Go on a Mission as a SOLIDWORKS 2016 Beta Tester

If you’re a customer with an active commercial subscription to SOLIDWORKS services, you’re about to be sent on a mission.

Dassault Systèmes, the maker of SOLIDWORKS 3D software tools for engineers, designers, and other technology professionals, is asking you to use your power to impact the quality, performance, and reliability of SOLIDWORKS solutions.

You can do that by joining the SOLIDWORKS 2016 Beta Program.

And it’s not all about simply improving the company’s software solutions–as an added bonus for participating, beta testers will be among the very first to get a peek under the hood of SOLIDWORKS 2016.

The SOLIDWORKS Beta Program offers testers the ability to directly interact with the research and development team, and by doing so, users will be able to influence the final production release of SOLIDWORKS 2016.

If you sign on, you’ll be able to test-drive new features–and greatly reduce the learning curve and training you’ll require–for a typical new software release. The Beta Program also offers limited-time access to new products. In addition, your participation will get you access to existing products–even if you don’t currently own them.

As part of the program, beta testers will focus on usability, performance, and whether or not the various new features provide the expected results. A Release Notes document will highlight general changes to SOLIDWORKS products, and that document includes changes to system requirements, changes to existing functionality, and any other changes that might impact your SOLIDWORKS environment.

Each week in the Beta forums, the SOLIDWORKS Beta Team will post specific areas of the software they’d like users to test, and by submitting Beta Service Requests for issues testers might encounter in the posted areas, users will be awarded bonus points.

Dassault Systèmes says they hope the project will improve the software by identifying issues that affect day-to-day operations, and by doing so, eliminate any outstanding issues before the final release.They also say the chance to connect with the global SOLIDWORKS community and interact with SOLIDWORKS R&D and product management teams will be an additional benefit.  If that’s not enough for you, entering the Beta Program will also give testers access into competitive, global contests and a chance to win a variety of prizes.

You can sign on for the SOLIDWORKS Beta Program at their website. The dedicated Beta website provides a one-stop, go-to resource for access to the SOLIDWORKS Beta FAQ, a forum, the contest leaderboard, and the SOLIDWORKS 2016 Beta download.  One thing to remember: you will require an active, commercial SOLIDWORKS subscription to take part as a beta tester.

Are you a current user of SOLIDWORKS and if so, will you be taking part in the SOLIDWORKS 2016 Beta Program? Let us know in the SOLIDWORKS 2016 Beta Program forum thread on 3DPB.com.