“Sorry, we can’t open these files – we’re using a different software version.”
If you’re a design consultant who works with clients to get their products manufactured, you’ve probably heard this phrase more times than you’d like to admit. Maybe you’ve spent thousands on maintaining multiple CAD licenses just to match both client and supplier software versions. Or you’re wasting hours converting files, only to lose critical design data in the process, adding delays to manufacturing.
Meanwhile, leading consultancies are discovering cloud-based collaboration and are delivering prototypes faster, winning repeat business.
Introducing Modern Design Collaboration Software
Forward-thinking product design partners are discovering that matching software versions is now obsolete in a cloud-enabled world. As the industry continues to drive innovation in hardware and product development, design consultancies need tools that match this rapid pace of iteration and experimentation.
Consider a typical scenario: A venture-backed robotics startup approaches your firm for design expertise. Their in-house team has initial concepts, their CTO needs to review changes daily, and their seed funding demands a working prototype within three months. Meanwhile, their manufacturing partner in Asia needs detailed specifications that align with their production capabilities. Traditional CAD workflows turn this dynamic collaboration into a complex juggling act of file versions and design iterations.
This is where cloud-native CAD transforms the consultant-startup relationship. The ability to share design intent instantly, gather feedback in real-time, and maintain perfect version control becomes a compelling advantage when pitching to startup clients who measure burn rate in days, not months.
For design consultancies, this streamlined workflow isn’t just about efficiency – it’s about speaking the same language as their clients. When a client can review designs from their phone during investor meetings, or when a manufacturing partner can access the latest versions without time-zone delays, you’re not just delivering CAD files – you’re delivering the speed and agility today’s market demands.
Here are 5 ways Onshape, PTC's cloud-native CAD and PDM product design system, is transforming client collaboration.
1. Never Waste Time on the Wrong Version Again
Focus on good design instead of file compatibility. Create complex assemblies, edit parts, and build drawings that anyone can access, regardless of CAD system. No more exporting to neutral formats, like STEP or DXF files, losing design intent in translation. The full CAD model, with all its parameters and relationships intact, is a few clicks away on any device from anywhere (with a web browser).
2. Reduced Design Iteration Cycles
Modern prototype manufacturing projects require flexibility and speed. As a prototype manufacturer, your team needs to explore options, develop alternatives, and respond to client feedback without creating chaos in your CAD files. Cloud-native CAD enables branch designs to explore alternatives and merge successful changes back in – all within the same CAD environment.
Additionally, by collaborating live in Onshape Follow Mode, team members can avoid long feedback loops and revisions, as all stakeholders can see changes in real-time and contribute to decisions without waiting for file sharing or updates.
READ: 11 Ways CAD Teams Can Leverage Branching and Merging
3. Product Data Management without the Headaches
Traditional CAD requires separate PDM systems, which add complexity and cost to your workflow. But with Onshape’s built-in PDM, there’s no extra cost and no need to worry about add-on software. This enables release management within the CAD workflow, plus a comprehensive history of all design changes. So, when clients ask about design changes, you have immediate access to the complete context of an action without hunting through old folders and files.
4. Advanced CAD Model Sharing
Share precise manufacturing data without exposing full design methodology or IP. With Onshape Publications, create simplified representations for suppliers, detailed documentation for clients, and manufacturing drawings for shops – all linked to the same master model. Gain precise control over your data by sharing exactly the right revision for manufacturing. Decide who can share, export, and comment on your design, plus take back permissions to access at any time.
READ: Achieving Engineering and Design Success Through Collaborative Design
5. Responsive & Collaborative Design Reviews
Client design reviews are your opportunity to showcase expertise and build trust. Cloud-native CAD transforms these sessions from static presentations into dynamic collaborations. Create live sections to examine internal details while discussing manufacturing concerns. Measure critical dimensions in real-time as questions arise. Modify geometry instantly based on feedback, showing clients exactly how their suggestions impact the design. Toggle between configurations during discussions to evaluate options and document decisions directly in the CAD environment.
The Competitive Edge Your Team Needs
Leading companies are already using these capabilities to transform their businesses. They’re delivering results faster with fewer revision cycles, building stronger client relationships through better collaboration, protecting their intellectual property, and reducing administrative time.
The question isn’t whether to adopt cloud-native CAD and PDM but how quickly you can implement it to stay competitive. While others struggle with file compatibility and version control, you could be delivering better results to more clients in less time.
Your expertise deserves tools that enhance rather than hinder your work. Onshape delivers exactly that.
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