(updated May 21, 2024)
The ability to upload CAD files is expected when industrial buyers use the contact form on your website. However many contract manufacturing companies are frustrated to discover that their own website doesn't allow potential customers to upload these types of files.
If someone wants to send an RFQ on your website contact form, you should make it easy for them. You probably need the technical drawings to make a fair and accurate quote. This can include file types like DWG, DXF, STEP, X_T, STL, and IGES files, etc.
Most companies and their web designers don’t even know their website has this limitation. So you need to test the contact form on your website to see if it can upload CAD files before you hear that it can’t from an unhappy potential customer! Or contact us. We'll test it for you at no charge. And we can talk about adding this functionality to your website.
But most companies and their web designers don’t even know their website has this limitation. So you need to test the contact form on your website to see if it can upload CAD files. Don't wait until you hear that it can’t from a frustrated potential customer! Or contact us. We'll test it for you at no charge. We can talk about adding this functionality to your website for the CAD file types you need.
Uploading CAD Files - Industrial Buyer Expectations
As a manufacturer, you need the ability to easily receive CAD file uploads via your website’s contact forms. Your industrial customers expect it! So why doesn't your website already have this capability?
Almost half of websites today are built on the WordPress content management system (CMS). By default, it limits the file types that can be uploaded. So there is a big chance that your manufacturing website will have a problem uploading CAD files because they're not among the acceptable, default file types. Most content management systems and site-building systems have this limitation.
-- Not sure if your website is built with WordPress? Go to What CMS and enter your website address. --
The built-in file type restrictions on WordPress websites are not widely known, even among website designers. So many site designers can't even warn you about this, let alone have a solution for you. Default allowable file uploads include docx, xlsx, PDF, image files, some zip file types, and common audio and video file types (WordPress file type list). Those are so common that they are considered safer.
Less common file types, like CAD files used in manufacturing, are not allowed. Anyone who is not familiar with manufacturing wouldn't know about CAD files, so it is not unusual that the great majority of website designers wouldn't know about them. But it is important to not settle for an inadequate contact form. Your company deserves a website that works for your market niche and you should never risk losing business opportunities for this reason.
At Baer Web Design, we make sure that your contact forms and RFQ forms can handle the CAD files you need. Just tell us what file types you use in your manufacturing processes and we'll ensure your buyers can upload those when submitting an RFQ on your website.
How To Upload DXF, STEP, IGES or Other CAD Files
At Baer Web Design, we solve website challenges, like CAD file uploads, that help you land new customers. If your customers need to upload any type of CAD file, we can make that happen for you. Don’t let the inability to upload DXF, DWG, IGES, or other CAD files be a problem for industrial buyers trying to do business with you! Fix it and impress them!
After research and testing of various CAD file upload methods, Baer Web Design found a very reliable method that allows any contact form on your WordPress website to upload almost any type of CAD file that a manufacturer would need. We won’t get into wonky details, but simply put, we add code to force recognition and acceptance of additional file types. This code has two parameters for each file type, and it can sometimes be a bit tricky to get the second parameter correct. So it’s not just plug and play simplicity. Testing is required to ensure that the CAD file types you need are being properly uploaded. And we’ll work with you until it’s functioning properly.
We'll help you fix the industrial buyer experience on your website and improve your custom manufacturing website by making CAD file uploads function properly on your contact forms. Call us today to discuss CAD file uploads on your website and whether or not your contact form is getting the job done for you.