Cloud CAD: Flexible, but confusing
– and only really efficient with the right search solution
Cloud CAD makes everything easier – right? More flexibility, better access, less IT effort. But anyone who has ever spent half an hour searching for the right drawing knows that as the number of storage locations increases, so does the chaos. Network drive, SharePoint, PDM system, cloud – where is the current version? And who last worked on it? This is exactly where searchit comes in: Our central search solution brings structure to the chaos and ensures that designers and engineers can find what they need in seconds – instead of searching endlessly.

Cloud storage facilitates collaboration – but makes orientation more difficult
More and more companies are turning to cloud-based CAD solutions such as AutoCAD Web, Fusion 360 or Onshape. This facilitates collaboration and cross-location access to CAD data. However, as flexibility increases, so does chaos: engineers and designers lose valuable time and nerves searching for drawings and data every day. Conventional file repositories and traditional search functions often only offer limited options for finding specific CAD files and models with pinpoint accuracy.
“Many companies invest in modern cloud solutions and assume that this will make everything easier. But in everyday life, employees quickly realize how tedious it can be to find the right file – especially when it comes to CAD data,” explains Christoph Wendl, CEO of Vienna-based Iphos IT Solutions GmbH. “Plans, drawings and models are stored in different places, versions are not always clearly recognizable and the search takes valuable time. A central search solution can help enormously here because it offers exactly what is missing: a fast and reliable way to find even complex CAD data at the first attempt.”
Why an intelligent search is crucial for CAD drawings
The particular challenges in managing CAD drawings lie not only in the sheer volume, but also in the formats: The files often contain highly complex models that cannot simply be found using a classic text search. The best investment here can be a smart search solution that searches across all formats, offers a file preview for CAD files and makes all versions and storage locations searchable.
Wendl’s company has developed searchit, an enterprise search software that enables a powerful search across all connected company sources and adapts to the specific needs of the construction and industrial sectors: “The preview function for CAD files is a real plus for our customers. Employees can view their drawings directly from anywhere without having to start the CAD software every time. This saves an enormous amount of time – especially for large engineering projects,” says Wendl.

Simple integration into existing workflows & IT environment important
Another key issue for many companies is the effort required to integrate software solutions into their existing IT systems and workflows. searchit Enterprise Search can be integrated directly into existing CAD and PDM environments so that designers and engineers do not have to switch between different platforms
“Nobody needs another isolated solution. Our search software links all existing systems and sources with each other – whether SharePoint, PDM software or cloud storage. This preserves the familiar way of working in a team, but with one decisive advantage: files can finally be found quickly, easily and centrally,” emphasizes Wendl.
Economic benefits of searchit: More efficiency, fewer errors, lower costs
The often tedious search for CAD files not only costs companies time, but also money. It is not uncommon for employees to spend a significant proportion of their working time searching for information and files. In the field of design and planning, this time delay can quickly cost large sums of money – especially if incorrect or outdated drawings are used.
“Every file that cannot be found slows down productivity and project progress. It gets even worse if work continues with an incorrect or outdated version due to a lack of search functions. In the worst case scenario, this can lead to production errors that result in high costs. A powerful search solution is therefore not a luxury, but a necessity for companies that want to work efficiently,” explains Wendl.
Conclusion: Cloud CAD needs a strong search solution
There is no doubt that web and cloud-based CAD systems are the future. However, the full potential of cloud-based solutions can only be exploited in conjunction with an intelligent enterprise search solution such as searchit. Companies investing in digital workflows should therefore also consider an enterprise search solution that makes their CAD drawings easily, quickly and intelligently accessible.
Cloud CAD offers many advantages – but without a powerful search, companies are wasting a lot of potential. If you can’t find your data, you can’t use it. With searchit, we solve this problem and ensure truly efficient CAD data management
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