New licencing structure

[robmatthews]

So.... What are everyone's thoughts about the new licencing structures?

[leowarren34]

Whilst I could laugh from the high ground of my unaffected education licenses, I won't because I know that will bite me later...

Honestly I think it was going to happen some time so why not now, Autodesk is kinda of behind when you look at Adobe etc. I also think this won't impact too many places as 2 seats per MLN seat is not too bad and will only impact businesses which have 1 seat to 5 users as the use is part time or infrequent but most products are generally use regularly especially like Inventor where infrequent use would add up in terms of cost. I also think the other benefits will be easy home use and well as better license analytics with a more upto date interface for SysAds which means businesses can scale up and down as needed.

However I feel a little worried for the SysAds who may end up with more burden then usual especially if they have to frequenty move or assign licenses which could soon add up in terms of time.

I think Neil's Video does a really good at this as well as give his two cents: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfAkIFNihSQ

[DarrenP]

read through this forum: https://forums.autodesk.com/t5/subscription-changes/bd-p/6073

& you will find out

[AllenJessup]

If you watch the video that @leowarren34 linked. You'll get the feel of it. Those of us who have small shops to manage are going to be in a little bit of shock. But this is what the Mega-customers actually want. Those are the customers Autodesk if forming the new structure around.

The rest of us will just tread water until we learn to swim in the new pool. As always.

[bridgettrene]

At first it seemed like a money grab move on their part. Once I crunch the numbers (including the 2 for 1 trade in deal) we will be paying less as long as the Standard license works for us. The thing we will be missing is access to AutoCAD for all. We primarily use Revit on our projects, but often receive AutoCAD drawings from consultants or from building owners to incorporate. The network license for AutoCAD was a convenient way for everyone in our firm to access those files for clean up before importing them. 

I think that AutoDesk thought that they would sell more seats of AutoCAD to us so everyone could maintain their access to the program. It is much more likely that we will drop down to only one AEC collection license and just force that person to be the "file cleaner" for stuff coming into the office. AutoDesk loses out on subscription fees and we lose out on some convenience. 

[AllenJessup]

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@bridgettrene wrote:

The thing we will be missing is access to AutoCAD for all.

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It isn't an issue of losing access to AutoCAD for all. It will be an issue of license management. Assign the seat to Jack on Monday, Jill on Wednesday and Ray the following Tuesday. Instead of pulling a license from the server. You have to manually juggle them.

If you trade in during the 2 for 1. That will make it easier.

[bridgettrene]

Understood, but that assumes that the license user manager is always in the office to switch this around. How many architect's are in their office 100% of the time?

[leowarren34]

@bridgettrene I feel this will be the caveat until everyone gets to grips, some companies will just need to rethink how they use licenses as ultimately the SysAdmin has got to sleep and do non SysAdmin things... 😁

[Anonymous]

Or they hire a license assignment person full time...

[Anonymous]

Thanks Autodesk to help solve the unemployment issues 😄

[chriswade]

I hope Autodesk understands that this will require at least one new person at most firms that does nothing but manage licensees and at firms like ours that has people working 24/7 across multiple offices in multiple locations, we are looking at three additional people.

Each person will run around $65,000 in Salary + Benefits and other overhead, means closer to $80,000 * 3 = $240,000 per year that we will no longer be spending on Autodesk products.

Suddenly BricsCAD looks A LOT more appealing than it has before.