Assessing

Eliminating the obstacles

We understand that the principal concern when switching to new software is the amount of investment that needs to be made and the potential loss of the current investment. Before you jump in feet first, you need to know what the business benefit of the new tool is, the true cost of buying the new software, what sort of training will be required, what productivity can be gained. You may even ask: Is the switch worth the trouble at all?

We respect this investment you have made, and therefore we will make the migration to ArchiCAD commercially viable. Contact one of our local representatives, who can talk you through our global Return-on-Investment survey which reflects the commercial concerns faced, and overcome, by other users in convincing style. Our team can tailor the offer to your situation.

Assessment

The first step is often the hardest, and should not be taken lightly. During the assessment period, we suggest that you establish a review committee – be it yourself or a team comprising a cross-section of roles in your firm – who will analyze your current software's limitations and develop requirements for the new product.

Peers can be a great source of information. Talk with other firms about their current CAD system. Find out what they like and don't like, and if possible, review their output. Take a test drive with a demo version of the product – preferably with a software specialist, who can adapt the software demonstration to address your firm's needs.

Training

A strong factor inhibiting the switch to new software is the anticipated expense of re-training. Learning a traditional CAD product can take months, and the lost time and the money spent on training is a major concern.

Archicad is designed for architects and requires considerably less training to get started than traditional CAD software. Our experience is that users are productive after just three days of training. We are familiar with the typical issues that arise when migrating to a new system from the many clients who have already switched to ArchiCAD. ArchiCAD resellers are practiced and equipped to assist you in evaluating the issues and devising business solutions that address your particular requirements. If you are concerned about the training time, see for yourself how easy it is by attending an open training session at your local Archicad reseller**, or request a copy of the Step-by-Step Tutorial, the startup training guide for Archicad.

I am ready to make the switch. How do I begin?

*Source: Graphisoft
**May not be available from all local resellers.