upFront.eZine - talking about cad

Interview first posted
30 April 2002

q & a

five minutes with
Three Italian
CAD Vendors

CADLandia
Italy

www.cadlandia.com

Aniello Annunziata is the content director manager of CADLandia, which also produces the Italian Edition of upFront.eZine. He interviewed some of the players in the Italian AEC CAD market to find out their reaction to Autodesk's purchase of Revit, and what that might mean to them.

Mario Iannelli, owner of Add Software, developer of AddCAD archtectural add-on for AutoCAD and AutoCAD LT.
Valerio Da Pos, owner of CadLINE Software Italia, Italian distributor of ArchLINE, an AEC CAD package.
Istvan Toth, ceo of CiGraph, Italian distributor of ArchiCAD.

He also contacted Nemetschek Italia (AllPlan and VectorWorks Architect) and Bentley Italia (MicroStation Triforma), but received no reply.

- - -

CADLandia: Revit uses SBM (single building model) technology. Do you think it is only a technological philosophy, or it is a powerful improvement in productivity?

Istvan Toth: SBM is only a variant of our "virtual building" that we introduced ten years ago. We are sure that the methodologies are different, but we will see if it really has new capabilities, or is only marketing.

Valerio Da Pos: Revit uses a parametric, mechanical-based approach to AEC design. And that is to be expected, because the developers came from PTC.
I saw Revit at the last A/E/C Systems show in Chicago, and I was very interested because the CAD scene was very quiet at the time. I recall the architect who gave me a demo, and then told me that their objective was to be purchased, just like SolidWorks.
Anyone who has used MCAD sees the similarity with Revit. And if you work with parametric MCAD systems, you know their power and their problems (geometric definition of 2D sketch and restraints). I think that SBM is the architectural way of thinking. But I see that Revit is a good software package, and that fires my curiosity for some of its interesting functionality.

Mario Iannelli: I am not familiar with SBM. If I spend time learning all those American acronyms and abbreviations, I cannot do my work!

CADLandia: When Autodesk decided to purchase Revit, many analysts felt that Autodesk had became the company with best market share and best technology. Do you think that there is space for competitors? What about developers of AutoCAD and ADT add-ons: can they have a share of the market?

Istvan Toth: Actually Revit does not have a significant market share. So Autodesk doesn't gain market share with this acquisition.

Valerio Da Pos: I think that Autodesk bought Revit for the American market, because in US there is much speculation about Revit. Revit is a software package over which there is a lot of talk, but not many people use it. I think that there is a market for competitors, especially in Europe.
As for AutoCAD and ADT add-on developers, I think it is hard work for them to keep up-to-date with the new technology in AutoCAD.

Mario Iannelli: I think that there is always space for competitors who show powerful and innovative solutions. But it is not possible to have a monopolist in application software; it is not possible that one software can solve all designs needs of architects in the world!

CADLandia: Do you think that Revit will survive the acquisition, or will its technology be merged into ADT? Is ADT on its deathbed?

Istvan Toth: Only Autodesk can answer that question.

Valerio Da Pos: I don't think that Revit technology will be added into ADT. We have to see how many original Revit developers join Autodesk, and with how much responsibility. And then we can see if Revit can be software or a toolkit. These days, ADT looks like a platform rather than stand-alone software.

Mario Iannelli: I do not think that the market is as interested in ADT as Autodesk thinks, so Autodesk may consider modifying its strategy.

CADLandia: How do you think the Italian market will react? Who has the advantage with this new asset?

Istvan Toth: I think that advantage is for companies like Nemetschek and Graphisoft/Cigraph, who have worked hard for 20 years clearly serving their customers, release by release, solution by solution, without jumps and without pain.

Valerio Da Pos: I think that Revit will help AutoCAD grow its market share. The value of the growth is a function of integration between ADT and Revit. But I think that another factor is another of Autodesk's marketing strategies: software by subscription or by license.
Can ADT, Revit, or another Autodesk product solve real problems of an Italian building design firm? As I see it, Revit cannot. For this reason, I think that ArchLINE will keep its presence in the high-end software market.
Our software creates a "3D culture" in customers. Archline XP does not have a "made in USA" marketing strategy nor the financial capability of competitors, but it is very aware of customers' needs and is very flexible.

Mario Iannelli: I think that this acquisition will have little impact on the Italian market.

CADLandia: How do you do to keep your customer base, and acquire new customers?

Istvan Toth: The introduction of Revit in Italy does not change our strategy.

Valerio Da Pos: I believe that this makes a new opportunity for ArchLine XP. Italian customers do not buy with closed eyes a software package or because the brand name comes from the USA. If someone thinks that, he is wrong. Customers want solutions at their problems, so they will try software that solves their problems.

Mario Iannelli: Our customers ask us to upgrade at our software, and we can continue to do it for them. The only way to acquire new customers is to show that with our solution, they are more competitive on real projects. For example, our customers are asking us for the capability to use architectural design for DOCFA 3 planning, and in a short time we offer this solution. Do you think that ADT and Revit will spend much time on this option?

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