Each and every CADD program has a unique flavour to it whether or not it has a different interface or input method. Personal preference could be one of the biggest issues, why should someone switch from something they already like. Can someone learn another CADD program with a relatively easy transition in a short amount of time? Also purchasing a CADD program can range from a few hundred dollars to over ten thousand dollars. With that said it now makes it seems that some CADD programs are unavailable to the individual user or small design firms. As far as accessibility goes many companies have trial or free versions of their programs on their company website allowing for that chance to be able to access it.
AutoCAD compatibility is one of these seemingly important things for other CADD programs to have. This is only true because AutoCAD is one of the most highly used programs. Now that many CADD programs support competitor file types it makes switching less of a necessity just as long as companies can share plan and schematic drawings with each other. One of the few ways that people actually get to use alternative CADD programs is by working with different firms or companies.
Each CADD program has its own place in design whether it’s a matter of personal preference or by employer’s preference. No individual CADD program will surpass any other program in all aspects of use as they will always implement the others ideas in time and as this happens the difference between CADD programs is lessened. For the manufacturing companies should they not keep up with the competition their program will inevitably fall to a point of being useless especially in the growing BIM (building information modeling) market.
