An Interview with Carl Spalding, Sales Enablement Director at Graitec, about Listening to the Customer’s Revit Journey
Earlier this year, Ideate Software merged with Graitec, expanding its ability to provide software solutions to the European market and beyond. Carl Spalding spearheads sales enablement at Graitec by mentoring the sales team with his immersive approach to understanding customers’ most significant challenges and helping to solve them.
What is your background?
I have been in the AEC and Autodesk space since 2001 and with Graitec for over 17 years, progressing from field sales to Managing Director to leading product strategy and portfolio management. Now, I focus on the sales and marketing side, where I coach our team to stop selling and start listening.
You say “stop selling and start listening.” Tell us more.
The conversations we have with customers are about understanding their business, their big picture objectives. This helps to uncover where they struggle the most in their workflows, tasks, and delivery obligations. Technology is a part of that picture, so we ask the question, “how do we put things in place that solve day-to-day challenges that prevent major problems long term?”
When we take the time to understand our customer’s journey, they bring us to the solutions. This influences everything from our product strategy to how we help customers eliminate mundane and repetitive tasks and the risks associated with them.
What are you most excited about now that Ideate Software and Graitec have joined forces?
What’s really wonderful about Ideate Software is that their customers are incredibly loyal to the brand. They love being able to speak to anyone in the Ideate organization. Those conversations have real value to every Ideate team member, from the head of technology to the support desk, because it exposes them to the customer’s experience in real-time. This also extends to Ideate Software’s beta testers, who are a highly engaged group of customers in a two-way conversation with the development team. They not only test Ideate products, but engage Ideate to push boundaries, and provide invaluable feedback. The active collaboration process is truly eye-opening evidence of customer-centricity in motion.
Additionally, I’m excited to bring Ideate Software to our long-standing customer relationships in Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, and the UK, among others. Ideate Software is built to address the fundament and complex workflow challenges faced by Revit users every day and our customers have a huge potential to benefit from the technology.
What does the future hold for Revit and AEC?
There is a lot of conversation about the role of AI, but the future of Revit add-ins remains in ease of use to foster adoption and solving practical outcomes that free people to do the things that are most important to them and their projects. In the end, as it is today, Revit users will ultimately define what the technology needs to do.
You can find more from Ideate Software’s team by browsing our Resource Library. There you’ll discover team member profiles, videos and articles packed with tips, support and ideas for Ideate Software users.
What is a Named User license?
A Named User license is assigned to one specific person rather than shared across a network. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see the License Wizard section of the Graitec Licensing Help Center.
Are Ideate Suites replacing Ideate Software Bundles?
Yes. Going forward, Ideate Suites replace Ideate Software Bundles.
What's the difference between the Ideate Software Bundle and the Ideate Suite?
Both include the same five tools: IdeateApps, Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Sticky and Ideate StyleManager. What changes is how many people can use them at the same time.
- Bundle: Each tool is licensed separately, so different people can work in different tools at once. For example, with one Bundle, five people could each use a different tool at the same time.
- Suite: One license covers all five tools for one person at a time. That person can move freely between every tool. While they're using the Suite, it isn't available to anyone else on that license until they finish.
A Named User Suite is assigned to one specific person. A Cloud Floating Suite can be shared across your team, one person at a time.
Will my team need more licenses?
If several people on your team use different Ideate tools at the same time, you may need more than one Suite license. Contact us and we'll review your team's usage and help you choose the right setup.
Can I still buy an Ideate Software Bundle?
No. Bundles are no longer available for purchase. New purchases are offered as follows:
- Ideate Suite: Named User or Cloud Floating
- Enterprise Suite: Cloud Floating
- Active Host: Cloud Floating
- Automation: Cloud Floating
- Individual products: Named User or Cloud Floating (IdeateApps, Ideate BIMLink, Ideate Explorer, Ideate Sticky, and Ideate StyleManager)
Can I still buy IdeateApps, BIMLink, Explorer, Sticky, or StyleManager individually?
Yes. Individual products are available as Named User or Cloud Floating licenses.
Will floating (network) licenses still be available?
Yes. Cloud Floating licenses are available for Ideate Suite, Enterprise Suite, Active Host, individual products, and Automation.
My organization has strict security requirements or no internet access. Can I still get a FlexLM license?
Yes. FlexLM remains available for organizations with security requirements, such as environments without internet access. FlexLM is not available through the online store, so please contact your account manager to purchase.
I'm an existing customer. What happens to my current license/s?
Your existing Ideate Software subscription is moving to our new licensing system at no cost. Your license quantities and expiration dates stay the same.
- Standalone licenses become Named User licenses. Set up your Named Users in the Graitec Advantage Portal.
- Cloud Floating (network) licenses become Cloud Floating Suite licenses. Deploy the latest release as you have in the past, using the new license code in your migration email.
- Each Ideate Software Bundle becomes an Ideate Suite.
To keep using Ideate, update to the latest release and activate your new license by March 31, 2027. Older Ideate licenses will stop working in Q2 2027.
Using Ideate with Revit 2022 or earlier? Contact ideatesupport@graitec.com to review your options. For account questions, contact sales@ideatesoftware.com.
I have a Bundle today. What will I receive when I move to the new licensing?
Conversions are one for one. Each Ideate Software Bundle becomes one Ideate Suite, and each network Bundle becomes one Cloud Floating Suite. Your license quantities and expiration dates stay the same.
I have several products that renew on different dates. How will that be handled?
We're finalizing how to handle accounts with multiple renewal dates. Contact sales@ideatesoftware.com and we'll review your account with you.
Where do I manage my licenses?
In the Graitec Advantage Portal. Based on customer requests, starting with the latest Ideate release, license management and license usage information are handled in Graitec Advantage, outside of Revit. We recommend bookmarking the portal.
- Named User licenses: Assign licenses to people on your team in Graitec Advantage.
- Cloud Floating Suite licenses: Deploy the latest release with your new license code as you have in the past, then manage licenses in Graitec Advantage.
Watch the Graitec Advantage walkthrough
Can I transfer a Named User license to another person?
Yes. There's no limit on the total number of transfers, but each license can be transferred up to two times within a 30-day period.
How are licenses issued?
Each product on your order is issued as its own license once your order is processed. To try a product before buying, contact us to request an evaluation license.
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