A detailing firm upgrades Tekla versions and service packs without disruption by planning the upgrade around live projects, testing the new version before rolling it out, checking that any extensions and licences are compatible, deploying in a controlled way with a path back if needed, and doing it at a quiet point rather than mid-deadline. Handled this way, an upgrade is a non-event rather than a gamble. For most firms it is part of managed IT at about £45 to £100 per user per month. Here is how to do it safely.
New Tekla versions and service packs bring fixes and features, but a rushed upgrade can disrupt live work or break an add-in. A careful approach gets the benefits without the pain. Here is what that looks like.
Plan around live projects
Tekla versions matter to a live model, so upgrades should be planned around your projects, not dropped on the team mid-job. Choosing the right moment, and being clear about which projects move to the new version and when, avoids disrupting work that is up against a deadline.
Test before rolling out
A new version or service pack should be tested before the whole team relies on it, checking it installs cleanly, opens your models correctly and behaves as expected. Testing in a controlled way first catches problems safely, rather than discovering them when a detailer is halfway through a critical drawing.
Check extensions and licences
Detailing setups often rely on extensions, add-ins and specific licences, and these need to be compatible with the new version. Confirming that your tools and entitlements work with the upgrade beforehand avoids the nasty surprise of an essential add-in or licence failing after the change.
Deploy in a controlled way
Rolling the upgrade out in a planned, consistent way, with a clear path back if something unexpected appears, keeps it low-risk. Whether you move everyone together or in stages, doing it deliberately rather than ad-hoc means the whole team ends up on a known-good, consistent setup.
Pick the right moment
Timing matters: upgrades are best done at a quieter point, out of hours where helpful, rather than in the middle of a busy fabrication deadline. A little scheduling means the team gains the new version’s benefits without losing time to the change itself.
What to ask a provider
A specialist for steel detailers should be able to answer:
- Have you supported Tekla detailing practices and CAD firms, including their licensing, before?
- How do you keep our Tekla licences, workstations and model server running to a fabrication deadline?
- How do you let us share drawings and models securely with fabricators and contractors?
- What is your response time when Tekla is down and the whole team is stopped?
- Is the price clear and per user, with security included rather than charged separately?
Where to start
If you are not sure where your practice stands, a short review is the quickest way to find out: check that your Tekla licences are hosted reliably and not on a single neglected server, that your workstations and file server are sized for your models, that drawings are shared securely with MFA, and that your backups are tested. Those few checks show where a CAD-aware managed setup would pay off.
The bottom line
For a steel detailing firm, good IT is the difference between hitting a fabrication deadline and missing it. Tekla opens first time for every detailer, the model server stays fast even on the heaviest jobs, drawings reach fabricators securely, and the work is backed up so nothing is ever lost. The technology stays out of the way and the team gets on with detailing.
That reliability comes from a setup built around how detailers actually work, high-RAM workstations, properly hosted licences and models, and tested backups, rather than generic office IT. For a small practice whose whole output depends on a few CAD seats and one file server, a predictable per-user cost for that dependability is far cheaper than a day with the whole team locked out of Tekla.
Why steel detailers choose First Stop IT
First Stop IT has supported businesses since 2002, including engineering and design firms, and we understand how a steel detailing practice works: Tekla Structures, AutoCAD, Autodesk and Graitec licensing, high-RAM CAD workstations, large-model file servers, secure SharePoint project sharing with fabricators, and Datto backup for irreplaceable models. We support firms across Essex, Hertfordshire and London. Our credentials include:
- Cyber Essentials Certified
- IASME Cyber Assurance (Gold)
- NCSC Assured Service Provider (Cyber Advisor for Cyber Essentials)
- Microsoft Partner
- Crown Commercial Service Supplier (G-Cloud)
- Quality Principles Certified
We look after more than 2,000 endpoints across 50 companies, we have been named a Top 50 UK MSP for three years running, and we support organisations with 10 to 100 employees across Essex, Hertfordshire and London.
Book a free IT and cyber security review
Want IT that keeps your detailers detailing right up to the deadline? Book a free IT and cyber security review with First Stop IT.