Engaging with our customers is at the heart of what we do at Autodesk. In the Forma product team, like all our product teams, we work closely with customers when testing features and developing new ones they’ve requested such as the Forma Board and the Embodied Carbon Analysis. We never tire of hearing about what makes them tick and trying to understand their needs better. We know they’re facing uphill battles in their work all the time from the increased complexity of projects to overcoming disconnected tools and a constant race against time, so it’s always hugely motivating for us to help make their work easier however we can.
During a recent annual company event in Oslo, a large array of our team, from software engineers to data analysts to sales and marketing, spent a fantastic afternoon visiting four Autodesk customers. They generously opened the doors of their studios and offices for us to take a peek into their creative and digital processes. We often meet customers at events, but it’s even more of an eye-opener for us to see them at work in their own environments.
Ferd hosted us at Marienlyst, one of Norway’s largest future urban developments that will transform the headquarters of the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation into a vibrant new neighborhood. A-lab showed us around their architecture studio – our team especially loved testing out their VR lab. Nordic Office of Architecture gave us a detailed look into their digital processes, delving into how this helps improve stakeholder engagement. Skanska talked us through their development at Økern where Forma was instrumental in improving living qualities for residents and streamlining negotiations.
During the visits, we heard about the challenging long-term process of complex urban developments, what architects look for when they try new technology, how they collaborate in projects, building trust with clients and stakeholders, the importance of storytelling, the need for visual and intuitive tools – so much of this is about helping people understand each other better – the list goes on! Of course, we were all very curious about how they are using Autodesk solutions in their projects, what they got most value from, and their opinions on what we should improve.
On all visits, our team was literally thinking out aloud, seeing opportunities and trying to find solutions for our customers’ challenges. It’s always refreshing to step away from the computer and into the world of our customers, if only for an afternoon. Inspired and energized, the team returned to the office, with heads full of ideas on how to continue making our solutions even more impactful for our customers.
We’d like to extend a big thank you to Ferd, A-Lab, Nordic Office of Architecture, and Skanska for the generosity of their time and inviting the Autodesk team to take a glimpse into their worlds.
Ferd
A-lab
Skanska
Nordic Office of Architecture
