Zero IT Overhead: Why Onshape Outpaces Tools Like SOLIDWORKS and Inventor

Traditional desktop CAD tools like SOLIDWORKS and Autodesk Inventor were built for a different era – one where every workstation needed powerful hardware, complex installations, and ongoing IT maintenance.

Onshape, PTC’s leading cloud-native CAD and PDM platform, changes that completely. Designed from the ground up for the modern engineering workflow, Onshape delivers zero IT overhead, automatic updates, and real-time collaboration – all through a simple browser.

No Installs, No Updates, No IT Bottlenecks

Traditional CAD software often demands hours (or days) of setup time. You need compatible hardware, certified graphics cards, local storage, and the right operating system version. Add in frequent service packs, license servers, and version compatibility issues, and it’s clear why IT departments spend so much time just keeping engineers online.

With Onshape’s browser-based CAD, that entire process disappears. There’s nothing to install or configure. Simply log in from any device – Windows, macOS, Linux, or even a Chromebook – and start designing immediately.

Because Onshape runs entirely in the cloud, it works anywhere, on any system, without IT intervention. New team members can be productive in minutes instead of waiting for IT setups or local installs.

READ: How CAD on Mobile Transforms Real-World Design Processes

Always Up to Date, Without Downtime

If you’ve used SOLIDWORKS or Inventor, you know the annual update ritual: scheduling downtime, upgrading software across teams, and hoping files remain compatible.

Onshape’s cloud-based product design platform works differently. Every three weeks, Onshape rolls out automatic updates that deliver new features and performance improvements instantly with zero downtime.

There are no patches, no downloads, and no “what version are you on?” headaches. Everyone across your organization is always on the same version of Onshape, ensuring seamless collaboration and consistent performance.

FIND OUT: What's New in Onshape?

Simplify IT Management and Strengthen Security

Running traditional CAD systems means managing local servers, network storage, and complex PDM systems just to keep files organized and secure. IT teams also have to worry about data backups, user access, and security patches.

With Onshape, all of that is handled for you in the cloud. Onshape’s secure cloud CAD infrastructure includes built-in data management, version control, and access permissions – no separate systems or servers required.

Data is automatically backed up and protected using the same enterprise-grade cloud infrastructure trusted by global leaders. That means IT can focus on innovation, strategy, and scalability instead of day-to-day CAD maintenance.

Work Anywhere, Collaborate in Real Time

Because Onshape is cloud-native, your design data isn’t tied to a single computer or network. Teams can design, review, and comment on the same project from anywhere in the world – all in real time.

Multiple engineers can work together simultaneously, just like in Google Docs. There’s no need to check files in or out, and no risk of overwriting someone else’s work. Onshape keeps every design change automatically tracked in its built-in history, providing a complete audit trail for your projects.

This kind of real-time collaboration simply isn’t possible with desktop CAD systems.

TECH TIP: Simultaneous Editing, Sharing and Real-Time Collaboration in Onshape

Why Cloud CAD Means Zero IT Overhead

Moving to a cloud CAD platform like Onshape eliminates nearly all the traditional IT burdens of product design:

• No installs or service packs
• No version conflicts or license servers
• No specialized hardware requirements
• No downtime for updates
• No separate PDM or backup systems

With Onshape, you can onboard new users in minutes, collaborate securely across locations, and scale instantly – all without calling IT.

The Future of Product Design Is Cloud-Native

Zero IT overhead isn’t just a convenience; it’s a competitive edge. Onshape empowers teams to design faster, stay connected, and adapt effortlessly to change.

No downloads. No downtime. No IT headaches. Just pure innovation in the cloud.

Ready to Experience Cloud-Native CAD?

If your team is still spending time managing installs, patches, or license servers, it’s time to move forward.

Start exploring what’s possible with Onshape, the only full-featured, cloud-native CAD and PDM platform built for modern engineering teams.

Try Onshape or explore the Onshape Learning Center to see how easy cloud CAD can be.