Software developer Autodesk has issued a second response to a previously published open letter from leading architectural practices speaking out about design, development, and cost issues associated with Revit software.
Addressing the lack of product development for the Revit software suite decried by an open letter signed by Zaha Hadid Architects, Grimshaw, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners, and others, Amy Bunszel, senior vice president of Design and Creation Products at Autodesk, explains in a blog post that the company commands "finite resources" while also making "investment decisions and trade-offs based on our understanding of customer and industry needs."
Taking responsibility for some the issues raised in the initial open letter, Bunzel adds that "We have underinvested in architectural modeling functionality in recent years and are working to make that right."
Bunszel continues by explaining that the company has been focused on investing in developing Revit software to be more useful to engineering and construction firms in recent years as part of an effort to "enable all major stakeholders to participate in the BIM process" more effectively. This prioritization has come at the expense of design and architecture-related improvements to Revit.
"We recognize the impact this has had on our architectural design customers," Bunszel writes, "and at the end of last year we increased our investment and resources for architectural capabilities in Revit. It will take some time for this impact to be fully realized and you can follow our progress at the Revit Public Roadmap."
Bunszel explains further that additional focuses in recent years have included building out the company's cloud computing powers, strengthening data protection infrastructure for those cloud services, and offering more complete performance and use metrics for existing customers.
Moving forward, Autodesk aims to make additional improvements to Revit's generative design capabilities, the interfaces between design and manufacturing that Revit facilitates, and other aspects of the design software. The company has also reopened its annual Global Satisfaction Survey for additional input.
23 Comments
"Babe, I know I haven't been spending that much time with you lately, but I'm trying to change, I swear. Things have just been crazy at work lately and there are finite hours in the day. You mean everything to me. Please take me back. I'm a better software company now. What? That thing with the engineers and contractors? Nothing happened. Even if it did, they mean nothing to me. You'll always be the one for me. I love you babe."
"...and all subscription prices will be increased as part of our effort to better serve you." - Autodesk.
"Bunszel explains further that additional focuses in recent years have
included building out the company's cloud computing powers,
strengthening data protection infrastructure for those cloud services,
and offering more complete performance and use metrics for existing customers."
Exactly why is "more complete performance and use metrics for existing customers" a priority over architectural modeling functionality, and why they've spent years focusing on it?
Oh, because "prioritization has come at the expense of design and architecture-related improvements to Revit." Isn't design and architecture supposed to be the core element here?
Maybe he's talking about their cloud rendering scheme where you had to buy prepaid credits. Too bad GPU based rendering makes their greedy scheme obsolete. It's sadly typical that Autodesk wastes tons of money cooking up tangential products that are just new ways to extract cash from users. They would be better off improving the core products.
I'm intrigued by the phrase "more complete performance and use metrics for existing customers."
Is this just a fancy way of saying your bosses can get a spreadsheet showing how much time you're wasting spinning the model around, or waiting for the model to save? Or is it less nefarious and is simply indicating that they're trying to figure out some of the performance issues ... like now we can see why you all complain about it taking so long for the model to load.
I figured it was more sophisticated license tracking. I'm sure someone at Autodesk is studying if charging users by the minute would bring in more cash than monthly or yearly subscriptions.
it is charged this way in some very large firms in fact... at least it was 3 years ago when we last renegotiated software licensing. there was a very elaborate table of credits which accrued by time per license (in hourly increments i think) depending on the particular product and office location. we were informed of this in the context of an email reminding everyone to shut down computers after hours and close software sitting idly in the background.
personally i felt if this is the model we should be able to deduct the costs of developing scripts and workflow standards from the licensing fees... as well as time spent reprinting error-garbled pdfs!
midlander, I recalled similar emails at a large firm I was working at about that time frame as well. I wasn't using Revit so glossed over the details, but the phrasing prompted my recollection.
The ability to produce world class documents has not changed since AutoCAD R14; however, introducing advanced linework tools and controls will benefit the streamlined system. I appreciate solid modeling interface development, especially Rhino3d and Bentley systems integration. On a baseline requirement, most Architects still don't have the right to publish because of fonts; no wonder Architects don't make money.
i dont think any "customer" espec. small and medium sized firms have been better served by a subscription based software model... subscription based models only benefit the software developer and the shareholders - full stop
Damn right
The subscription is helpful in concept because it is is less of a big payment when we bring on additional employees. I think the subscription is over priced and the lack of meaningful improvements is disappointing.
The illusion is near perfect but once I put on my specs I can see right through it.
i love how much autodesk's response to this has back-fired, and only solidified everyone's hatred for them. they've gone full amazon
Sad state of innovation in the AEC industry.
You say
The price of my software's not a price that you're willing to pay
You cry
In your tea which you hurl in the sea when you see me go by
Why so sad?
Remember we made an arrangement when you went away
Now you're making me mad
Remember, despite our estrangement, I'm your man
You'll be back, soon you'll see
You'll remember you belong to me
You'll be back, time will tell
You'll remember that I served you well
Oceans rise, empires fall
We have seen each other through it all
And when push comes to shove
I will send a fully armed battalion to remind you of my software!
Da da da dat da dat da da da da ya da
Da da dat dat da ya da!
Da da da dat da dat da da da da ya da
Da da dat dat da…
You say our love is draining and you can't go on
You'll be the one complaining when I am gone...
And no, don't change the subject
'Cause you're my favorite subject
My sweet, submissive subject
My loyal, royal subject
Forever and ever and ever and ever and ever…
You'll be back like before
I will fight the fight and win the war
For your love, for your praise
And I'll love you till my dying days
When you're gone, I'll go mad
So don't throw away this thing we had
'Cause when push comes to shove
I will kill your friends and family to remind you of my software
Da da da dat da dat da da da da ya da
Da da dat dat da ya da!
Da da da dat da dat da da da da ya da
Da da dat—
Everybody!
[Full Ensemble:]
Da da da dat da dat da da da da ya da
Da da dat dat da ya da!
Da da da dat da dat da da da da ya da da da da
Dat dat da ya da!
Really don't know why everyone is staying in this abusive relationship with Autodesk, free yourselves!
sure, let me just go, single-handily, convince my principal and the entire office to switch our main method of production, the one that our consultants also use
ifc is the place to be!
Totally agree! IFC is the fix for this situation.
Exactly. There are other solutions which will eventually gain market share. And I would say much better. Example BRICSCAD and ARCHICAD. Specially bricscad I see more potential due to its open CAD BIM .dwg format which complements the IFC very well.
I agree with Neily12...there is strong competition brewing, and Bricscad will come out swinging, especially with the fact that their BricsCAD BIM platform charges $1,360/yr...it's almost a third of Autodesk's subscription price...and yes, Autodesk will tell you that they're giving you a bundle of software for their price, but you're basically using just two...CAD and Revit...
I think we do need other healthy competition...it's the only way to keep pricing in check...otherwise we'll be paying out our already diluted arch fees just to use the software...
Block this user
Are you sure you want to block this user and hide all related comments throughout the site?
Archinect
This is your first comment on Archinect. Your comment will be visible once approved.