If you’re researching how to buy SOLIDWORKS, you’ve probably noticed that you have a choice of purchasing certain SOLIDWORKS products directly online or working with an authorized SOLIDWORKS Reseller.
That raises an important question: Why buy SOLIDWORKS through a reseller if you can purchase it directly? The answer comes down to license types, cost, and what you need beyond the software license.
Why buy through a SOLIDWORKS Reseller vs Direct?
If you’re comparing buying SOLIDWORKS direct vs. through a reseller, there are six benefits to consider when purchasing through a reseller:
- Perpetual and network licensing
- Technical support
- MLC Managed Service Plans and Success Plans
- Training and Certifications
- SOLIDWORKS PDM support and implementation
- Add-on solutions and hardware
This guide will cover all these benefits compared with purchasing licenses directly.
Benefit #1: Perpetual and Network Licensing
The type of SOLIDWORKS license you choose determines how your team accesses the software and how renewals are managed. MLC CAD Systems and other authorized SOLIDWORKS resellers can provide access to perpetual (own the license) and network (float the license for shared usage) licensing options that aren’t available through direct online purchase. This gives you more flexibility when choosing how your team will manage and access SOLIDWORKS.
Working with a reseller can also help when you need to:
- Compare different licensing options for multiple users
- Purchase and manage shared or network licenses
- Bundle SOLIDWORKS with PDM or other solutions
- Combine software, training, implementation, or support services
- Build a licensing plan around your team’s current and expected needs
Buyer consideration: If you’re comparing SOLIDWORKS licensing options, don’t look at the license price alone. The licensing model, number of users, additional solutions, and services you need can all affect the overall purchase.
Want to understand the differences between SOLIDWORKS licensing options? See our SOLIDWORKS Buying Guide for a breakdown of term vs. perpetual licensing, standalone vs. network licensing, package options, pricing, and other purchasing considerations.
Benefit #2: Technical Support
When you purchase SOLIDWORKS through an authorized reseller, you get access to their technical team that works with SOLIDWORKS and its related products. That gives you a resource to contact when you run into installation, licensing, configuration, or product questions. MLC CAD Systems’ application experts provide hands-on support across all U.S. time zones. Cases can be submitted by phone, email, or online, with most resolved the same day.
When you purchase online, you’re assigned to a reseller for support and can choose a preferred reseller during checkout. Because the license is purchased directly from SOLIDWORKS, the reseller may have more limited visibility into your software assets.
Depending on the reseller and support plan, technical support may help with:
- SOLIDWORKS installation and configuration
- Licensing and activation questions
- Troubleshooting software issues
- Version upgrades
- SOLIDWORKS PDM questions
- Workflow and application questions
- Other technical issues affecting your SOLIDWORKS environment
This can be especially useful when an issue affects an engineer’s ability to work. Instead of spending hours trying to determine whether the problem is related to SOLIDWORKS, licensing, your workstation, or your setup, you have a technical resource familiar with the software.
Buyer consideration: When comparing resellers, ask who provides technical support, what support hours are available, and what types of issues are covered.
Benefit #3: Managed Service Plans and Success Plans
MLC CAD Systems offers Managed Service Plans and SOLIDWORKS Success Plans to provide ongoing support after your SOLIDWORKS or SOLIDWORKS PDM purchase. These programs give your team access to ongoing technical resources and services that extend beyond the initial software purchase.
Depending on the service plan, ongoing support may include:
- Routine SOLIDWORKS PDM administration
- User, permission, and workflow management
- SOLIDWORKS configuration
- Annual software upgrades
- Upgrade planning, backups, and recovery support
- Workflow and application questions
- Targeted reviews of your SOLIDWORKS and PDM environment
- Remote user meetings
- Training and learning resources
- Live technical support
- Access to SOLIDWORKS experts
MLC CAD Systems’ Managed Service Plans and Success Plans are designed around different types of ongoing support needs. Other SOLIDWORKS resellers may offer similar services through their own support programs, managed service plans, success plans, or other offerings.
Buyer Consideration: When comparing resellers, ask what ongoing support is available after your initial SOLIDWORKS purchase and what services are included.
Benefit #4: Training and Certifications
MLC CAD Systems and authorized SOLIDWORKS resellers can provide SOLIDWORKS training and certification resources to help your team build the skills needed to use the software effectively. This can be especially useful when you’re onboarding new engineers, moving from another CAD platform, or helping experienced users develop skills in additional SOLIDWORKS tools.
Training and certification resources may include:
- Instructor-led SOLIDWORKS training
- On-demand SOLIDWORKS training
- SOLIDWORKS certification preparation
- Certification opportunities
- Certification credits
- Training for different user experience levels
- Training for specific SOLIDWORKS applications and workflows
- Professional development plans for ongoing skill development
MLC Success Plans include certification credits and learning resources that help your users prepare for SOLIDWORKS certification exams.
Buyer consideration: When comparing SOLIDWORKS resellers, ask what training and certification resources they provide, including instructor-led courses, on-demand training, certification preparation, and certification credits. Consider what your team needs now and what training resources you’ll want as SOLIDWORKS skills develop.
Benefit #5: SOLIDWORKS PDM Support and Implementation
MLC CAD Systems provides SOLIDWORKS PDM implementation services to help engineering teams set up and configure SOLIDWORKS PDM around their data, users, and workflows. This can include planning the PDM environment, configuring the vault, setting up user permissions and workflows, migrating data, and training users.
PDM implementation services may include:
- Initial planning around your data environment
- Vault setup and structure
- User and permission setup
- Workflow configuration
- Data migration
- Rollout planning
- Administrator training
- User training
- Ongoing PDM support
MLC includes PDM implementation with every SOLIDWORKS PDM purchase because the way SOLIDWORKS PDM is configured affects how your team manages and works with its engineering data. Implementation helps establish the PDM environment your team will use from the start.
Benefit #6: Add-On Solutions and Hardware
Authorized SOLIDWORKS resellers can help you purchase and connect additional engineering software and hardware to your SOLIDWORKS environment. At MLC CAD Systems, we work with SOLIDWORKS, Markforged, and Formlabs, giving engineering and manufacturing teams access to a broad range of software and hardware solutions.
This can give you access to solutions that support design, data management, simulation, manufacturing, and 3D printing without having to source every technology separately.
Depending on your needs, MLC can help you evaluate:
- SOLIDWORKS software and add-ons
- SOLIDWORKS PDM for data management
- SOLIDWORKS Simulation for engineering analysis
- SOLIDWORKS CAM for manufacturing
- SOLIDWORKS Visualize for rendering
- Markforged 3D printers and additive manufacturing solutions
- Formlabs 3D printers and materials
- Engineering workstations and related hardware
- Other engineering and manufacturing solutions
Working with one reseller across multiple technologies can make it easier to consider how your software and hardware work together. For example, your SOLIDWORKS environment may connect with SOLIDWORKS PDM for data management, Markforged or Formlabs for 3D printing, and the workstation hardware your engineers use to run SOLIDWORKS.
Buyer consideration: If you’re purchasing additional engineering software or hardware, ask your reseller which products they support and whether they can provide the training, implementation, or technical support your team needs.
SOLIDWORKS Direct vs. Reseller: Which Should You Choose?
The key difference is the level of service and expertise surrounding the purchase. If you’re simply looking for a SOLIDWORKS license, direct purchasing may meet your requirements.
If you’re planning a larger implementation or need help with licensing, training, PDM, support, or related technology, MLC CAD Systems can provide additional guidance and services around the software.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it better to buy SOLIDWORKS directly or through a reseller?
It depends on your requirements. Direct purchasing may work well when you already know which SOLIDWORKS product you need, and the term (12-month) licensing model is a good fit. MLC CAD Systems or an authorized reseller can provide additional licensing options such as perpetual and network, plus engineering services such as training, SOLIDWORKS PDM implementation, licensing guidance, and access to additional software and hardware.
Does it cost more to buy SOLIDWORKS through a reseller?
Not necessarily. The cost of SOLIDWORKS depends on factors such as the package, licensing model, number of licenses, and services included. When comparing direct and reseller purchasing, compare the full SOLIDWORKS offering rather than the software license price alone. MLC CAD Systems or an authorized SOLIDWORKS reseller can help you understand the available licensing and service options for your team.
What services are included beyond the SOLIDWORKS license through a reseller?
MLC CAD Systems and authorized SOLIDWORKS resellers can provide technical support, SOLIDWORKS training and certification resources, and ongoing support through managed services and Success Plans.
Can I buy a network or perpetual SOLIDWORKS license from a reseller?
Yes, MLC CAD Systems and other authorized SOLIDWORKS resellers can provide perpetual SOLIDWORKS licensing options that aren’t available through direct online purchase. Perpetual licensing allows you to continue using the purchased SOLIDWORKS version after maintenance expires, although updates and other maintenance benefits end when maintenance is no longer active.
