We get asked a lot if the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform is plug and play. The short answer is that it is not; although the platform is easy to use. It can be set up and used right out of the box and is configured to allow you to log in and start using immediately. However, there are some things to consider during set up and should be thought out before uploading large amounts of data. Let’s look at some of the reasons why I’d say it is not plug and play.
User Setup
First would be setting up users. You want to have a plan for which users will be on the platform and what licenses each user requires. If you have multiple design teams, you may want to consider setting up User Groups to manage access and quickly add them to Communities or Collaborative Spaces. You will also need a plan for installing software. Users will need rights to install software on their computer, as SOLIDWORKS still installs locally. If users don’t have rights to install software, we need to look at the other options we can set on the platform to allow the software to install.
Handling Data
Second would be handling the data. Out of the box, there is a Collaborative Space called Common Space to which everyone has access. This, however, isn’t necessarily the best place to store design data. We recommend creating a designated space for this where bookmarks will need to be created to help organize it all. You will also need to determine which users need which rights in that space. Some may be Leaders with the ability to release files, others may be Authors who can only add and edit data. You also need to plan how to get your existing data into the platform.
More Than Cloud Storage
The third and final reason would be the management of the data. The 3DEXPERIENCE Platform is a lot more than just cloud storage for your SOLIDWORKS files. It is a full data management and product lifecycle system. One thing to consider is how you want revisions to work in the system, and how files are released. Routes can be set up to carry data along a release process. Other stakeholders can participate in the design process raising issues, tracking changes, and collaborating in the projects. These items are quickly and easily configured in the Platform Management Dashboard.
Resources To Help You Get Started
This is just a brief overview of some of the things that need to be considered when setting up SOLIDWORKS to run with the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform. We have a list of things to consider in our technology guide: Getting Started with the 3DEXPERIENCE Platform – TriMech. We also have training classes to shorten the learning curve. A list can be found here: 3DEXPERIENCE Training Courses from TriMech Certified Experts.
There is one last note to consider. The platform is really a business transformation system, designed to not only manage your CAD data, but build a system to allow you to expand and grow around that data. Proper planning and setup from the start will help build success down the road and save time and energy making changes later. Before logging in and getting started, please consider some of the above points and make a plan to get off the ground and going.
Get started today with the help of TriMech experts! Contact us at the link below.
