SaaS model in CAD

[Hardi Meybaum]

There have been big buzz word SaaS (software as a service) in software
business. One of the leading SaaS provider is SalesForce – CRM system.
Despite the big buzz, there have not been many mentions according to
CAD and SaaS. One big factor is that one of the SaaS criteria is that
software needs to be online but there arent many CAD software who can
do it.

So I decided to check the subject and gathered together some links
about the Cad and SaaS topic.
* Novedge Blog interview with Evan Yares –
I think what is more interesting than software subscription is
software as a service (SaaS). Done right, it can have real benefits
for users, particularly in shifting maintenance and procurement costs
to vendors, and in converting front-ended loaded overhead costs into
scalable variable costs. Yet, I don’t know that any of today’s major
CAD vendors are anywhere near the point of being able to deliver
serious SaaS solutions. And I don’t know that the current SaaS
platform vendors are anywhere near providing the kind of capabilities
demanded by such solutions.
* ShareCAD Offers CAD file management through SaaS model
* SaaS the Killer App for the CAD Industry?
With these two major issues addressed, the SaaS model for vendors to
host CAD services could provide a great opportunity to grow their
business and reduce maintenance and support costs. Vendors could gain
a more intimate understanding of their customer’s utilization, needs,
and priorities on a daily rather than monthly or quarterly basis, thus
cementing a relationship between user and vendor, making it much
harder for competitors to unseat the current vendor than what
proprietary standards provide
* AfterCAD Joins the SaaS Movement
reviously, AfterCAD InSite was licensed for roughly $1,995. Under the
new plan, subscribers can access the software from a standard browser
and use its viewing, markup, and collaboration features for as little
as $39.95 a month.
So to sum up I can see definitely movement around the term SaaS in CAD
world. There are first early birds and I believe that gigants like
PTC, Dessault will also make some steps very soon. And aslo I pumped
to many phorums where entrepreneurs were looking VC money to develope
CAD software with SaaS model, so hopefully we will see some new
innovative solutions soon.

more information - www.grabcad.com

 

[Rui Maciel]

Hardi Meybaum wrote:

I think what is more interesting than software subscription is
software as a service (SaaS). Done right, it can have real benefits
for users, particularly in shifting maintenance and procurement costs
to vendors, and in converting front-ended loaded overhead costs into
scalable variable costs

I don't believe that anyone in their right mind thinks that this "software renting" model has
any positive aspect. If it's a small and even medium business then the user himself is more
than able to manage the system. If the business is big enough than the company will obviously
need to hire IT guys to manage it's IT infrastructure, which can easily cover the issue of
managing CAD installations.

No one, besides the software "landlords", have anything to gain with this "sofware renting"
model. In the end it amounts to nothing more than forcing a continuous dependency on a
software vendor, adding unjustifiable points of failure to your IT infrastructure (I mean,
relying on a network connection to run CAD software?), losing control of your business data
and put yourself in a submissive position to the software company. All that without a single
bit of added value thrown at it.

So, why bother?

And by the way, autocad already supports LAN installs.


Rui Maciel