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A look at how cloud storage and collaboration tools like Fusion 360 enable engineers to work whenever, wherever.

Over the last 20 years, many companies have discussed enabling concurrent engineering, but it could only be a pipe dream for the longest time (until now). PDM systems require network access to transfer data, and system restrictions force many people to share project data via email or external data sharing services. These methods are Band-Aids that create duplicate copies of project data across the enterprise, thus slowing down the collaborative design process. Cloud storage CAD programs like Fusion 360 offer a new way forward and away from this data mess. Let’s take a look at five benefits of cloud collaboration tools for engineers.

1. Team Communication, Collaboration and Innovation

Cloud computing and products like Zoom video conferencing have enabled team communication during the pandemic. Many companies who didn’t operate on the cloud struggled to share 3D model data while working remotely because of proprietary file formats, access to data, and file size. Companies that had already adopted cloud collaboration tools or moved quickly to cloud storage kept performing without missing a beat. 

In Fusion 360, design collaboration is frictionless; all project data is in one place and available to all team members without the overhead and costs of replicated data servers. Collaboration is enabled by inviting participants to a project. Fusion 360 shares project data without the friction of PDM systems, replicated data servers, and other related IT infrastructure or resorting to email, FTP, and external data sharing services.

2. Computing Device Independence

Current generation authoring tools require software installations on highly configured desktop systems. In many cases, these authoring tools only run on Windows and not Apple IOS.  Further, these desktop systems must constantly be tuned (CPU, memory, graphics cards, software drivers, and OS patches) to operate efficiently. Otherwise, the user will be subject to performance issues and crashes.

Engineers are no longer tethered to a workstation or corporate network. In Fusion 360, you can work anywhere, anytime, from any device. Fusion 360 eliminates most, if not all, of the hardware configuration and update issues experienced by current generation design systems. All users of Fusion 360 work on the same version, the latest version, at the same time.

3. Time to Value for Downstream Teams

Internal and external stakeholders downstream need to be aware of model changes as soon as possible. Provided they are given rights, cloud computing offers immediate access to downstream stakeholders so that model changes can be evaluated and acted upon in real-time.

4. No Model Size Limitations

Even the most massive models can be manipulated on the cloud by any computing device that has access to the web — no local workstation needed.

5. Expanded Talent Options

Cloud storage software allows companies to think differently. Cloud computing raises the question: does a company really need a physical office in New York, Dallas, Chicago, Boston, or San Francisco? Firms realize that cloud storage and collaboration software provides freedom from a physical office. This provides opportunities to pursue talent anywhere globally and gives existing employees more freedom in choosing their work location.

Ready to discover how a cloud CAD + CAM platform can transform your team’s workflow? Download Fusion 360 today.

This article is part three of a three-part series that explores why cloud computing is the way forward compared to on-premise software. Check out the whole series below:

Part 1: Ten Ways Cloud Computing Will Streamline Your Business
Part 2: Five Benefits of Cloud Collaboration for Remote Engineers
Part 3: What is Cloud Computing Security? Is My Data Safe on the Cloud?