Category Thoughts

Prioritizing Product Features: Lessons for Startups

Shaan shares insights from my dual experience as an Autodesk customer and product team member. Key lessons include prioritizing must-have features using the Kano Model, ensuring features align with business goals, leveraging data, and understanding customer feedback context. Additionally, fostering a culture of learning and storytelling can drive innovation and customer loyalty.

How to Measure Value from Your Design, CAD, and Construction Software

Design and construction software isn’t cheap. And it shouldn’t be—when it works, it pays for itself.

But measuring value isn’t always straightforward. You’re not just buying features. You’re investing in time saved, risk avoided, and work that flows smoother between teams.

Here’s how to figure out if your software is actually pulling its weight.

Getting Real Value from Your AEC Software Partnerships

AEC software is a major investment. When it’s working well, it saves time, improves coordination, and helps deliver better projects.

But many firms end up paying for features they don’t use, managing frustrating bugs, or relying on file formats that make switching difficult.

This isn’t about blaming vendors. It’s about building stronger partnerships—so the tools you rely on deliver for your teams, and the vendors understand what success looks like on your side.

Why AEC Projects Are Better with IPD

Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) transforms traditional project structures by uniting owners, architects, and builders under a shared contract, promoting collaboration from day one. This model reduces surprises, optimizes budgets, fosters trust, and accelerates decision-making. Coupled with modern technology, IPD enhances communication, ultimately benefiting complex projects through aligned goals and efficient processes.

Autodesk + PTC? The Rumor That’s Rocking the CAD World

Autodesk stock took a hit on July 9 after Bloomberg reported the company is weighing an acquisition of PTC. Neither side has confirmed anything, but the market reacted fast—Autodesk shares dropped nearly 6% by the end of the day.

This wouldn’t be a minor deal. PTC is a heavyweight in engineering software. And if the rumor turns out to be true, it would be Autodesk’s biggest acquisition ever—and a bold swing at reshaping the future of product development.

An Adventure Into the Amazon Jungle to Spark Education

Sweat, Mud, and a Mission: Volunteering in the Peruvian Amazon

When Stefanie and I were invited to join a Be The Change Volunteers (BTCV) project in the Amazon, we didn’t hesitate. It was a chance to do something meaningful, with amazing people, in a place few ever get to experience firsthand. We didn’t sign up for comfort—we signed up for purpose.

What we didn’t expect was how deeply this experience would stay with us: hard manual work under a jungle sky, dolphins and drones, and a classroom that represents more than just four walls. It represents possibility and hope.