How Ideematec achieved 3x faster layout production with PVcase

In today’s solar industry, 80% of solar projects are left in the shade. Ideematec wasn’t willing to accept it as the status quo. Ideemated is known for delivering innovative, high-performance solutions, yet — the company found its solar design workflows constrained by outdated, manual tools.

Manual design workflow

The team previously used Spirit, a CAD software where layouts were built tracker by tracker. Each layout required manually drawing rectangles, replicating them across project areas, and calculating site dimensions by hand. This process stretched timelines, often taking a full week to produce a single preliminary layout.

Inefficient client data compatibility

Ideematec’s old software struggled to export files in formats required by clients, making accurate data transfer for PVsyst simulations and budgeting difficult.

Limited terrain analysis

Without automated terrain modeling, Ideematec had to approximate grading requirements. This led to additional manual calculations, less precision, and limited transparency with clients.

Ideematec rejected manual design constraints and adopted PVcase Ground Mount — an AutoCAD-driven design and engineering software that seamlessly integrates with and extends AutoCAD’s capabilities.

Accelerated layout generation

Leveraging the power of AutoCAD, Ideematec can now generate preliminary layouts in as little as one hour — compared to a week previously. High-precision layouts, complete with exact pole lengths and accurate ramming depths, can now be ready in one to two hours for client presentations.

Automated compatibility with client systems

PVcase enabled seamless exports in DWG and CSV formats, extending AutoCAD’s capabilities and ensuring that data could be imported directly into PVsyst. The implementation eliminates data risk and allows clients to run simulations with reliable results.

Detailed terrain analysis within AutoCAD

PVcase introduced automated cut-and-fill metrics, providing exact grading requirements tied to specific site locations. It has elevated AutoCAD outputs from approximate to highly precise, improving reliability and client trust.

The global leader transformed its engineering output — achieving a threefold increase in layout production and superior project control.

3x increase in layout production

PVcase tripled Ideematec’s preliminary design capacity. The five-member team can now iterate on designs three times faster, generating multiple high-quality layouts in the time it once took to produce one.

Reduced onboarding time

Thanks to PVcase Academy and intuitive workflows within AutoCAD, new employees can start designing in hours instead of days, drastically shortening training timelines.

Seamless client collaboration

Clients now receive AutoCAD outputs enriched with precise pole lengths, ramming depths, and grading data. It enables the company to run yield simulations and budgetary assessments immediately, strengthening Ideematec’s proposals.

One Autodesk workflow

As an AutoCAD plug-in, PVcase Ground Mount produces construction-ready designs while ensuring a seamless, efficient workflow within Autodesk.