Technology in Architectural Practice

I am curious about how many firms maintain an ongoing full and complete subscription status with all of their Autodesk (both Revit and Autocad) software?  We don't see the need or benefit to upgrading as soon as the next iteration of the software comes along.  There is the cost and there is also the learning curve with little tangible benefit most of the time.  It seems that most of the push to upgrade is artificially manufactured by Autodesk to sell software and is not because there is great value received for their "improvements" created.

They "put a gun to your head" by threatening to charge you all of the money that they think they should have gotten when you didn't get your upgrade by paying their annual subscription charge AND a late charge to "teach you not to screw with Autodesk!"  We got mad, did not renew, and, one year later, have not noticed ANY problems. So if no apparent value has been lost, where is the benefit of the Subscription other than avoiding the "gun to the head?"

My assumption is that in a few years, we may need to upgrade because of compatibility problems with our software being out of date or something.  At that point, I am betting we will get one or more of the software resellers to back off on the "late charge" and, at worst, we will THEN pay the cost that we have avoided paying until that point.  We have benefited from holding onto that money for more worthy needs and, if the price is high enough, we may switch to Autodesk's competition.

So, if we are crazy, please ".....'splain it to me Lucy, as Desi would say."

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Darrel Odom AIA, LEED AP
President
Odom Peckham Architecture, Inc.
Little Rock AR
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If you are doing any work with outside consultants or firms, many are on subscription because it is cheaper and easier to budget for upgrades even if you don't upgrade internally on every project.  This will cause you a problem as Revit can not save down like AutoCAD could.  Also there really isn't a learning curve year to year since the change to the ribbon, except for new features which you aren't getting now.  These new features tend to be things that could be helpful in your workflows (although those who have followed Revit for a long time are frustrated with the lack of some features that have made the wish list year after year).  As for the costs, I'm not 100% sure since I've been out of the reseller channel for a handful of years now, but being on the other side, subscription primarily goes through Autodesk and your reseller can't cut just waive the fee for you.  They will charge you for back subscription and the fee as you have eluded to in your post.  Maybe at some point the legacy upgrade rolls around and they give you a deal that might make it work out cheaper, but by that point you'll be so far behind on versions anyway.

This appears to be the way that software is going (see the new version of Microsoft office being sold as a subscription).  As a budget item, it seems as that the yearly cost would be much easier to budget for than the 1 time large cost every few years, and the last time I did the math it actually works out cheaper unless you skip 3+ versions (maybe someone who has seen recent new seat licensing could confirm).

Hopefully this helps?

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Jeremy Stroebel Assoc. AIA
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-05-2013 15:17
From: Darrel Odom
Subject: Maintaining Autodesk Subscriptions?

I am curious about how many firms maintain an ongoing full and complete subscription status with all of their Autodesk (both Revit and Autocad) software?  We don't see the need or benefit to upgrading as soon as the next iteration of the software comes along.  There is the cost and there is also the learning curve with little tangible benefit most of the time.  It seems that most of the push to upgrade is artificially manufactured by Autodesk to sell software and is not because there is great value received for their "improvements" created.

They "put a gun to your head" by threatening to charge you all of the money that they think they should have gotten when you didn't get your upgrade by paying their annual subscription charge AND a late charge to "teach you not to screw with Autodesk!"  We got mad, did not renew, and, one year later, have not noticed ANY problems. So if no apparent value has been lost, where is the benefit of the Subscription other than avoiding the "gun to the head?"

My assumption is that in a few years, we may need to upgrade because of compatibility problems with our software being out of date or something.  At that point, I am betting we will get one or more of the software resellers to back off on the "late charge" and, at worst, we will THEN pay the cost that we have avoided paying until that point.  We have benefited from holding onto that money for more worthy needs and, if the price is high enough, we may switch to Autodesk's competition.

So, if we are crazy, please ".....'splain it to me Lucy, as Desi would say."

-------------------------------------------
Darrel Odom AIA, LEED AP
President
Odom Peckham Architecture, Inc.
Little Rock AR
-------------------------------------------

First of all, Revit cannot be merely upgraded past a lapse of one or two upgrades. You will need to then pay for a new version instead of an upgrade. So, you are right, the reseller will back off the "make-up" charges and just charge you the full price. AutoCAD is similar, except the term is three years. Also, support for the software packages ends after a period of time.

The only time any of my firms have benefited from NOT upgrading was with AutoCAD R13.

If you collaborate with other firms, all your Autodesk software must be of the same version.

I see no benefit from stopping a subscription, unless you are ending your practice or you will never collaborate with other firms or your clients never request a copy of your files.

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Charles Graham AIA
Architect
O'Neal, Inc.
Greenville SC
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Original Message:
Sent: 03-05-2013 15:17
From: Darrel Odom
Subject: Maintaining Autodesk Subscriptions?

I am curious about how many firms maintain an ongoing full and complete subscription status with all of their Autodesk (both Revit and Autocad) software?  We don't see the need or benefit to upgrading as soon as the next iteration of the software comes along.  There is the cost and there is also the learning curve with little tangible benefit most of the time.  It seems that most of the push to upgrade is artificially manufactured by Autodesk to sell software and is not because there is great value received for their "improvements" created.

They "put a gun to your head" by threatening to charge you all of the money that they think they should have gotten when you didn't get your upgrade by paying their annual subscription charge AND a late charge to "teach you not to screw with Autodesk!"  We got mad, did not renew, and, one year later, have not noticed ANY problems. So if no apparent value has been lost, where is the benefit of the Subscription other than avoiding the "gun to the head?"

My assumption is that in a few years, we may need to upgrade because of compatibility problems with our software being out of date or something.  At that point, I am betting we will get one or more of the software resellers to back off on the "late charge" and, at worst, we will THEN pay the cost that we have avoided paying until that point.  We have benefited from holding onto that money for more worthy needs and, if the price is high enough, we may switch to Autodesk's competition.

So, if we are crazy, please ".....'splain it to me Lucy, as Desi would say."

-------------------------------------------
Darrel Odom AIA, LEED AP
President
Odom Peckham Architecture, Inc.
Little Rock AR
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