How Autodesk Is Helping Communities, Customers, and Employees Impacted by COVID-19

With the coronavirus (COVID-19) affecting communities, families, and people around the world, this is a difficult time for all of us. Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected, directly or indirectly. At Autodesk, our priority remains the health and wellbeing of our employees, customers, and partners.

Beyond the health and safety of the Autodesk community, we are also working to ensure our customers have reliable access to their software and Autodesk support. To that end, Autodesk is closely monitoring the guidance provided by governments and health organizations so we can make informed decisions with our entire community in mind.

Our goal is to respond quickly and compassionately, while balancing the needs of all the constituencies in our community. We are taking several precautionary measures to minimize the potential impact of coronavirus to our communities and our business. As we have updates to share on how we’re supporting customers, employees and communities impacted by COVID-19, expect us to share them here.

Customers

Autodesk Offers Free & Extended Access to Cloud Collaboration Products (Updated March 24)

As Autodesk keeps a close eye on the impact the coronavirus (COVID-19) is having on our industry, we’re continuing to explore the best ways we can support our customers, flex to meet their changing needs, and minimize disruptions to their business during this challenging time.

One of the biggest challenges we’ve been hearing about from customers – and we’re facing this challenge at Autodesk ourselves – involves adapting to work in an environment that has become the new normal: more teams and more people working remotely or from home, creating an increased need to collaborate and stay connected.

To better support customers facing this new reality, Autodesk is announcing a temporary Extended Access Program for several of our flagship cloud collaboration products. Let me be clear: we’re not introducing this program to convert customers into paying users. Our goal, instead, is to get a program up and running as quickly as possible to provide customers increased flexibility in what’s become a challenging work environment. Here’s how the program will work:

Beginning on March 24, customers can get free access to select Autodesk products and services.

• Products and services will include BIM 360 Docs, BIM 360 Design, Fusion 360, Fusion Team, AutoCAD Web and Mobile, and Shotgun – all for commercial use.
• Customers can take advantage of this program by visiting our Expanded Access Program center on Autodesk.com and following the steps they’d normally take to sign up for an Autodesk product trial on our website. We know this will be an imperfect experience in some ways but, as stated earlier, our goal is to give customers access to this program as quickly as possible. Leveraging our existing product trial experience on Autodesk.com is the most effective way to do this.
• Customers can take advantage of the Extended Access Program until May 31, 2020. However, we will continue to evaluate a potential expansion of this program as the needs of our customers warrant.

Here are a few more resources for customers to consider:

• Visit the COVID-19 Autodesk Resource Center. It’s the best place to stay up to date on the resources our team is providing customers on how to get the most out of Autodesk software, and get useful information on how to get started and remain productive while working remotely.  We expect to share more details in the resource center on the Extended Access Program in the coming days.
• Attend Autodesk Answer Day on Tuesday, March 24th. We’ll have experts on hand to answer your questions about our products and the Extended Access Program – and you can learn more about other ways we’re addressing the increased need to stay productive, while working remotely.
• It’s our hope that the Extended Access Program helps our customers better adapt to the challenges they’re facing in light of COVID-19 – allowing their employees to remain productive and connected. And while ‘business as usual’ might seem like an impossibility for now, the team at Autodesk remains committed to supporting you and your business as you adjust in these challenging times.

Changes to Make Doing Business with Us Easier (Updated March 13)

Earlier this week, we made some other changes to make doing business with us easier:

We realize these extraordinary times may create cashflow constraints for our customers. To offer some relief, we will extend contract payment terms to 60 days for all customers and partners, for new orders and renewals placed directly with Autodesk now through August 7, 2020.

We will extend the ability to purchase new multi-user subscription plans to August 7, 2020 and move the retirement to August 7, 2021. While we communicated that we would begin transitioning customers to named user starting May 7, 2020, we do not want to introduce a change at a time when business-as-usual is hard enough. You can find more information about this change here：

https://www.autodesk.com/campaigns/transition-to-named-user

We are also evaluating our in-person events and transitioning many to virtual programs or rescheduling for a later date.

We understand these actions change our previously communicated plans and disrupt our ways of working, but we believe we are taking the right steps and remain optimistic about our shared successes in the future.

Communities  

Bay Area Companies Come Together to Distribute $22M in Funding in Response to the COVID-19 Crisis (Updated March 23)

Through the Autodesk Foundation, we are investing in the global health and local resilience of the more vulnerable populations, nonprofits, and small businesses impacted by COVID-19 by:

Donating $600,000 to support the United Nations Foundation COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, The Centers for Disease Control Foundation’s Emergency Response Fund, and the Silicon Valley Community Foundation COVID-19 Regional Response Fund.

Increasing our donation matching gift program for all employees by matching their donations 2:1 and raising the cap per employee.

Autodesk Employees

Travel, Work from Home & Additional Guidance

• All business travel is restricted to business-critical until further notice.
• Employees are encouraged, but not required, to work from home until further notice.
• For employees working from home, Autodesk has the right tools and technology needed for most employees to remain as connected and productive as possible. We are monitoring usage and capacity in real-time and prepared to adjust as needed.
• For employees who do come into the office, we’re disinfecting workspaces, adopting social-distancing practices, and limiting meeting sizes and the number of visitors.
• We are also following local government regulations and closing offices where required.
• Please take care of yourselves – and each other. When we all work together, we will not only persevere, but will also realize the opportunity of better through our efforts.

We will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates here, as needed.

Stay well,

Andrew Anagnost