Autodesk 2015 Annual Report Download - page 102

2015 Form 10-K 10
CUSTOMER AND RESELLER SUPPORT
We provide technical support and training to customers through a leveraged support model, augmented by direct
programs designed to address certain specific needs. Our customers rely primarily on the resellers and distributors from which
they purchased licenses to our products for technical support; however, we do provide certain direct support for some of our
customers. We support our resellers and distributors through technical product training, sales training classes, the Internet, and
telephone. We also provide online support directly to our customers through our maintenance program. There are also a number
of user group forums in which customers are able to share information.
EDUCATION, SUSTAINABILITY, AND PHILANTHROPIC PROGRAMS
Education
Our Education initiatives inspire the youth of today to imagine, design, and create a better world by offering free
educational licenses of Autodesk software worldwide to students, educators, and educational institutions.
We help fuel a lifelong passion for design in students of all ages and collaborate with educators, institutions, and partners
that encourage design learning and further Science, Technology, Engineering, Digital Arts, and Math (STEAM) education
objectives. Within the secondary and postsecondary global education markets, our learning content and standards based
curriculum enable tomorrow’s workforce to graduate industry-ready, with marketable design skills that are in high demand.
Whether these students are future professional designers or lifelong design hobbyists, our full portfolio of professional-grade
and personal design products introduces students and educators at all levels to software that can unleash their creativity.
Sustainability
To help our customers imagine, design, and create a better world, our Sustainability Programs focus our efforts where we
can have the greatest impact: providing sustainability solutions, delivering sustainable design learning and training
opportunities, expanding access to technology, and leading by example with our sustainable business practices. This benefits
our customers, who use our products and services to improve design decisions that have substantial and long-term
environmental impacts. Through access to free resources including the Autodesk Sustainability Workshop, Building
Performance Analysis Certificate ("BPAC") Program and building design courses, students and professionals are learning how
to use design technology and analytics to make better, more sustainable design decisions during the design process.
Philanthropy
The Autodesk Foundation (the "Foundation"), a privately funded 501(c)(3) charity organization established and solely
funded by us, leads our philanthropic efforts. The purpose of the Foundation is twofold: to support employees to create a better
world at work, at home, and in the community by matching employee’s volunteer time and/or donations to nonprofit
organizations; and to support organizations and individuals using design to drive positive social and environmental impact. In
the latter case, we use grant funding, software donations, and training to accomplish this goal, selecting the most impactful and
innovative organizations around the world, thus, leading to a better future for our planet. On our behalf, the Foundation also
administers a discounted software donation program to nonprofit organizations, social and environmental entrepreneurs, and
others who are developing design solutions that will shape a more sustainable future.
DEVELOPER PROGRAMS
One of our key strategies is to maintain an open-architecture design of our software products to facilitate third-party
development of complementary products and industry-specific software solutions. This approach enables customers and third
parties to customize solutions for a wide variety of highly specific uses. We offer several programs that provide marketing,
sales, technical support, and programming tools to developers who develop add-on applications for our products. Over 4,000
developers in the Autodesk Developer Network create interoperable products that further enhance the range of integrated
solutions available to our customers.
COMPETITION
The markets for our products are highly competitive and subject to rapid change. We strive to increase our competitive
separation by investing in research and development, allowing us to bring new products to market and create exciting new
2015 Annual Report