The Simple Solution

The following Case Study explores the time saving benefits, ease of use and affordability of the latest Caddie software along with its industry wide compatibility through its use of the 'DWG' drawing format.It illustrates how the virtually seamless introduction of the Caddie software has been the key to success for Rob Boulton, director of Power Construction (Herts) Ltd, in Great Dunmow, Essex

Power Construction (Herts) Ltd - Rob Boulton

In 2002, having spent the previous 14 years involved in the design and engineering industry, I changed direction to join with my father-inlaw, who had more than 40 years architectural experience – to form an architectural planning consultancy. With seven of those 14 years spent working with CAD/CAM I was keen to start drawing on computer rather than manually. So early in 2003 I started using AutoCAD which for the first 12 months I thought of as very powerful. Through pressure of work I just did not have the time to enrol on the one year training course (which in itself says a lot about its complexity) to learn the features of the system, but, considering myself to be fairly computer literate and enjoying the learning process I got on as best as I could. After a few weeks I had managed to teach myself how to print a drawing to scale, although I never did get the hang of the drawing sheets, and after a while became fairly competent with AutoCAD.

However, the more I used the system the more I began to feel that something was missing; a feeling that it just wasn’t as simple or automated as computer software was supposed to be. So in the January of 2004 I began looking around for something that was both simpler to use and more architecturally based, as I felt sure that there must be something available.

I looked at several systems including Arcon and newer versions of AutoCAD, sending for information from adverts in the architectural press. Then I got a call from Andrew Wheatley from Advanced Computer Solutions about the Caddie software. Initially I thought, “Not another pushy sales man”, but I was struck by the absolute confidence he had in his product. I spoke with my then partner, my fatherin-law, and we agreed to let Andrew show us this software – Caddie 9.1. The main points I remember from the demonstration were; he arrived on time and drew a plan and elevation while talking me through it in about 45 minutes. By minute 50 I had inwardly decided to buy. I also believed I could use it there and then from what I had seen. This was also the decision my partner had come to. We were quite simply ‘gob smacked’ by the ease of use yet ability of the software. Don’t get me wrong there were flaws with Caddie 9.1, AutoCAD compatibility being the biggest, but nothing we couldn’t work around.

To learn how to use Caddie I went on their three day Quick Start Course (3 days instead of 50 days!) and found that I was producing working drawings with Caddie literally the day after the course as quickly as I had been using AutoCAD. Amazing!

Another amazing point was the follow up visits by Andrew with yet more tips and hints to help production. How many single license AutoCAD users have been visited by the sales team and given two or three hours of private tuition?

Subsequently I received news of the release of Caddie 10 in March 2005. Well, I thought, it could only be minor improvements and better integration with AutoCAD couldn’t it? I got my new copy and loaded it up straight away. However, this Caddie looked a little different, now including a model space and the option of multiple drawing sheets. Not knowing quite how to get started I decided to wait for one of the training courses ACS offered for Caddie 10 (only a matter of a few days anyway) to learn more about the latest version of the software before using it. Having done the course, I can only say that the new Caddie is incredible. It seems the whole Caddie programme has been rewritten to get around the AutoCAD compatibility issue, and now uses ‘DWG’ for its own drawing format. In fact, loading up a drawing file produced in AutoCAD, it looks the same as it did when it was first created, it’s almost impossible to tell the difference between an AutoCAD DWG file and a Caddie DWG file. I believe, that in terms of power, simplicity and productivity, Caddie gives me a 25-35% time saving as compared to using AutoCAD. My view on the cost of Caddie is that in 12 weeks of improved efficiency using the system, Caddie had actually paid for itself. And the support is paid for in 2 weeks. So buying Caddie hasn’t actually cost me a penny!

Another jaw dropping point is the support provided by ACS for my Caddie. Any problem I get is usually solved within a day, even if it is extremely complex, or a work around is provided until the next release of the softwarewhich usually solves it anyway. The team at ACS actually take pride in their software and if I try to say, ‘don’t worry I’ll work around it’, they push me until an acceptable solution is found. Since starting to use Caddie I have also been able to grow and diversify my business too. Where previously I only had time to design, using Caddie has allowed me to actually build the things I draw as well. So much so in fact that I have been able to start a new business, Power Construction (Herts) Ltd – which provides a complete service from the concept of an idea through to the completed build project? A new venture for me that I believe I would never have been able to have achieved had I not been using Caddie.

So, what are my thoughts about Caddie and the future? There’s definitely no going back!