Point taken Mel, but as I mentioned in my original post, I already
understand the benefits of buying into the subscription program. I just
wanted to know why it is a 'required' purchase!
BTW... I had already read your post prior to posting my question.
Rob
wrote in message news:5797829@discussion.autodesk.com...
In an earlier post I stated my reasons for having Revit on subscription.
Always do a search on discusssion groups to see if the topic has been
discussed, otherwise you are wasting your time and ours as well.
Here is my recent post answer.
As to the value of subscription I would offer you three reasons to purchase
them.
1. Revit is not backward compatible with its prior releases or interim
numbered releases (i.e. 9.0 and 9.1). Even though the product release cycle
has leveled off into annual releases in March or April of every year, there
could still be an interim release during a annual product to support
development cycles with Revit Structure and MEP software solutions. So the
only way to stay current and competitive with the market place and
consultant firms who maybe on subscription and upgrading their Revit
installations annually is to be on subscription or upgrade your products
annually. The cost of upgrading is the same or higher depending on your
resellers subscription discounts. So you will have to pay as much or more
than the subscription to be current in your release anyways.
2. Revit releases enhance existing functionality and tools along with
offering new functionality and tools with each release. Also as thrid-party
developers supply needed programming for analysis and simulation of the
parametric building model, they will be using and supporting the latest
functionality of new releases, so it is possible that many third party
vendors software will not work with prior releases.
3. Having your product on subscription eliminates having to submit a budget
request each year and constantly having to rationalize the upgrade to
management, and compete with other line item costs or cudget constraints. As
a long time CAD manager I remember the struggle and effort I had to spend
each budgeting period to get my software upgraded, along with the associated
training and support budgeting. Having the hardcost for upgrading/updating
in the budget already as an annual function, I was able to define training
and support costs associated with the annual upgrades and get management to
realize the benefits of productivity and investment in staff. Remember,
after all the tools and technology are removed from the equation the only
real resource is the people and their skills, knowledge and experience that
brings the design process to fruition and reality for our clients. Investing
in staff to insure and improve the delivery of quality projects and
deliverables in a timely fashion is the key to success. The investment in
the best software, the best training and support is small compared to the
overhead of staff.
If you look at the machine design and mechanical industries, they are
constantly investing in technology and improving the skills of their staff
to insure competitive success in a market-place cthat has changed to a
global market-place. The building design is in the process of completing the
same change to become a global market-place and today many projects are
comprised of designed located in offices all over the planet. So to remain
competitive each firm needs to insure its technology and infrastruture is
current and that staff is provided with the best tools and knowledge to
compete in a global economy.
Last, no company can develop and improve its products without support from
the end user and subscription provides cash-flow and commitment by the
products users insuring the continued developemt and support of products.
Over my twenty five years of working in the CAD market place and
specifically with Autodesk products as both an architect and consultant I
have seen many software developers come an go. Imagine if you can investing
in twenty seats of a now defunct software and having to go out and reinvest
in new software, retrain your staff, setup new standards and libraries,
change your support infrastructure and server installs. Maybe even pay more
for less. I have used many products over the past twenty five years that
lasted in the market-place for only a few years or more, and I do not relish
the idea of having to reinvest or change software in a couple of years or
ever again. So I support the software I need and use with subscription and
upgrading to insure their success and continued development and my assurance
that tomorrow they will still be there delivering new features and
functionality for me to use.
Mel Persin, AIA
AEC Technology Consultant
Technology To Visualize and Realize Solutions
