We here on the AutoCAD team love our product. Among the many things we think are great about it are its versatility, its endless customizability, and, of course, all of the innovative things it gets used to design. But we also know that sometimes even the workhorse that is AutoCAD isn’t enough for what you’re looking to do. Earlier we talked a bit about what you can accomplish when you combine AutoCAD and its BIM-focused cousin, Revit, but if you’re ready to take things to an even higher level, it’s time to look at Autodesk’s Industry Collections.
What are Industry Collections?
Simply put, Industry Collections are the most convenient and flexible way to access a wide selection of the most essential Autodesk software used in your… uh… industry. Currently, Autodesk offers three sets of Industry Collections, and we’ll be focusing here on two of them: Architecture, Engineering & Construction (AEC) and Product Design. The third, Media & Entertainment (M&E), is terrific, but it doesn’t include AutoCAD, so we’ll leave you to discover that one at your leisure.
The Architecture, Engineering & Construction Industry Collection
Simply put, if you’re in a field that requires Building Information Modeling (BIM), infrastructure design, or construction, this is the collection for you. It’s our richest set of building design, civil infrastructure, and construction tools, including standard AutoCAD (of course), Revit, Infraworks 360, and most of our field-specific AutoCAD versions, like AutoCAD Civil 3D, AutoCAD P&ID, AutoCAD Electrical, and AutoCAD Architecture. But wait, there’s more! You also get AutoCAD 360 Pro (perfect for field work), Navisworks Manage, ReCap 360 Pro (which converts real-world objects into point clouds), and Insight 360. No, your creations still won’t be able to build themselves, but this collection will increase your ability to deliver great designs, scalable, sustainable, and resilient civil infrastructure, manage your costs, and better predict project outcomes.
The Product Design Industry Collection
Designing something a bit smaller and more moveable than a building? Your software should still be just as mighty, and with the Product Design Collection, it definitely is. This set offers connected, professional-grade tools that help you make great products today and compete in the changing manufacturing landscape of the future. It includes standard AutoCAD and Inventor Professional, along with a subset of the same field-specific AutoCAD versions as AEC, like AutoCAD Electrical, AutoCAD Mechanical, and AutoCAD Architecture, plus Factory Design Utilities, Fusion 360, and the increasingly necessary AutoCAD 360 Pro.
Still Not Convinced?
Did I forget to mention that when you subscribe to an Industry Collection, you – or your company – will save a bundle? Purchasing AutoCAD and Revit separately would cost $3,400/year, but the entire AEC Collection is only $2,690/year for single-user access. Likewise, Inventor Professional and AutoCAD separately would cost $3,290/year, but the full Product Design Collection is $2,640/year for single-user access. Needless to say (but we’ll say it anyway), Industry Collections are a terrific deal when you need a full-fledged suite of interoperable products.
Learn More
For all the details on Autodesk Industry Collections (including Media & Entertainment), click here. Already know which one is right for you, and looking for more information? Check out the AEC and Product Design sites now. Happy creating!
