Why is there a need for Remote Working?
With the COVID-19 virus outbreak, there has been a huge number of companies with Business Continuity Plans put in place to mitigate the risk of infection.
Some of these risk mitigation measures include staggered working hours. In the worst case scenario (such as a COVID-19 case within the workplace), the entire office is shutdown, resulting in massive disruption to BIM execution workflows.
Remote workers (working from laptops) will no longer have access to the high-end workstations deployed at their site office which also comes bundled together with their licenced BIM applications.
This is where Virtual Desktop Infrastructure comes into play to help BIM Managers and Directors.
How does Virtual Desktop Infrastructure work?
The burden of processing large BIM data models is now migrated to the VDI server and not the end-user device. The end-user is able to access the BIM models via a remote connection to the VDI server.
Imagine this – your employee will now be able to work on any of their Autodesk or Bentley applications with their company-issued laptop. These applications typically run on high-performance workstations that are situated at the office, making remote working impossible.
The Benefits of Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
You no longer need to purchase expensive workstations to run BIM applications. A company-issued laptop with an internet connection is sufficient.
Connect an unlimited number of laptops or mobile devices to a central VDI server to run your BIM applications (ArchiCAD / Revit / OpenBuildings etc)
Roll out updates to BIM software centrally and issue BIM licences from a central server. Manage your licencing costs more effectively with VDI.
What happens when the outbreak is over?
Your investment in VDI will not be wasted. VDI supports a hyper-mobile workforce that empowers employees with the computing power of a traditional high-end workstation that is tied to a single location.
For example, Architects or Consultants on the move can connect remotely to the VDI server using their tablets or VR set-ups to render high-resolution models. Even contractors on working onsite can extract and modify shop-drawings onsite using their phones.
The COVID-19 shutdown is an excellent opportunity for C-suite executives to prepare their IT infrastructure for an increasingly mobile workforce. There is nothing better than using a crisis to implement solutions that bring long-term benefit and ROI to your company.
How do I get started?
A major concern for SMEs getting started with desktop virtualisation is associated with the cost. It is a valid concern – the cost of running high-performance Graphical Processing Units (GPU) in the cloud is certainly going to cost more than a physical workstation running in the office.
What you are paying for is the ability to work anytime, anywhere on your BIM applications with little to no performance issues.
For Singaporean enterprises with at least a 30% local shareholding, you may be able to apply for certain government grants for laptops. However, to date there has been no funding support for the virtualisation technology that VDI supports.
Get Started with Virtual Desktop
*Always check with your software resellers on the Terms of Service. Not all software licences are allowed to be virtualised.