Engineering VDI
Superior hybrid arrangements for engineering firms
Purpose-built for engineering professionals, VDIPOD stands apart from other remote working solutions with a proven record for transforming business continuity, workforce mobility and global collaboration. Delivered as a fully-managed Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) solution, it’s a ready-made, collaborative workspace with unprecedented capabilities.
Maximising the use of best-of-breed technologies, VDIPOD releases greater ROI and competitive advantage from hybrid working. And it’s shown to be effective in even the most demanding engineering industry settings, including power users working with graphics-heavy CAD applications or huge datasets.
When using engineering VDI solutions worldwide engineers can effortlessly access tools and data – on site, on the move, or at home – and work as efficiently as if they were in the office, boosting collaboration and productivity across the entire workforce. For example, by enabling the brightest talent in civil, mechanical and structural engineering to work together on complex 3D building models. Delivering complex projects faster – regardless of location and time zone – at less risk and cost.
Engineering Technological Changes
Solving the world’s toughest problems
Engineering ingenuity holds the key to post-pandemic recovery as the world’s governing powers become more environmentally focused. The effects of climate change on infrastructure and society are driving demand for more sustainable construction materials, solar energy systems, zero-energy buildings, and water protection and water-saving designs.
Unsurprisingly, achieving those aims means engineering firms are having to rapidly accelerate adoption of digital and automation technologies, like virtualised design, RPA and AI. Meanwhile growth of 5G networks has made collecting data from IoT asset-monitoring sensors much easier. For instance, to let a wastewater treatment plant operator know when flow is suboptimal, or to inform transport managers when a bridge is nearing capacity or has been damaged.
More than ever, engineers need to easily connect to digital workflows, tools and data wherever they are. This requires a fast, reliable platform in which VDIPOD can provide these engineering VDI solutions.
The Guide to Choosing VDI Engineering Solutions
Holding all the aces
As many engineering firms quickly discovered, off-the-shelf virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solutions are just not up to the job. They’re unable to cope with graphics-heavy apps and mammoth datasets, effectively shackling power users to their office IT set-ups.
Five tips to increase your chances of Engineering VDI success
Decide who manages what
For example, in-house options like Windows Virtual Desktop, on-prem VDI, or Desktop-as-a-Service supported by a specialist. Engaging a managed service provider pays back with savings on data centre space, infrastructure, upgrades, licensing, support and headcount.
Secure executive sponsorship
Check business case cost comparisons are like-for-like. Start by calculating five-year TCO. Expenses should include hardware refreshes, virtualisation software, additional GPU, salaries, power, rack space, out-of-hours staffing, and training costs.
Quantify productivity gains
Benefits like enhanced data security, built-in disaster recovery, faster IT provisioning, speed of access, improved version control, and time saved on rework and duplicated effort should also be included.
Maintain security and compliance
Cyber criminals are actively targeting homeworkers’ PCs and devices to access corporate networks. So, IT teams need the freedom to choose where VDI workloads sit – in the cloud, on-prem or hybrid – in one seamless solution.
Futureproof investment
Ask if you’ll benefit from access to the latest technologies and regular updates during your contract, rather than relying solely on legacy on-premise hardware or having to invest in upgrades.
Benefits of Engineering VDI Solutions
Why VDIPOD is the first choice for…
Better experience with bulky apps like CAD, Revit, Photoshop and InDesign.
Much easier to share and transfer files.
More effective version control for plans and designs.
Higher productivity, especially when working on-site or meeting with clients.
Simple commercial model charged monthly per user with profile trading options.
On-demand agility, connecting new offices and users simply by adding licences.
Data stored in one location, reducing the risk of breach or loss.
IT teams get more time to focus on innovation.
No more buying infrastructure every time user count is exceeded.
Less time spent on desktop management and software upgrades.
No need to hire and train VDI specialists.
No need to carry and pay for spare server capacity.
Shorter setup times, mobilising teams and getting projects up-and-running quicker.
JV staff and experts not hindered by time zones (follow-the-sun model).
High-end building information is worked on collaboratively, in real time.
Teams are able to better pool knowledge and modelling.
How to Choose the Right VDI Partner
DaaS: Hassle-free VDI
Managing a VDI solution long-term is anything but simple. You can spend a lot of time firefighting issues with legacy infrastructure, cloud deployment and user problems. Tired of incessant resource demands, performance issues and user complaints, those in the know are turning to Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) from a specialist managed service provider.
Choosing a VDI partner
Look for a supplier with a successful track record of designing and deploying secure remote working technologies in the architecture sector; one who understands virtualisation and how AEC industry apps and network services behave together.
Seek the help of a specialist with end-to-end expertise – from devices, connectivity and cloud to storage, security and user experience (nothing stops a VDI project in its tracks like substandard UX)
Scrutinise their tech credentials and be confident they can deploy the right solution and provide ongoing management, optimisation, and 24/7 support.
Beware of sales pitches promising savings. Before and after IT infrastructure costs can remain flat or even rise slightly. A more realistic approach is to deploy specialist skills to unlock much greater value for the same outlay.
Many providers differentiate between VDI profiles for ordinary and power users. Check they also offer scalable pricing with flexible credits that can be reallocated, creating VDI burst capability when you need it.
VDI Engineering Examples
SNC-Lavalin empowers highly mobile digital global workforce
Providing global capability, rollout to support 1,500 initial users began in the UK, followed by India, SE Asia and North America. The new DaaS solution overcame latency issues experienced with legacy storage infrastructure, beating users’ previous laptops or PCs for speed and overall experience. Now, employees suffer less downtime and work more productively when sharing plans, designs and other large files. Time to access huge data sets remotely was reduced from hours to a few minutes.
Moreover, SNC-Lavalin was able to protect staff and switch seamlessly to home working during the pandemic. In VDIPOD, it now also has a scalable solution to support hybrid working, workforce mobility and international collaboration for the future. The innovative technology is set to transform how the company works, boosting speed and productivity and facilitating international, multi-disciplinary collaboration to improve delivery of client projects.
“This investment will transform how we deliver with our clients, allowing us to move at pace, improving productivity and collaborating across time zones and disciplines in a way we’ve never done before.”
Ian Edwards, President and CEO, SNC-Lavalin
Creative ITC's Engineering VDI Solutions
Delivered as a fully-managed DaaS solution, VDIPOD is a headache-free remote working solution that elevates user experience, collaboration, and productivity across your entire workforce, with specialist support freeing up in-house IT resources.
It is the only VDI platform on the market that can be consumed in the cloud, on-prem or through a hybrid model in a single, seamless solution, giving IT teams the freedom to decide where VDI workloads sit.
Creative clients also benefit from one of the most scalable pricing plans on the market. Pay per user, per month, per profile by purchasing credits you can stipulate and reallocate, providing burst scalability when needed.
How VDIPOD works
Eliminates need for large upfront platform investment, refreshes and support
Improved user experience, uptime and productivity
Faster provisioning, centrally managed updates and reduced helpdesk traffic
More time to spend on innovation and transformational IT projects
Smaller storage footprint
Built-in disaster recovery
Capacity that scales as business needs change
More agile IT platforms for growth
LET'S TALK
If you have a question or need our help. Get in touch.
Our London HQ
Birchin Court, 20 Birchin Lane,
London, England, EC3V 9DU
+44 (0)20 7682 2820
OPENING HOURS
MONDAY – FRIDAY
9:00 AM to 5:30 PM