KS Value Proposition - an Explanation

A KS software subscription price is determined by two factors: number of users to be tested (in a year) and number of required library topics to be included in the assessment mix.

There are 4 KS license types:
KS Pro1 - 1 primary library topic, i.e. Revit Architecture
KS Pro2 - 2 primary topics, i.e. Revit Architecture, Revit MEP
KS Pro3 - 3 primary topics, i.e. Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Structure
KS Enterprise - 4 or more primary topics

We also have different user number bands, to help identify firm size, i.e. 1-25, 26-50, 51-100, 101-250, 251-500, 501-1,000, etc.

For firms who only need to perform a small number of assessments each year, the 'pay-as-you-go' cost is $50/£50/E50 per test.

Before deciding on the best type of KS license, an AEC business should give due consideration to both of these factors.

It is important to establish precisely how many primary test topics they plan to use. If it is 4 (or greater), then KS Enterprise is the best fit. If they want to focus on fewer titles, then perhaps a KS Pro1, Pro2 or Pro3 would be more appropriate. 

Also, we do not monetise 'secondary' library titles, if a customer has invested in one or more 'primary' titles.

Here are some examples:

Primary:

Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, Revit Structure, AutoCAD, Civil 3D, InfraWorks, Plant 3D, Inventor, AECOsim, MicroStation, GEOPAK, InRoads, ProjectWise, ARCHICAD, MS Office, BIM L2, Primavera P6, MS Project, Newforma.

Secondary:

Bluebeam, Design Review, Photoshop, InDesign, Rhino, SketchUp, Navisworks, Glue, Solibri, Vault, Revit Process, BIM Fundamentals, BIM Software Management, BIM Coordination, BIM Authoring, USACE BIM.

To further clarify, a 'test topic' refers to all related assessment titles under an 'umbrella' heading. For example, to assess Revit Architecture  skills for a company would require a KS Pro1 license, but might include the following titles:

Example:

Revit Architecture for occasional users

Revit Architecture fundamentals

Revit Architecture – Xpress 

Revit Architecture advanced

Revit Architecture - Extra questions

Revit Content Creation

Revit for Interiors

Revit Project Process

BIM Authoring with Revit

BIM Software Management (Revit)

BIM Coordination (Revit)

Practical BIM fundamentals

Navisworks

Glue

Solibri

Bluebeam

Vault

If a customer exceeds their user count by a small margin, we tend not to worry about it, and will review their future needs at the license anniversary. If they find their requirements go up by a bigger number (part-way through the license), then we typically have a conversation and sometimes upgrade to the next user band before the anniversary swings around. In this circumstance, they pay the difference between price bands, pro-rated to the license anniversary date. Customers are not blocked from using the tools at any time.

Here are links to the KS product and price pages.

R

Navisworks Test Scores Around The World

Navisworks is a 3D design review package, used primarily in the AEC sector to complement 3D design packages (such as Revit, AutoCAD and MicroStation). 

Navisworks allows users to open and combine 3D models, navigate around them in real-time and review the model using a set of tools including comments, redlining, viewpoint and measurements.

Over the years, KnowledgeSmart has captured test scores for a wide range of of Navisworks users, in multiple countries across the globe.

Here are the variances in our overall benchmark data, from 2013 to 2015:

2013
Average Score: 54.0%
Average Time: 49 mins

2014
Average Score: 57.0%
Average Time: 52 mins

2015
Average Score: 58.4%
Average Time: 43 mins


Let's take a look at some overall aggregate score and time data on a country vs country basis. Numbers of test scores vary, so this list does not imply that one country is 'better' than another. It's interesting to see what kind of data is generated in different parts of the globe.

Navisworks Fundamentals

Country	Score (%)	Time (secs)
Australia	67.7	2172.2
Bahrain	53.3	3123.3
Canada	63.4	2275.5
Hong Kong	68.4	2643.3
India	49.7	2789.8
Kuwait	52.4	3320.2
New Zealand	68.1	2346.7
Oman	51.2	3630.4
Pakistan	53.2	2478.8
Philippines	60.0	2489.8
Qatar	52.6	2880.6
Saudi Arabia	59.8	2590.0
Singapore	58.8	2467.7
UAE	63.1	3543.5
UK	66.5	2525.9
USA	57.7	2491.4

We also capture data on a per State basis, for our US customers. The list below represents those States where the volume of data makes for meaningful data sharing.

State	Score (%)	Time (secs)
USA all	57.7	2491.4
Arizona	56.5	2676.1
California	63.4	2374.2
Colorado	58.8	2298.8
Florida	62.9	2387.6
Georgia	59.6	2478.5
Illinois	54.6	2664.4
Louisiana	55.7	2599.4
Michigan	58.8	2490.7
Missouri	51.2	2974.1
New York	58.9	2185.5
North Carolina	53.3	2776.1
Oregon	52.7	2687.8
Pennsylvania	57.9	2489.9
Tennessee	54.3	2567.7
Texas	63.2	2234.4
Utah	57.3	2512.2
Virginia	56.1	2775.5

Navisworks is a Top 10 KS test topic, across our global customers. Overall results data illustrates that there is a clear need for training across the wider industry, with respect to model navigation and clash detection.

R

KS & Global e-Training Links

KnowledgeSmart has been working with the team at Global e-Training, to map the results for our most popular test titles, to the corresponding modular training content, presented within the GeT Learning Management System.

These titles now have full links to learning enabled:


AutoCAD 2D fundamentals
AutoCAD 2D for occasional users
AutoCAD Civil 3D fundamentals (parts 1-4)
Navisworks fundamentals
Revit Architecture fundamentals
Revit Structure fundamentals
Revit MEP fundamentals (Mechanical)
Revit MEP fundamentals (Electrical)
Revit MEP fundamentals (Plumbing)

To follow in the Spring:

Inventor fundamentals (parts 1-4)

3ds Max fundamentals (parts 1-4)

Click here for a short video, which illustrates the user journey between testing and training.

R