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Electrical engineers are known for their demanding workloads, having to juggle multiple projects and strict deadlines while ensuring the quality and accuracy of their work. This is where a cutting-edged cloud-native CAD software can make a difference.
How Do Cloud Capabilities Benefit Engineers?
Cloud-native electrical CAD software offers many benefits over traditional desktop-based software. One major advantage is easy accessibility. Engineers can access their drawings from anywhere, which is especially useful for engineers who are working remotely or on the go. Without requiring software download or installation, all they need to do is a secure sign-in via browser on any device at any time and get to work instantly. It is no longer necessary to worry about compatibility issues during installation with other software and hardware.
The other great advantage of cloud-native software is its support for real-time, seamless collaboration between engineers, contractors and clients without the need to send large files back and forth manually. Engineers can work collaboratively with anyone on the same drawing concurrently. All modifications made to the drawings can be automatically saved and synchronized. What’s more, version control on cloud-based software eliminates the multiple files that pile up each time a new version of a drawing is saved. Instead, engineers can focus on just one drawing and roll back to the previous with just a few clicks. This reduces the likelihood of losing files and data while also saving time for all parties involved.
Another benefit is scalability. A fully cloud-native CAD software can handle large and complex projects with ease and can easily scale to meet the needs of growing businesses. For instance, a team-based dashboard like the one integrated with Siemens’ Capital Electra X allows engineers or project managers to manage multiple teams and run various projects, large or small, simultaneously, while centralizing all resources and communication in a single location.
Any asset created in the software, such as circuits, symbols or stencils, can be shared automatically among teams. This enables the entire organization to easily access and reuse these assets without the need to create them repeatedly—saving a substantial amount of time, improving productivity and reducing the overall cost of ownership without requiring configuration or the purchase of servers. All those benefits can add up to significant improvements in a company's bottom line.
Engineers can also customize the permission control of each drawing to decide if it’s open to editing, viewing or solely for commenting purposes. Any direct communication can take place within the cloud application to improve project communication and speed up project completion.
Cloud-based CAD Applications are the Future for Small and Medium-sized Businesses
One of the key considerations when purchasing new electrical CAD software is the learning curve. Using new software can be complex and there is often a steep learning curve for inexperienced users. As a result, they might need to allocate additional budget for training courses. Opting for a cloud-native, easy-to-use electrical CAD software significantly reduces this learning curve, meaning engineers and businesses are more productive and profitable more quickly.
Affordability and cost-sustainability are crucial to the operation of small-medium enterprises. Most cloud software is now available by subscription, which lowers upfront costs, and is more cost-effective overall. This eliminates the need to purchase costly licenses up-front including maintenance and support fees. Engineers also save time and resources as they no longer need to maintain the software themselves since everything is on the cloud.
Many more electrical CAD software tools are transitioning to the cloud. Why not explore the benefits this offers with a 30-day free trial, such as Capital Electra X.