“IP protection is ensured since you’re working in a secured network.” - Five Questions to Don Grapendaal
As part of our “5 Questions to an Expert” series, CADChain spoke with Don Grapendaal, COO at Farnest ICT Project Services, design coordinator, project engineer, and consultant at Farnest Engineering, implementation specialist, hardware & (CAD) software consultant, and (Interim) change manager.
The global 3D CAD software market size is estimated to reach $15 billion by 2028, registering a CAGR of 6.4%.
As the pace of innovation accelerates across industries and technological advances drive significant increases in production and construction activities, the development of CAD software and related technologies are expected to increase demand in the sector.
This is despite the software is quite expensive. According to recent research, 72% of CAD users who purchase general-purpose CAD software see their return on investment in one year, including 41% of users that notice so in less than six months.
CADChain asked Don Grapendaal, an expert with more than 20 years of experience in engineering and management, what the main drivers and restraints in the implementation of CAD software for businesses and users are.
According to Grapendaal: those are the type of work and clients you have. The main restraint is the IT department that does not know how CAD software needs to work.
Indeed, how fast it takes to integrate software is particularly significant. Users want to get their systems up and running to make use of the software as quickly as they can. In most cases, it takes less than one day, while some need up to three months.
With only 54% of engineers’ time used for value-added work, proper IT support is crucial for a smooth and efficient working process.
Engineering is one of the most intellectual property-intensive industries. Companies in the engineering industry, such as mechanical engineering or electrical engineering companies, are aware of the importance of intellectual property, which includes designs, processes, and inventions. Intellectual property protects the competitive advantage of the company, its market share, and its reputation.
Speaking about whether intellectual property management is that important for engineering businesses and whether they have challenges with it, given the advance of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Grapendaal said it is important and that he didn’t see any challenges so far.
Despite multiple questions on CAD software forums about how to protect designs, IP protection seems to be not in the scope of attention of CAD software producers. So users seek safety with solutions ensuring a secure working and collaboration environment.
CADChain: Is IP protection of CAD data considered by CAD software producers? What are the main tools they provide for this? Is this enough or requires additional tools?
D.G.: “IP protection is ensured since you’re working in a secured network. And if not then the IT department should do a better job in securing the network.”
Meanwhile, the pandemic has accelerated digitization and the shared economy drives the development of security solutions based on emerging technologies. One of them, blockchain, is paving its way to engineering and manufacturing.
Data has become the most valuable commodity in existence. Tracking the ownership and legitimacy of data, while securing it, is the basis of blockchain in the manufacturing industry.
CADChain: Do you believe that new technologies like blockchain, legal tech, and AI, may help in intellectual property protection?
D.G.: “New technologies are always welcome and will usually contribute to new / better and improved ways of working.”
Blockchain could act as an immutable safeguard for intellectual property starting from securing designs and up to counterfeit prevention in manufacturing.
Legal technologies like blockchain and smart contracts can be used for automated licensing of IP works, such as CAD designs, reducing costs and times.
