Back in May, I joined over 1,000 developers and business professionals at the historic Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam for DevCon Europe. The air was buzzing with excitement, and beneath the conversations there was an underlying sense of urgency. Let me tell you why.
The capabilities being realized through AI are showing us a future that seems to be moving faster than ever before, and no one wants to be left behind. Over the course of two days, I listened as customers and partners shared their experiences of how their work is changing. Since then, I’ve considered these discussions against the backdrop of a technological landscape that is continuing to accelerate at a rapid pace. As we gear up for Autodesk University, I'm looking forward to continuing the conversation around a few key topics that are shaping the future of our industries.
Investments in digital transformation are paying dividends.
Customers that have a strategic digital practice are further ahead when it comes to being prepared to overcome some of our industries’ biggest challenges. We know from the 2025 State of Design & Make report that digitally mature organizations are more likely to diversify their supply chains, and leaders at these organizations feel more prepared to handle unforeseen changes, giving them an advantage when it comes to resilience. In a time of rapid change and uncertainty, investing in digital transformation is critical to prepare for the future of our industries.
Interoperability isn't optional—it’s essential.
In my conversation with Ramboll Group Director of Knowledge & Innovation, Poul Hededal, he shared how interoperability truly is an industry-wide challenge. We know that Autodesk software is not the only tool our customers use in their projects. Customers now recognize the value of the Data Exchange ecosystem to easily share subsets of data between Autodesk and third-party applications. The promise of Data Exchange as a platform is beginning to show up at scale with BIMDex integrating its Plant3D connector and AECOM building its own custom connectors on the Data Exchange platform. Through our Connector ecosystem, we’re paving the way to a future of industry convergence.
AI is taking us from automation to orchestration.
In her keynote speech, Chief Technology Officer Raji Arasu spoke about the change in how we work with AI to deliver value to our customers. As she called out, it’s not just a change in tools — it’s a change in mindset. With customers using LLMs, agentic AI, and now MCPs, data accessibility becomes even more important. I'm eager to connect with those customers who are leading the way in innovation to discuss what is possible in this New Era of Making.
Engaging with customers and partners at events like DevCon and Autodesk University offers invaluable perspective. These conversations reveal the real-world challenges teams face, the bold ideas they’re exploring, and the opportunities we have to create solutions that drive meaningful impact. And for the first time, Autodesk University will include a pre-conference Platform Leadership Forum to showcase how to maximize business growth for business leaders and software developers driving the digital transformation of their business. I hope to see you there!