Next Level CAD: How Autodesk Fusion Speeds Up Everyday Work for SOLIDWORKS Users

Why many engineering teams work slower than they should

Anyone who has been in product development for a while knows the challenge: instead of working in one integrated system, you end up juggling multiple applications. CAD here, simulation there, CAM somewhere else entirely. Data is scattered across local drives or locked away in PDM systems that are often only accessible internally.

It sounds like the usual engineering routine, but it’s a huge drain on time and energy. Synchronizing changes is cumbersome, versions get out of sync, and if a colleague working remotely urgently needs a file, it can become a real headache. The result: delayed projects, higher costs, and in some cases products hitting the market later than planned.

The simple idea behind faster workflows

To speed things up, engineering teams should focus on three key principles:

1. Bring everything together on one platform: instead of jumping between separate tools, each with its own file formats and quirks.
2. Work in the cloud: so that everyone has real-time access to the same data, without the hassle of sending files back and forth.
3. Stay flexible: add functions as needed rather than being tied to rigid, one-size-fits-all software bundles.

This isn’t just a product choice, it’s a strategic decision about how a company wants to work in the future: tied to local systems or flexible and connected.

Real-world example: how everyday work changes

Take a small mechanical engineering company with ten designers spread across two locations. Until now, they’ve been using SOLIDWORKS with a local PDM server. One colleague in Hamburg works on an assembly while another in Munich works on the same project, but in an older version. Merging the work takes hours.

With Fusion, both simply open the same model in the cloud. Changes appear in real time, and there are no conflicts. Even if SOLIDWORKS continues to be used for design, Fusion can run in parallel for CAM, simulation, or generative design. Thanks to AnyCAD, the data always stays up to date.

Straight talk: is Fusion perfect?

No tool is flawless. Autodesk Fusion requires an internet connection, and certain specialized functions are only available via paid extensions. But at a time when distributed teams, remote work, and faster time-to-market are increasingly critical, the advantages outweigh the drawbacks, whether Fusion is used as a full replacement or as a powerful complement to existing SOLIDWORKS setups.

Conclusion: Now is the time to rethink

If you’re still working in a classic desktop-based SOLIDWORKS setup, it’s worth seriously considering whether a switch – or at least an integration – with Autodesk Fusion is the more efficient and future-proof option. The barriers to entry are low, existing projects can be carried over, and daily work becomes noticeably easier. Even if Fusion starts out as “just” an add-on in the workflow, it can quickly make a real difference.