Year-End Is One of the Few Times Engineers Can Actually Rethink Tools
Most engineers don’t change core analysis software in the middle of a deadline-driven project. End of year is different. Budgets are closing out, project schedules tend to soften slightly, and teams finally have a moment to evaluate what worked — and what slowed them down. That combination creates a rare window to reassess tools without the pressure of an active permit submission.
For many firms, it’s also when leadership asks bigger operational questions:
Are we spending too much time reworking models?
Are our engineers relying too heavily on spreadsheets?
Are we confident scaling into slightly larger or more complex jobs next year?
Budget Resets and Training Calendars Create Natural Momentum
Year-end decisions often align with practical realities. Software budgets reset in January, making it easier to justify a purchase that didn’t fit earlier in the year. Training calendars are also easier to plan before the new project backlog fills up. Engineers can start the year productive instead of learning a new workflow mid-project.
This timing matters. Firms that switch tools before the new year often avoid the “we’ll deal with it later” trap — and later rarely comes once projects are underway.
A Familiar Year-End Scenario for Many Structural Firms
Imagine a three-person structural firm closing out December with its largest projects submitted and a lighter January backlog on the horizon. During a slower week, one engineer signs up for a RISA trial and recreates a recently completed steel frame in RISA-3D using the same drawings — just to see what the workflow would feel like.
What stands out isn’t a single feature, but the overall pace: fewer hand-off spreadsheets, clearer load paths, and quicker iteration when changing framing assumptions. The model takes less time to set up than expected, and more importantly, it’s easier for another engineer to review without a long explanation.
No projects are switched midstream. The team finishes the year using the tools they already know. But by January, new projects start in RISA instead of the old software — not because of a mandate, but because the test run removed the uncertainty. The firm didn’t “take a risk” during a deadline; they used the one calm window of the year to make a confident change.
Slower Project Weeks Make Switching Less Risky Than It Seems
Late December is one of the few periods when teams can model test projects, build templates, and explore workflows without jeopardizing delivery schedules. That breathing room reduces the perceived risk of change.
For many engineers, the decision to switch software at year-end isn’t about chasing something new — it’s about starting the next year with fewer friction points and more confidence in their analysis process.