Stop Second-Guessing Your Design Software Choice (Chief Architect vs SketchUp vs 2020)

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In this episode we’re tackling one of most consequential software decisions in your business – your architecture design tools. This isn't about comparing feature lists or debating which platform is "best." We’ll look at how one cabinet dealer discovered that sticking with familiar software was costing them opportunities they didn't even know existed.

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Episode Transcript

(00:05):
Hey there, I'm your host, BrandyLawson, and welcome to another
episode of Elevated.
In this episode, we're tacklingone of the most consequential
software decisions in yourbusiness, your architecture
design tools.
This isn't about comparingfeature lists or debating which
platform is best.
We'll look at how one cabinetdealer discovered that sticking
with familiar software wascosting them opportunities.

(00:26):
They didn't even know existed.
Here's what was happening.
This firm had been using 2020design software for years.
It worked fine.
Projects got completed, clientsreceived their designs, but fine
revealed itself as the enemy oftransformational.
When they hired a new teammember who had experience with
Chief Architect, that freshperspective opened a

(00:46):
conversation they'd never hadbefore.
What if there was a better way?
There's both challenge andopportunity when picking
architecture design software.
This software is at the heart ofthe service the cabinet dealers
provide, and changing it feels,uh, monumentally disruptive.
Yet staying with suboptimalsoftware can drain resources

(01:07):
from your team every single day.
The new team's members, chiefArchitect knowledge sparked an
evaluation that might never havehappened otherwise.
When they examine ChiefArchitect's capabilities
alongside their currentworkflow, they discovered the
potential for improvedrenderings and assets
enhancements that could reallyelevate their client
presentations and differentiatetheir services.

(01:30):
Making the switch to ChiefArchitect, they immediately
began benefiting from bettervisual outputs.
Their client presentationsimproved.
The team enthusiastically usedthe enhanced rendering
capabilities success.
Right.
Well.
Yes and no.
They used chief architecteffectively for what they knew
it could do, but they missedadditional functionalities that

(01:50):
could have streamlined theirordering process.
Features that could have savedsignificant time in their daily
workflow remained undiscoveredfor more than a year, simply
because they hadn'tsystematically explored the
software's full capabilities.
The most common mistake withdesign software isn't choosing
the wrong platform.
It's sticking with somethingfamiliar.

(02:11):
Just because it is and neverconsidering alternatives, and
even when you make a beneficialchange, the learning doesn't
stop there.
Home design software, regardlessof platform requires continuous
learning.
The tools evolve.
Your business needs shifts andcapabilities emerge that could
transform your workflow.
The fiery effects frameworkapproach would have helped them

(02:32):
not just choose chief Architect,but also systematically explore
its capabilities to maximizetheir investment.
There are several aspects thatmake architecture design
software decisions particularlychallenging.
These tools are deeply embeddedin your service delivery, your
team's expertise, your clientpresentation standards, your
file organization systems.

(02:53):
Everything connects to yourdesign platform.
This integration makes changingfield mm, expensive in ways that
go way beyond subscriptioncosts.
Yet this same integration makesoptimization incredibly valuable
when your architecture designsoftware aligns well with your
desired outcomes.
Every project benefits, and whenthere's friction gaps or places

(03:14):
for error, every project carriesthat inefficiency forward.
Okay.
Other considerations with bigimpact extend beyond just the
software and its features,integration with cabinet
manufacturer.
Pricing tools can streamlineyour specification process.
The types of rendering andoutputs your clients expect
could influence platformselection.
How easily your team adopts anew software affects

(03:37):
implementation successregardless of features.
If you were to examine yourcurrent design software
situation, what might youdiscover?
Are you using your platform'sfull capabilities or are you
like this firm potentiallymissing features that could
enhance your workflow?
When did you last consideralternatives?
Not because your software isbroken, but because something

(03:57):
better might exist.
The fire effects framework couldhelp you evaluate whether your
current home design softwaretruly serves your business
goals, or if familiarity hasbecome a limitation.
Sometimes the most significantimprovements come from tools we
already own, but haven't fullyexplored.
And most of the time theyrequire the courage to consider
unfamiliar alternatives.

(04:18):
Every software application willrequire learning investment
technology.
Ai, and new functionality havenever move so fast, so ongoing
education is a must to maximizevalue.
The question becomes, are youinvesting that learning time in
the software that best servesyour business objective?
Exploring your design softwaresituation might reveal

(04:38):
opportunities you haven't evenconsidered.
The [e-mail] slash
choose can help you examine yourcurrent tools systematically,
considering not just what theydo, but what they could do with
deeper implementation.
The patterns in this storyextend beyond software selection
to implementation andoptimization.
The firm's initial success withChief Architect was real.

(05:01):
But their delayed discovery ofadditional capabilities suggest
that software changes requireongoing exploration, not just
initial training.
Next week, we'll shift our focusto a different kind of software
decision when to upgrade versusreplace your existing tools,
because often the question isn'twhich software to choose, but
whether your current solutionjust needs better

(05:21):
implementation.