As of April 2024, Autodesk has shifted FormIt into maintenance mode. This means FormIt is no longer being actively developed and any future releases will only address critical security issues.
This article explains what is changing, why it is happening, and offers options and alternatives to using FormIt.
Moving forward, Autodesk will be concentrating investments on Forma. Forma is the new outcome-based experience for the early planning phase, and FormIt technology will play an important role in Forma’s success.
In fact, FormIt capabilities are available in Forma already! Forma’s 3D Sketch sub-mode is built on the FormIt modeling engine, enabling more freeform modeling while supporting building functions and area metrics:
Autodesk is actively working on an even deeper integration of FormIt technology in Forma, the latest example being a new ability to edit Constraints in 3D directly from the main Forma design mode:
Ultimately, Autodesk sees FormIt technology underpinning more Forma capabilities in the future, providing familiar yet powerful 3D editing across many contexts in Forma seamlessly.
For now, here’s what this announcement means for existing FormIt customers:
What’s changing?
Effective April 2024, FormIt Pro will no longer be available for purchase or renewal.
FormIt for Windows will be maintained until 2027 as Autodesk builds the next phases of Forma.
If you have a standalone FormIt Pro license, your access to FormIt Pro will terminate at the end of your contract or at the end of April 2024 for auto-renewing subscriptions.
FormIt Pro will be available for use through the Autodesk Flex program for a limited period to assist with this transition.
You can also access Forma for free with your AEC Collection license.
Why is this happening?
Autodesk is announcing the latest advancements in fulfilling our vision for the planning phase in AEC. Building on the success of the Autodesk Forma launch in May 2023, and now embarking on an exciting new chapter.
To further enhance the benefits for Autodesk users and maximize the value of our investments, Autodesk have integrated key conceptual design capabilities from FormIt into Forma. This improvement empowers users to harness these features alongside robust AI-powered environmental analysis tools and swift access to a wide range of contextual data for your project site, no matter where your project is located.
With these enhancements, customers will experience a more streamlined planning and early-stage design workflow, enabling them to bring their creative visions to life with greater ease and precision.
The Kingfish Company is a vertically integrated and technology-driven aquaculture leader in the sustainable production of premium marine seafood. As a designer, builder, and operator of state-of-the-art facilities, leveraging Autodesk Revit and other BIM technology tools has improved the workflow between designers and the construction arm. The Kingfish Company was looking to improve the process in the areas of project and file management.
Project Goals
The Kingfish Company is preparing to hire a large number of contractors to develop their Maine facilities. This endeavor will require significant coordination from design to construction to perform a flawless project execution at no excess in budget and project delay. The Kingfish Company needs to overcome issues such as lack of familiarity with the tool by the construction team and adapting to a new folder structure for cloud files.
Solution
The Kingfish Company has been able to overcome the challenges by training team members on the usage and implementation on a day-to-day basis of Autodesk Build/BIM 360 Build. By optimizing the file structure, and continuing to train construction staff on important aspects of the process such as file access, notifications management for RFI’s and issues management, The Kingfish Company is well on its way to achieving its long-term vision: to have all internal stakeholders at The Kingfish Company and external consultants become acquainted with BIM and cloud technologies, from the workflow to the overall business value of full BIM enablement.
Business Outcome
By acquiring and implementing Autodesk Build/BIM 360 Build’s project and file management solutions, the company has improved the collaboration workflow between the field and the office. While benefits are difficult to quantify, The Kingfish Company is reporting less loss of data which is leading to a much smoother workflow between stakeholders.
Conclusion
The Kingfish Company uses Autodesk software and works closely with Microsol Resources for insights, licenses, and technical support. Autodesk Build/BIM 360 Build are proving to be great tools for Kingfish, and expect that the benefits will continue to increase as they implement more of its functionality into our daily workflows.
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Whether you’re new to Bluebeam or looking to get more out of your existing investment, we’re here to help you make the most of your investment.
Determine areas for improvement
We’ll sit down with you to review key metrics and observe existing processes to identify efficiency gaps and develop a customized working plan.
Implement Bluebeam best practices
We know how difficult it can be to get teams on the same page. That’s why we’ll work to quickly standardize digital workflows company-wide which will save time, money, and headaches.
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Our team knows firsthand what it takes to reduce time to value. We’ll help you jump-start adoption across teams and projects to make your organization as efficient and productive as possible for years to come.
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Our consultants have years of industry experience working at companies of all shapes and sizes. We understand the kinds of challenges you face every day — and what Bluebeam can do for teams when properly implemented. No matter what you need, we’ll work side by side to help you reach your goals.
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What does a typical consulting engagement look like?
Before any engagement, one of our consultants will meet with you to determine how we can best help meet your goals. Then we’ll put together a proposed scope of work based on your needs. At a high level, a typical consulting engagement includes three phases:
Discovery — Our consultant takes a deep dive with your team to learn about your current processes and needs.
Recommendations — Our consultant takes this information and proposes a workflow/process based on our best practices to meet your needs. You would do a workshop to validate the process and make any necessary changes.
Knowledge Transfer — We’ll deliver training to your users on how to execute this process.
How long does a consulting engagement take?
Engagement lengths can vary widely depending on the agreed-upon scope of work, but smaller engagements usually last 3-8 weeks.
Do you offer in-person consulting engagements?
We’re only offering remote, online engagements at this time. We look forward to offering in-person consults once it’s again safe to do so.
Can I just talk with a consultant about questions I have?
Yes! In most cases, we do recommend a full engagement where our consultant can look holistically at what you’re trying to achieve and help put together a plan that meets those needs. However, some teams just need a little help to get over a hump or validate a process they’ve already put in place. For this, we offer one-on-one consulting calls starting at two hours where our Bluebeam consultant can offer advice and help point you in the right direction.
How can I get a demo of Bluebeam?
Our Bluebeam team works with new and existing customers who’ve already decided to implement Bluebeam in their organizations. For a sales conversation or Bluebeam demo, contact our sales team at bluebeam@microsolresources.com.
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Expert guidance from people who’ve been there
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