Perché il supporto tecnico svolge un ruolo discreto ma cruciale nella scelta del software CAD

TL;DR: Onshape, PTC’s cloud-native CAD and PDM platform, supports users at every stage. Whether to learn new CAD skills through the Onshape Learning Center and AI Advisor, solve immediate problems with built-in support tools, fix bugs using microversion troubleshooting, or master advanced techniques through community resources. This comprehensive approach eliminates the delays and frustration common with legacy CAD platforms.

While most CAD providers treat customer service as an afterthought, Onshape places it front and center. The cloud-native CAD platform enables unprecedented real-time collaboration, allowing users to tackle issues quickly rather than submit tickets that disappear into the ether.

How Onshape Helps:

• When You Need to Learn
• When You’re Stuck Right Now
• When You Need Support

Onshape Support Delivers High Customer Satisfaction

CAD users agree that Onshape’s customer support is superior to other non-cloud-native platforms.

According to “The State of Product Design and Hardware Development 2023-2024)” report, Onshape scored the highest in customer service satisfaction versus hybrid-cloud and desktop CAD options.

With Onshape, CAD support switches from an overlooked extra to a secret weapon. But what makes the difference? The platform organizes help around what users actually need: learning new skills, solving immediate problems, fixing bugs, and mastering advanced techniques. Rather than forcing everyone into arbitrary skill-level categories, Onshape recognizes that the same person might need different types of support throughout their day.

Source: The State of Product Design and Hardware Development 2023-2024

When You Need to Learn: Resources for Leveling Up

Whether you’re transitioning from traditional CAD or learning product design for the first time, Onshape provides comprehensive resources that scale from structured instructor-led training to self-paced advanced courses and community knowledge.

The Onshape Learning Center

The Onshape Learning Center offers structured paths to mastery with step-by-step tutorials covering everything from fundamentals to advanced techniques. Unlike static documentation scattered across PDFs and outdated manuals, Learning Center resources can be found in one place.

You can follow self-paced courses with certification paths, watch video demonstrations of real-world design workflows, and practice techniques on actual designs as you learn.

Onshape Bootcamp

Onshape Bootcamp is an intensive, instructor-led training program designed to accelerate new users’ transition to cloud-native CAD design. This comprehensive CAD training course spans four days with manageable 3-hour daily sessions (12 hours total), each led by expert CAD instructors from Onshape's professional training team.

The instructors bring years of experience teaching SOLIDWORKS and other traditional CAD platforms, helping users understand both familiar concepts and Onshape’s innovative cloud-native features.

forum Onshape

The Onshape Forums connect you with a global community of designers for peer-to-peer problem-solving and workflow-optimization tips. The searchable archive of common issues and their resolutions often provides answers to learning questions. You’ll find industry-specific best practices from experienced users and direct engagement with Onshape team members.

Because all Onshape users operate on the same cloud version, Forum solutions remain current and applicable, unlike legacy CAD forums where version fragmentation creates confusion about which solutions work with which releases.

When You’re Stuck Right Now: Instant Access and Visibility

When you hit a roadblock mid-project, waiting hours for email responses kills productivity. Onshape provides multiple channels for immediate assistance, starting with tools built directly into the interface.

Consulente AI

Onshape’s AI Advisor eliminates the learning curve intimidation factor by providing instant answers to questions in natural language. Ask “How do I create a revolve feature?” and receive suggestions based on your current design, along with troubleshooting guidance for common errors and best practice recommendations for design efficiency.

For those new to CAD, the AI Advisor, available within the platform and in the Learning Center, removes the barrier of not knowing what to search for in help documentation. There’s no need to navigate complex documentation or wait for support tickets when you’re stuck on basic operations, the assistance is immediate and judgment-free.

Built-In Communication Tools

What gives Onshape the edge? Built-in communication features enable better troubleshooting.

The Markup tool allows users to visually indicate issues on designs using annotations and comments for added clarity. Rather than struggling to describe “the thing in the upper left corner” via email, you can mark it directly on your design. Follow Mode allows users to follow the actions of another designer.

This combination of visibility and annotation capabilities reduces ambiguity when communicating problems. The built-in features ensure that when you do reach out for help – whether from a colleague, the Forums, or Onshape support – your question or issue is crystal clear from the start.

Branching and Merging

Onshape further enhances collaboration with branching and merging. When stuck on a problem, you can create branches to safely explore solutions without disrupting your main workflow. This allows you to experiment with different approaches, test potential fixes, or try alternative design strategies while primary work remains untouched.

Once a solution is found through a branch, merging it back to the main version takes just a click. This eliminates the downtime and risk typically associated with troubleshooting, making branching a versatile tool for working through challenges independently or with colleagues.

Branches in an Onshape Document.

When You Need Support: Precision Debugging and Fast Fixes

When you encounter unexpected behavior, traditional CAD platforms struggle with version inconsistencies and manual bug recreation. Onshape’s cloud architecture unlocks troubleshooting capabilities that simply aren’t possible with desktop software.

Access to Onshape Developers

When you need to contact Onshape directly for technical help or expert guidance on complex issues, the support team is known for its responsive solutions.

Onshape connects frontline CAD support and product developers. This unified structure speeds up solutions by giving coders immediate access to real environments. Once remedies are deployed, improvements are delivered to all customers via the cloud in a timely cadence. No waiting for major version upgrades.

Tech Tip: How to Submit Effective Onshape Improvement Requests

Future-Proofed Microversions

Additionally, Onshape’s cloud architecture unlocks unique version control capabilities. As users create designs, the platform automatically saves incremental revisions, known as microversions.

This means technicians can restore previous states to inspect problems seamlessly.

Rather than painstakingly recreate issues locally like legacy tools, simply share the link of the microversion where problems appeared. Support staff then examine that exact environment configuration for tailored troubleshooting.

Continuous CAD Enhancements

Speaking of upgrades, Onshape’s cloud backbone enables consistent updates. New features simply appear upon page refresh rather than through locking migration projects. And paired with assigned user roles controlling access, compatibility chaos disappears.

This means that when support assists with improvements, those changes become available network-wide. No individual installation actions are needed. The cloud allows help to scale broadly and remain up-to-date.

Bug fixes deploy within hours or days instead of waiting for quarterly releases. Everyone always uses the latest, most stable version. There are no “upgrade” projects that consume weeks of IT resources.

CAD Software Support at Every Level

Legacy CAD providers may promise helpful assistance but lean on outdated models like fragmented ticket systems. Onshape flips the entire paradigm via real-time collaboration, microversioning, and cloud-powered continuous delivery.

The future of product design support has arrived. Say goodbye to frustrating delays and embrace agile, tailored guidance scaling to the modern product design era. Whether you need to learn new skills through the Onshape Learning Center and AI Advisor, solve immediate problems with built-in support tools and Forums, fix bugs using microversion troubleshooting and branching, or master advanced techniques through community resources and expert advice, Onshape delivers the right help at the right time.

Help unlocks creation rather than hampers it thanks to Onshape, the premier choice for best online CAD software.

(This blog was original published February 29, 2024.)