For decades, 3D product data has lived behind powerful workstations, complex installs, and license restrictions. That made sense when teams sat together on the same network. But today, engineering and manufacturing span time zones, devices, and disciplines—and legacy desktop workflows simply can’t keep up.
This isn’t just a software limitation. It’s a drag on collaboration, agility, and speed to market.
Why Legacy 3D Workflows Don’t Fit Modern Work
Most traditional CAD and PLM environments were built for a different era:
Workstations, shared drives, and co-located teams. The result is a rigid architecture that assumes:
- 3D software is installed on high-performance desktops
- Viewer access is tied to expensive per-seat licenses
- Files are only viewable on machines with local GPUs and the right plugins
That structure creates daily friction for teams outside of engineering. When someone in sourcing, service, or quality needs to engage with product data, they’re often forced to wait for an export, a scheduled review, or IT to install something new.
It’s not just inconvenient. It’s exclusive.
The Ripple Effect of Desktop Dependency
Desktop-tethered workflows don’t just slow down engineers—they block collaboration across the value chain.
- Global teams struggle to engage across time zones and regions
- Non-technical stakeholders rely on static screenshots and slide decks
- Field teams can’t access full 3D context without a high-powered laptop
- IT teams carry the burden of provisioning, patching, and maintaining software
These bottlenecks create missed handoffs, misalignment between teams, and a slower pace of decision-making.
Even worse, valuable insights from service reps, customers, or suppliers often get lost—not because they’re not contributing, but because the tools exclude them from participating in the first place.
Licensing Isn’t Just a Cost—It’s a Constraint
We often think about licensing in terms of expense, but the bigger issue is access.
Many traditional CAD and viewer tools are locked behind per-user pricing or feature-based restrictions. This forces teams to ration access, making tough calls about who gets to see what.
The downstream effect? Teams that should be collaborating in real time are stuck trading screenshots over email.
Vertex Enables a New Kind of Flexibility
At Vertex, we designed our platform to integrate seamlessly with the tools and workflows manufacturers already rely on—not replace them.
It’s not about eliminating desktop software. It’s about extending access and visibility beyond it.
Today's teams are global, mobile, and cross-functional. Vertex gives them the flexibility to work that way—without adding friction, risk, or IT burden.
- Stream 3D data securely to any device—no files, no local rendering
- Eliminate viewer license sprawl—share at scale without per-seat limitations
- Enable access from tablets, laptops, or phones—with full model fidelity
- Collaborate in real time—across teams, systems, and geographies
Whether you're designing, quoting, reviewing, or servicing, Vertex gives you the flexibility to work where and how you need—without compromising IP or performance.
The Desktop Is No Longer the Destination
Your product data is one of your most valuable assets. It shouldn’t be locked to a few machines or a narrow group of users.
When you remove those barriers—hardware, licensing, installation—you open the door to faster reviews, more inclusive decision-making, and higher-quality outcomes across the board.
At Vertex, we believe collaboration should be free of conditions. It should be secure, seamless, and accessible anywhere, on any device.
Next up in our series on The Real Costs of Legacy 3D Workflows:
🌀 Decisions Without Data by Brent Arndorfer – When product insight is trapped in disconnected systems, teams miss context, overlook risks, and delay action—hurting both quality and business outcomes.
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