Last week I wrote an article about the development of the Autodesk Constuction Cloud platform. Still, I noticed that many readers had questions about the impact of the Construction Cloud on existing Autodesk products. First things first, I would like to start with an image that simply visualizes the transition from the current BIM 360 platform to the Autodesk Construction Cloud.
AEC Collection
As the image shows, you can access Autodesk Docs through the AEC Collection. This allows new projects to be started on the Autodesk Construction Cloud. A license for an Autodesk Construction Cloud product also gives access to the BIM 360 alternative: BIM 360 Docs. Autodesk Docs licenses can only be obtained as part of the AEC Collection or by purchasing an Autodesk BIM Collaborate, Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro or Autodesk Build license. Note: currently only the US server is available for the Autodesk Docs projects. The EU server is expected later this year.
Autodesk BIM 360 Docs
As a BIM 360 Docs user you do not automatically get access to the Autodesk Docs projects on the Autodesk Construction Cloud. But as an Autodesk Construction Cloud user, you do get access to your BIM 360 projects. A BIM 360 Docs license cannot be converted to an Autodesk Docs license. Therefore I recommend completing ongoing projects in BIM 360 Docs. Later this year there will be a possibility for an upgrade, as soon as more is known about this, we will inform all our BIM 360 Docs customers. Do you use Issue Management? If that is the case, I recommend continuing to work in BIM 360 Docs. This functionality is not yet available in the Autodesk Construction Cloud.
Autodesk BIM 360 Coordinate
The product BIM 360 Coordinate will be renamed Autodesk BIM Collaborate. From now on, it is no longer possible to purchase new BIM 360 Coordinate licenses. Are you currently working with an existing BIM 360 Coordinate license? You can just keep using it. At the time of renewal, you can switch to BIM Collaborate. The BIM Collaborate license gives access to projects on Autodesk Docs as well as on BIM 360 Docs and BIM 360 Coordinate. This way, you can continue working on existing BIM 360 projects without any problems.
Autodesk BIM 360 Design
Since 9 February 2021, BIM 360 Design has been converted to Autodesk BIM Collaborate Pro. This can be found in your Autodesk Account. With this development, in addition to the existing functionalities of BIM 360 Design, you also have access to Model Coordination and Insights on the new platform. With a Collaborate Pro license you will continue to have access to existing BIM 360 Design projects. You can then choose which platform you want to use for each project. Note: projects now started on the Autodesk Construction Cloud will be hosted on the US server. Do you want to keep the data of all your projects in the same environment (EU server)? Then I recommend that you continue to use access to the BIM 360 platform within Autodesk Collaborate Pro for the time being.
Autodesk BIM 360 Build
Existing BIM 360 Build users will not automatically be able to access Autodesk Build. When your BIM 360 Build contract is renewed, this will be converted to Autodesk Build. It is already possible to convert your BIM 360 Build license to an Autodesk Build license now. Autodesk Build does not yet automatically contain all the functionalities of BIM 360 Build, but it does offer the functionalities of Plangrid and Cost Management. Do you want to continue to make full use of BIM 360 Build? Please let us know when renewing your license, and we will ensure that the functionalities of BIM 360 Build are retained.
Do you want to know what these changes mean for your situation, or do you need concrete advice on which product best suits your projects? Do not hesitate to contact us!
