Outsourcing Your CAD Work

Today’s job market is constantly changing and resembles nothing of the past. The competitors in these markets are looking for anyway possible to attract and retain talented designers and engineers. If your company doesn’t have the resources to do this, more often than not, you’re left in the dust. As many of the team here at Daedalus can attest, we’ve all seen this exact scenario play out in front of our eyes; some of us have been that over-worked designer.

That’s not to say that this is the only way to do things. There is another option, and one that has been gaining a lot of traction in the recent years, outsourced CAD services. Thes outsource CAD services companies provide companies just like yours the design services you need, when you need them. But you’re thinking to yourself, “if I can’t find designers to hire, what makes these companies any different?” Well, the companies that operate in this space have several distinct advantages that the companies they serve do not. Steady workflow, better spread of the workload, more resources to attract and retain, and typically offer better incentives to their team.

Sure, per hour, these services are substantially more than hiring an in-house designer, there is no argument there. Some of these companies have hourly rates of $200.00 or more per billable hour. But that value isn’t in the dollar per hour number; their value lies in the dollar for output metric.

Let’s take a more in-depth look at some of the benefits that an outsourced CAD service offers, why it’s becoming a go-to solution for many organizations, and why your company can stand to benefit from this option.

One of the most compelling reasons to consider CAD outsourcing is cost efficiency. Counter-intuitive given the dollar per hour these companies charge, we know. Considering In-house design and engineering teams necessitate significant investments in recruitment, training, salaries, benefits, and the infrastructure required to support CAD operations, including expensive software (see also $5K-$10K per seat of CAD, per year that most major software companies are charging) and hardware (Could’ve bought a car for the price of some of the computer systems!).

Outsourcing CAD work completely bypasses these expenses, allowing companies to pay only for the services they need, when they need them.

“But how can they afford this, and I can’t?” An outsource CAD company is more able to navigate the high technology and salary costs as the clientele base is often (much) larger and allows them to achieve a higher quantity of billable hours to cover these costs. It’s not just company “Z” making widget “BR-549” with no other way to pay the overhead of the design department. These companies may have 15-30 projects going for 10 or more clients at the same time.

Leveraging this “pay-per-use” design team model can lead to substantial cost savings, even in the short term, especially for companies with fluctuating workloads.

Outsourcing CAD services provides immediate access to a pool of highly skilled and experienced professionals. These specialists bring expertise in a wide range of industries and are adept at handling diverse design projects. This level of expertise ensures high-quality designs and can contribute to faster project completion, a crucial factor in time-sensitive industries. Remember, these outsource companies have the resources to attract and retain the top talent, and the talent typically responds well when given the option of where they want to spend their workday. Not to mention that when an outsource company does onboard a more inexperienced designer, they have the staff and the time to provide proper training, and oversight required to set them on a path to success; none of the “throw them in the deep end” mentality that is sometimes prevalent working as an in-house designer.

Unlike fixed staff in-house teams, outsourced CAD services offer scalability and flexibility that align with the ebb and flow of your project demands. Whether it’s ramping up for a large project or scaling down in slower periods, outsourcing firms can adjust their resource allocation accordingly. This flexibility ensures that businesses can respond quickly and effectively to changing project scopes and deadlines.

Outsourcing design tasks can allow the company to realign their focus on core business activities. Having more time to focus on sales and lead generation, advertising, process improvements and similar tasks can be achieved by offloading specialized tasks to external experts. Let your internal teams concentrate on strategic initiatives that drive business growth and innovation. This shift in focus can lead to improved efficiency and productivity across the organization as a whole.

At the end of the day, efficiency often leads to profits, and profits are good!

CAD outsourcing firms invest in the latest technologies and software, staying at the forefront of technological advancements. Think Ironman levels of technology integrations – These teams live for implementing the latest and greatest. Most of them even have in-house software developers to create new tools and programs to help streamline the design workflows.

Remember you’re paying for the output, and if these companies can put out 8 hours of work in 2, that is a cost savings that compounds!

Partnering with these firms gives businesses like yours access to cutting-edge tools and methodologies without the need for heavy investment. This access ensures that design work is both high-quality and up to date with industry standards.

Outsourcing CAD work can also help in mitigating risks associated with project delays and errors. Professional CAD firms often have stringent quality control processes, ensuring the accuracy and precision of deliverables. The often used “we’ll fix it on the shop floor” mentality does not exist within these firms. SOP’s, policy’s, and workflows have been established and implemented to ensure the highest level of quality is maintained on every project.

Outsourcing your company’s design work presents a flexible, cost-effective, and efficient alternative to traditional in-house design teams. By leveraging the expertise, technology, and scalability of external CAD services, businesses can enhance their operational agility, reduce costs, and maintain a competitive edge in their respective industries.

As the business landscape continues to evolve, outsourcing design functions may become an increasingly strategic decision for many organizations; Is your company one of these?

Daedalus operates as a design outsource provider in many industries. Our commitment to excellence and client satisfaction has yielded the repeat business of our clients time and time again.

if your company is struggling to keep up with current demands, unable to find the right staff, or just doesn’t want the headaches (and cost) of maintaining in-house design staff, then reach out and talk to one of our team members. We are always eager to meet new people and develop a plan to success!

Head over to our , or check out Daedalus’  services offerings for some additional information.