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Solum Surveying Enhances Efficiency and Flexibility with BricsCAD and KTF Pointcloud

BACKGROUND

Solum Surveying, a well-established and respected survey company operating across the UK, specializes in topographical surveys, measured building surveys, 3D laser scanning, UAV surveys, and underground utility surveys. Facing challenges with expensive and inflexible CAD solutions, Solum Surveying sought a more adaptable and cost-effective alternative. They chose BricsCAD, supported by KTF Software, to revolutionize their workflows and enhance operational efficiency.

KEY CHALLENGES
  • High Costs and Limited Flexibility: Previous CAD solutions were costly and required expensive add-ons for essential features, leading to operational inefficiencies.
  • Licensing and Remote Work Limitations: The perpetual licensing model of earlier software made it challenging to scale the team or allow surveyors to work remotely, issues that were exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Limited Innovation: The previous software showed limited advancements over time, leaving the company frustrated with high costs and low returns on investment.

Topographical Survey Operations Manager, Steve Drew told us, “We felt like we were paying a premium for software that wasn’t evolving or offering the advancements we needed for our business.”.

THE BRICSCAD SOLUTION

Recognizing the need for a more tailored and affordable solution, Solum Surveying adopted BricsCAD with the assistance of KTF Software.

  • Implementation Process: The team started by trialing BricsCAD Pro licenses to assess the software’s capabilities. Employees were provided licenses tailored to their needs—Pro for advanced users and Lite for lighter workloads. Perpetual licenses were implemented company-wide, enabling greater flexibility and scalability.
  • Overcoming Obstacles: The primary challenge during implementation was ensuring surveyors updated their software versions and license codes consistently. To address this, the company developed a robust license database, enabling seamless updates and maximizing subscription value.

Steve added, “We soon realised that BricsCAD was a very powerful CAD software with plenty of options to suit”.

IMPACT AND BENEFITS

BricsCAD delivered significant improvements in efficiency, cost savings, and workflow flexibility:

  • Simplified Licensing: Standalone perpetual licenses allowed surveyors to work remotely on their own devices without compromising productivity.
  • Enhanced Remote Work: Surveyors could now use BricsCAD on laptops and desktops, enabling them to process data remotely, saving travel time and costs.
  • Cost Savings: The affordable pricing model made BricsCAD a more scalable and budget-friendly option, supporting team growth.
  • Increased Efficiency: Remote access and tailored licensing improved overall workflow, particularly during remote operations like those necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
THIRD-PARTY TOOLS

Solum Surveying utilized the KTF Pointcloud Tool, which is a BricsCAD plug-in, free to KTF Software customers, to load and process laser scan point cloud data. This tool proved invaluable for specific projects like Measured Building Surveys.

CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND RESOURCES

Steve commented, “Theres always someone very knowledgeable available at the end of the phone or email at KTF Software to assist with any queries we’ve experienced.

Other notable examples of support include:

  • Point Cloud Import Issue: A setting defaulting to ignore geotags was quickly resolved with guidance from Dan at KTF Software.
  • Recovery File Setup: The team received assistance in configuring regular save intervals and centralized file paths, ensuring critical data was not lost.

The company also found the BricsCAD YouTube channel to be an excellent resource for tutorials and troubleshooting.

RECOMMENDATION AND FUTURE PLANS
  • Recommendation: Solum Surveying highly recommends BricsCAD for its affordability, flexibility, and powerful features. Steve told me, “I believe BricsCAD is an industry-leading powerful software at an affordable price with flexible packages. It’s the perfect partnership to meet the demands of a busy Geospatial surveying company that strives to produce industry-leading innovative survey deliverables.”
  • Expansion Plans: As the company’s Geospatial department continues to grow, they plan to expand their BricsCAD license portfolio to support their scaling team.
CONCLUSION

BricsCAD and KTF Pointcloud has transformed the way Solum Surveying operates, delivering powerful CAD capabilities at an affordable price. With flexible licensing, efficient workflows, and exceptional support from KTF Software, the company is well-positioned to continue producing industry-leading survey deliverables.

Like Solum Surveying, you can take advantage of a powerful CAD tool with an easy learning curve that can help you create detailed and accurate plans that are compatible with your customers.

Don’t let outdated software and workflows slow you down. Upgrade to BricsCAD and try out KTF Pointcloud to take your work to the next level.

CONTACT US

If you’d like to see any of our software in action, you can request a personalised demo or try it for yourself with a 30-day trial.

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    “I would recommend this program to any designer…Absolutely 5 stars”

    Thank you for bringing BricsCAD to my attention.

    Ben Bentley

    “Instinctive and straightforward to learn…excellent support and development”

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