Boral: Autodesk Vault Data Transfer
Autodesk Vault Benefits
- 1Improved teamwork and collaborative design.
- 2Concurrent design changes and automation.
- 3
Ability to rapidly find and reuse data.
- 4
Simple administration and configuration
- 5Automated release and change processes.
- 6
Scalability for multiple sites and large workgroups.
We were looking forsuitable data solutions that could satisfy our needs and allow us to scale up and down as per our ongoing business demands. So we zeroed in on Autodesk Vault as our solution.”
We were looking forsuitable data solutions that could satisfy our needs and allow us to scale up and down as per our ongoing business demands. So we zeroed in on Autodesk Vault as our solution.”
IN DEPTH CONSULTATION FROM DAY ONE
A true consulting service is critical to a project of any scale, providing clients with an in-depth understanding of the product features and applications and giving them an opportunity to talk through their specific needs.
This is especially true for projects that implement Engineering Data Management systems with Autodesk Vault. Engineering Data Management systems typically reflect engineering workflows and have a connection with the company’s business process. Their correct implementation leads to a significant improvement in business efficiency.
The Data Transfer Tool utilises a customer centric approach to identify both business, engineering and end users needs. This is achieved through ongoing conversations and consultation at all stages of a Autodesk Vault implementation.
“It never felt like a client-vendor relationship. It felt as if we were on the same team and trying to achieve the same outcomes. This was definitely an outstanding takeout from this entire project.”
“It never felt like a client-vendor relationship. It felt as if we were on the same team and trying to achieve the same outcomes. This was definitely an outstanding takeout from this entire project.”
It was critical to understand potential limitations that could arise with such a large scale data transfer at Boral Australia and respond quickly to these problems.
“One of the most important parts of the consultation was identifying gaps or issues and defining what the corrective actions were rather than just leaving them to address later.”
“Responsiveness was very good when our team needed any help with issues. This has won a lot of applause for us and has been well received across the business.”
“One of the most important parts of the consultation was identifying gaps or issues and defining what the corrective actions were rather than just leaving them to address later.”
“Responsiveness was very good when our team needed any help with issues. This has won a lot of applause for us and has been well received across the business.”
By establishing a collaborative foundation with the Boral Australia team, we were able to build a high level of trust in our expertise throughout the project.
MINIMAL DISRUPTION DURING THE MIGRATION
A company the size of Boral Australia couldn’t afford to have significant downtime with its operations. By completing the data transfer over a single weekend, it was able to eliminate disruption to Business As Usual and have Autodesk Vault live for users on the Monday morning.
Data transfer over a single weekend is possible because of automated and concurrent processes of the Data Transfer Tool. There are no manual tasks to upload data which means no wasted time or unwanted errors.
“Nik was very flexible in agreeing to the schedules and helping us through the transition during the weekend migration.”
“Nik was very flexible in agreeing to the schedules and helping us through the transition during the weekend migration.”
CLEANED AND CLASSIFIED DATA
Using an engineering data management system usually consists of two main steps. First, configuration of a new data management system; the second step is uploading data.
While the first step is more or less straight forward, the second usually looks challenging because:
-> There are no out of the box solutions that allow easily upload big datasets
-> Manual upload is extremely time consuming and can lead to unwanted errors
-> Legacy data sets may include many duplicate files that will lead to messy data
The Data Transfer Tool has an automated and fast process of data cleaning before its upload to Autodesk Vault.
Although Boral Australia had twice as many files as initially estimated, we were able to effectively process, deduplicate and classify the data in accordance with internal processes and projects, and also ensure the metadata was properly mitigated.
“One of the biggest benefits we are now experiencing is having our data cleaned. There was unrequired data that we were just carrying with us. Nik helped us get rid of that.”
“One of the biggest benefits we are now experiencing is having our data cleaned. There was unrequired data that we were just carrying with us. Nik helped us get rid of that.”
TESTING ENVIRONMENT WAS CRITICAL TO PROJECT SUCCESS
Any technical system that is used by people has to be built around users. A human-centered approach that guarantees success and effectiveness of the design of any kind.
The Data Transfer Tool is developed in such a way that it engages end users of Autodesk Vault at the configuration stage. This allows not only get users feedback on the processes being implemented but also catch and fix possible errors before the final migration process is implemented.
The creation of a live test environment offered end users an opportunity to test and fine tune the data before it was released to production. This helped to eliminate any potential errors or mistakes and ensure the data quality and centralisation was right.
“The staging environment was critical to the success of the migration by identifying the file structures and any corrupt data, and then implementing the corrective actions. Because of that, the actual migration was very, very smooth with minimal issues.”
“The staging environment was critical to the success of the migration by identifying the file structures and any corrupt data, and then implementing the corrective actions. Because of that, the actual migration was very, very smooth with minimal issues.”
TRAINING THE END USERS IN AUTODESK VAULT
Modern Cad regularly works in collaboration with Autodesk partners. In Boral Australia’s case, he partnered with CADGROUP Australia that were involved in Autodesk Vault installation and training.
Any successful data migration relies on the end users having the knowledge and confidence to use the new solution. Despite the disruption caused by Covid-19, the training was able to schedule regular online training sessions with Boral Australia team members.
“Training was done through various Microsoft Teams meetings and online sessions and the users were very happy with it. The training was well developed regarding how to navigate around the product and how to achieve the maximum potential and the team is now well trained and very confident using the system.”
“Training was done through various Microsoft Teams meetings and online sessions and the users were very happy with it. The training was well developed regarding how to navigate around the product and how to achieve the maximum potential and the team is now well trained and very confident using the system.”
A NEW WAY OF HOSTING BORAL’S INFRASTRUCTURE
“Moving to the cloud has not only reduced the reliance on the physical hardware that we’ve had in place, but it also gives us the flexibility to scale up and down as per our business requirements and manage the disk space in real time.”
“Moving to the cloud has not only reduced the reliance on the physical hardware that we’ve had in place, but it also gives us the flexibility to scale up and down as per our business requirements and manage the disk space in real time.”
Switching to Autodesk Vault also addressed business needs by utilising the benefits of Autodesk software. Boral Australia’s legacy Data Management System was tied to the premises, resulting in a number of inefficiencies and significant ongoing costs.
The strategic move to the cloud was central to meeting Boral Australia’s need for cost savings over time and a more reliable, adaptable and robust hosting solution.
That was possible because one of the advantages of the Autodesk licensing model is that it allows hosting of Autodesk Vault servers in the cloud.
EARLY BENEFITS FOR BORAL AUSTRALIA
We were incredibly proud to be involved in a crucial aspect of Boral Australia’s overall IT upgrades, with the company set to complete migration of their infrastructure to the cloud by March, 2022.
A well organised Data Management System is a huge benefit to an engineering company, especially from a ISO-9000 perspective, and the early signs are very positive for this project.
“The most important feedback I’ve had from all the project stakeholders was that this was a very well planned and coordinated migration, with clear outcomes that were defined and achieved. Right throughout this project I’m very glad to say that our objectives were always kept front-of-mind and Nikita and the CAD team did a fantastic job helping to meet these.”
“The most important feedback I’ve had from all the project stakeholders was that this was a very well planned and coordinated migration, with clear outcomes that were defined and achieved. Right throughout this project I’m very glad to say that our objectives were always kept front-of-mind and Nikita and the CAD team did a fantastic job helping to meet these.”
