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30 minute interview
AUGI provides an environment for users to help users
Olivier Le Pord, Manager, Worldwide Community Development
- Solidvapor, Inc. talked to Varun Aggarwal about AUGI
Olivier Le Pord |
How does the AUGI framework work?
AUGI is the Autodesk User Group International, officially recognized by Autodesk
as representing the Autodesk user community. AUGI has two prime directives.
The first is to assist its members by presenting programs and information that
will enhance their use of Autodesk products. The second is to deliver the voice
of the user community to Autodesk, assisting us in product development and giving
users a say in the process.
AUGI provides an environment for users to help users. We offer programs and
services that allow the Autodesk user community access to one another and to
Autodesk. Our goal is to implement programs that are lacking in the Autodesk
community rather than compete with programs already available to users. Our
motto is Users Helping Users. We work hard to promote our membership as a community
working together to strengthen each other and the community in general.
AUGI is an independent organization, closely tied to Autodesk, but not part
of it. Autodesk participates as an AUGI sponsor.
To portray some of the benefits that the AUGI framework gives its users worldwide
are:
- Rich Web content: Members gain access to
product usage advice, best practices, and other valuable information to increase
productivity.
- Other country chapters: From the AUGI India
Web site users not only can get technical help and support from their regional
peers, but they can also tap into other official country chapter Web sites
for information and assistance from the worldwide AUGI network.
- Free membership: An AUGI India membership gives
Indian users the ability to access a rich reserve of useful product information,
advice on using various Autodesk products, and the valuable peer-to-peer support.
Moreover, a membership makes the users a part of the international AUGI community,
allowing them to connect to other AUGI country chapters worldwide and broaden
their knowledge and educational resources.
AUGI is a free tool. What is your business model for it?
AUGI is a non profit enterprise. It is supported by some sponsors, like Autodesk
and others along with some advertising revenues from the Web site which helps
us cover the costs for the two publications—AUGIWorld magazine, which is
a bi-monthly magazine printed and distributed in India and AUGI Hotnews, a monthly
e-newsletter sent to users in India.
Do plan to offer support in Indian languages on this Web
site?
The main language used both for AUGI.com and AUGIindia.com is English. Considering
the need to build online communities for the non English areas, AUGI has launched
chapters around the world in Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Some Danish
and other Nordic languages, Russian and Japanese. The Japanese site was launched
recently.
An important point to note is that this approach is not to provide “language
support” but rather to build online communities that happen to be in non-English
areas.
Is there a possibility that you will charge a fee for AUGI
subscriptions in the future?
This is undecided at this time. AUGI is always introducing
new value-added elements for its membership, and these may require some fees
in the future.
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