As a building product manufacturer, your top priority should be making it easy for AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) professionals to access the technical files they need to streamline the planning and design phases of a project.
One of the most powerful ways to capture a specifier’s attention is by offering high-quality CAD drawings of your products. Here are 5 powerful reasons CAD drawings lead to more specifications:
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A CAD drawing is truly worth a thousand words. They clearly communicate key specifications about products such as layout, dimensions, materials, and technical annotations. For AEC professionals juggling multiple product options, easy-to-read CAD drawings eliminate the guesswork and make your products far easier to trust and specify.
Well-developed CAD drawings follow a consistent model space layout, standardized layering, and uniform labeling. This formatting ensures your product drawings are not only polished and professional, but seamless for architects and other design experts to incorporate into their plans.
CAD drawings should also be available in multiple file formats (such as DXF, DWF, and DWG) to ensure compatibility across a wide range of design software like AutoCAD and Revit. Offering your CAD drawings in multiple formats removes friction and makes your products far more appealing to specifiers. Download our File Type Cheat Sheet for more information on which CAD file formats you should have available.
While BIM continues to grow in popularity, it’s a serious mistake to consider CAD outdated or irrelevant. The truth is, both CAD and BIM serve distinct and valuable roles in the planning and design phases of construction projects. For a deeper look at when AEC professionals rely on one over the other, check out Matterport’s guide:
Source: Matterport
The bottom line is that CAD drawings remain a crucial part of the design process, so if your product isn’t supported with CAD files, you’re probably missing out on opportunities to get specified.
Modern CAD drawings are more powerful than ever. With advancements in design software and integration with technologies like BIM, AI, automation, and predictive analysis, CAD files are no longer just static line drawings—they’re dynamic, data-rich assets. This evolution means your CAD content can seamlessly connect with emerging tools used by AEC pros for a smarter, more intuitive design process.
Modern CAD drawings are built for flexibility—designed to meet both the fast-paced demands of digital workflows and the practical needs of on-site teams. Their digital format allows them to be easily saved, stored, and shared in multiple file formats, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of software and project requirements. Cloud-enabled CAD software now allows for real-time collaboration, with architects and designers able to access and edit files remotely. This means updates can be made instantly, feedback can be integrated on the fly, and design adjustments can happen even while on-site.
For physical use, CAD drawings created in A-size format (8.5" x 11") are simple to print and reference during project bidding or construction. Whether accessed on a tablet or in a binder, your product information stays legible and functional throughout the entire project lifecycle.
When it comes to getting specified, high-quality CAD drawings are a must. Every CAD file you provide should be created with the specifier’s workflow in mind—easy to download, professionally formatted, and ready to drop directly into design plans.
At CADdetails, we help building product manufacturers like you create and maintain your CAD drawings and other technical design content, so they're always project-ready.
Learn more about our Technical Member Program here.
Cover image by Arcwind on Unsplash