Virtually any repetitive or rule-based workflow inside AutoCAD. The most common automation projects we deliver include: parametric drawing generation, data extraction from drawings to Excel or databases, batch processing across large drawing sets, formwork and structural calculations integrated directly into the CAD environment, and bidirectional data sync between AutoCAD and enterprise systems like SAP.

If your engineers are spending hours on tasks that follow consistent logic – extracting bill of materials, updating title blocks across 500 drawings, running calculation-dependent drafting – it’s automatable. Our Dwg2ExcelExporter project, for example, replaced hours of manual data extraction per drawing set with a plugin that produces structured, calculation-complete Excel reports in seconds.

It depends on the scope, but here’s a realistic range based on projects we’ve delivered. A focused plugin with a single core function – like automated data extraction or parametric pattern generation – typically takes 6–10 weeks from kickoff to production-ready deployment. Our Keraglass plugin (parametric glass embossing automation) followed this timeline.

More complex systems involving optimisation algorithms, multi-step calculation engines, or integration with external platforms (SAP, databases, PLM) typically run 3–6 months. POSforAFS, which includes a formwork optimisation algorithm working against real AutoCAD geometry, was in this category. We scope every project in a 48-hour technical assessment after our initial call, so you’ll have a detailed timeline before any commitment.

We work across the full AutoCAD development stack: AutoCAD .NET API (C#) for enterprise-grade plugin development with custom UI, ribbons, and palettes; ObjectARX (C++) for performance-critical operations that require direct access to AutoCAD’s geometry kernel; Plant 3D SDK for process engineering and piping automation; AutoLISP for lightweight task automation and batch operations. The API choice depends on your specific requirements. Performance-intensive calculations and geometry manipulation typically require .NET or ObjectARX. Simple batch operations can be handled with LISP. Most competitors only offer LISP scripting – we select the right tool for the engineering problem.

Yes – batch processing across large drawing sets is one of our core delivery areas. We build automation scripts and plugins that process hundreds or thousands of DWG files overnight: applying updates, extracting data, running quality checks, converting formats, or regenerating outputs across entire project repositories.

The key technical challenge isn’t running a loop over files – it’s handling the edge cases: corrupt drawings, non-standard layer structures, mixed DWG versions, and memory management when processing thousands of files in sequence. Our team has shipped batch processing systems for clients managing 10,000+ drawing sets, so we’ve already solved the reliability problems that break naive implementations.

We price based on project scope, not hourly rates – because what matters is the result, not how many hours it takes. A focused automation plugin (single function, defined scope) typically falls in the $15,000–$40,000 range. Complex systems with optimisation algorithms, enterprise integrations, or multi-module architectures range from $40,000–$120,000+. The better question is ROI: our POSforAFS project delivered a 70% reduction in formwork calculation costs for the client. At that rate, the development investment paid for itself within the first two projects. We provide a detailed ROI projection as part of our 48-hour scoping assessment – before you commit to anything.