Engineering software specialist company Autodesk has implemented special prices, including rental options, to make its widely used engineering design and manufacturing software programs available to small business in Africa.

The most significant reason why companies use licensed software is to avoid data loss or cybercrime breaches, while the high cost of software licences is the most significant deterrent, especially for small engineering companies, says Autodesk reseller Worldsview Technologies licence compliance manager Alastair de Wet.

“A prime challenge is to create an environment in which small businesses can access technology without having to use pirated software.”

However, if a company cannot afford the tools of its trade, it is excluded from entering into that industry. In the current competitive markets, even small companies require top-notch engineering tools to deliver high-quality projects, he says.

“A potentially viable solution is for small businesses to work together with software companies to buy and use products legally,” he states, highlighting Autodesk’s African pricing strategy as an example.

Autodesk has an African pric- ing strategy – one of the few software vendors that does – which means that its software is a lot more cost effective in Africa than in other parts of the world. Additionally, Autodesk has included rental options in its product range, lowering the barrier to entry for firms using legitimate Autodesk software.

While software piracy among businesses in Africa is high, South Africa is in line with international norms, with about 34% of business software being unlicensed. The risks of malware entering companies’ networks or of cybercrime have emerged as key reasons for using licensed software, he says.

“About 64% of users cited unauthorised access by hackers as a top concern regarding unlicensed software and 59% cited loss of data as a significant risk.”

Autodesk has a licence compliance team, which works closely with the relevant law enforcement bodies, where applicable, as well as directly with customers. The team helps customers to appreciate the value of using legal software and the dangers of not doing so.