Autodesk Sees Infrastructure and Data Centres as Key Drivers for Growth in India

Autodesk, a leader in design and engineering software, is targeting India’s rapidly expanding infrastructure and data centre sectors to drive its growth. This focus follows the company’s transition to a platform-based delivery model aimed at unifying construction and design workflows.

Strategic Focus on India’s Growth Sectors

Kamolika Gupta Peres, Vice President for India and SAARC at Autodesk, emphasized that India’s aggressive infrastructure development, manufacturing expansion, and investments in AI-powered data centres are fueling sustained demand for digital design and construction technologies.

Platform-Based Delivery Approach

Autodesk has shifted from a traditional software vendor role to a platform provider. Its platform, rebranded as Forma from Construction Cloud, is designed to create a shared data environment that connects designers, contractors, suppliers, and project owners.

According to Peres, Autodesk’s platform-led strategy centers around three key priorities to support industry adoption of new technologies:

  • In-depth understanding of specific industry domains
  • Comprehensive data collection
  • Intelligent applications tailored to industry needs

Diverse Client Base Across Key Sectors

Autodesk’s clientele in India spans various sectors:

  • Construction: Infrastructure developers, contractors, real estate companies, government entities
  • Manufacturing: Automotive firms, industrial companies, startups
  • Media: Animation and visual effects studios

Additionally, Autodesk identifies new opportunities in semiconductor facility design and digital factory operations.

India’s Infrastructure Goals and Technology Adoption

Peres noted that around 70% of the infrastructure required to achieve India’s development goals by 2047 remains to be built. She stressed the critical role of technology adoption by project owners and contractors to accelerate project completion, improve efficiency, and enhance sustainability.

Growing Demand in the Data Centre Market

In parallel with traditional infrastructure sectors like roads and railways, Autodesk sees increasing demand in data centre construction driven by expanding AI usage.

Rihan Dasgupta highlighted that data centre construction has grown significantly in recent years. Designing these facilities now requires optimization beyond spatial layout to include logistics and security considerations.

Current estimates show India has nearly 2GW of data centre capacity, with an additional 300MW to 500MW planned for commissioning in 2026.

Peres shared that Autodesk is participating in some of the world’s largest data centre projects and expects similar growth in India as operators expand facilities to handle AI workloads.

Supporting a Wide Range of Users

While Autodesk primarily serves large enterprises, it also supports freelancers, independent designers, small engineering firms, and design studios. Many users access Autodesk products through direct subscriptions and online purchases, enabling the company to cater to both large-scale projects and the broader design community.

Key Takeaways

  • Autodesk targets India’s infrastructure and AI-driven data centre sectors for growth.
  • The company has transitioned to a platform-based delivery model with its Forma platform.
  • India aims to build 70% of its needed infrastructure by 2047, requiring technology adoption for efficiency.
  • Data centre demand is rising with nearly 2GW capacity existing and more planned.
  • Autodesk serves a broad client base, from large enterprises to individual designers.