research, carried out in November 2011, surveyed more than 1,300 CAD managers and users in total across five European countries: the UK, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands. 44% of the survey sample agreed “our company uses the cloud today because it facilitates data exchange and collaboration internally and with partners, and because it offers virtually unlimited computer power when we need it,” with just 9% completely disagreeing.

Respondents also predicted a bright outlook for the technology with 72% confident that the cloud would, ‘gain importance in the future because of an increasing need for collaboration and flexible, affordable computing power.’

“Considering the cloud is still in its infancy especially in the design arena, these results indicate that we are seeing a revolution not just in attitudes but also in the way manufacturers use technology,” said Richard Tinsdeall, sales director, Northern Europe, manufacturing, Autodesk. “CAD users and managers are not only looking forward to a future in the cloud, many are using it already.”

Using the cloud can also help design teams to enhance sustainability by using cloud-based design tools to inform the building planning process and quickly gain insight into the energy consumption of early design concepts.

Underlining this, the survey revealed that the argument in favour of more sustainability in design has been won. 90% agreed ‘sustainability, energy saving and recyclability will become ever more important in the future’, with just 2% disagreeing.

The survey also predicted a positive future for two more established manufacturing design technologies: simulation and visualisation, which help address challenges and drive efficiencies across the design cycle.

78% of respondents agree that ‘in the future, simulation tools will become more important for our company and will also be more widely used,’

“These survey results reflect the fact that simulation is rapidly becoming a core part of the manufacturing design process,” added Tinsdeall. “Simulation-driven design enables designers and engineers to perform simulations, investigate product behaviour, test innovative concepts and optimise designs early in the design process. Today, we are seeing a growing understanding across the sector of the benefits that this can bring.”

In addition, 82% of respondents believed that ‘visualisation will play an increasing role in our company by helping us better communicate with customers, win new business and make better decisions during the design and development phase. In line with these positive findings, 80% of survey respondents felt that digital prototyping, which these two technologies help deliver, ‘will play a growing role in their company’s future.”