Speckle’s New Era of Data-Driven Workflows

Next-Gen Connectors are now at the heart of our development, signalling a major shift to a more unified platform. This change represents a refined focus on data-driven workflows, performance, and seamless integration across the Speckle ecosystem.

This might raise questions, especially if you relied on Speckle exclusively for interoperability workflows. Let us explain why we’re making this change, what it means for you, and how it will deliver more than ever!

Stepping Up Our Game: Shifting Beyond Interoperability

When we first built Speckle, our primary goal was to solve interoperability challenges in the AEC industry.

Over time, we realized that interoperability is not a goal in itself - it’s a means to the end of making better design and delivery decisions and getting faster feedback.

AEC projects are extremely complex, making it hard to decipher the information that truly matters. We’re now making sure Speckle can cut through the noise, helping you reach those “a-ha!” moments in seconds.

Even when all you see are seemingly ordinary model parameters, Speckle unlocks insights for you and turns them into real value.

The Bigger Picture: Speckle is Unified

We’re no longer “doing interoperability” just to get models from A to B. The Next-Gen connectors are called “next generation” because one thing makes them infinitely better than the legacy version: they fit with the rest of Speckle like a glove.

They integrate seamlessly with our web app, Automate, data analytics, and more, so the entire platform works together for you. By using Speckle daily and regularly, you’ll get real-time insights that will help you catch mistakes early and keep projects on track.

“Working with Next-Gen connectors is really fast; what used to take hours, now takes 20 seconds. I don’t even know what you’re doing in the background to make this happen!”, says Niko Gamsakhurdiya, Head of BIM Department and long time Speckle user.

What’s Changing for Legacy Connector Users?

We get it—leaving some interoperability workflows behind may feel like a big change. But adopting Speckle was also a massive change for you and your team. And as you noticed, change can be precisely what you need!

Here’s what you need to know to switch smoothly:

Focus on Core Workflows

‍We’re prioritizing the most valuable workflows, ensuring they’re stable and fully supported. Less-used workflows from the legacy connectors will be deprecated, streamlining your experience. Check the FAQ for details!

Data Compatibility

‍Next-Gen workflows require Next-Gen data, which isn’t directly compatible with legacy data. We provide tools and guidance to help you transition quickly.

Legacy Connectors Still Available

‍Legacy connectors will remain available but won’t receive updates or new features. We recommend switching to Next-Gen to access the latest improvements.

Re-Publish Legacy Models

‍To use Next-Gen workflows, re-publish your legacy models using Next-Gen connectors. We’ve got tools and resources to guide you.

To Wrap It Up

This shift to Next-Gen connectors represents a new chapter for Speckle—one where we’re doubling down on what we do best: helping you understand your data, make better decisions, and collaborate more effectively.

While change can be challenging, we’re confident that this evolution will deliver more value, stability, and clarity than ever before.

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New Era of Speckle FAQ

Are the current (Next-Gen) connectors and legacy connectors compatible?

No! Next-Gen is a clean-slate version of Speckle connectors designed to deliver better performance, stability, and data clarity. While you may be able to receive some models created with the legacy connectors, do not expect them to load with the same properties or quality. For the best experience:

Re-publish any models created with the legacy connectors using a Next-Gen connector if you want to use them in Next-Gen workflows.

Only publish and load between legacy connectors ↔ legacy connectors, or Next-Gen connectors ↔ Next-Gen connectors.

How do I install Next-Gen connectors?

‍Next-Gen connectors are available to you at app.speckle.systems. Manager is no longer needed to install!

How do I install legacy connectors?

‍Our legacy connectors are still available to you here! They're still being installed with Manager for Speckle.

How do I uninstall Next-Gen connectors?

‍Next-Gen connectors can be uninstalled directly from your operating system’s programs or applications manager, just like any other application. If you’ve uninstalled the legacy connectors via Speckle Manager and the Next-Gen connectors are still present, this is the way to remove them.

What is the Business Intelligence workflow?

‍This workflow lets you publish models with object metadata for analysis, decision-making, and presentation. Each object is sent with its geometric representation and important properties, enabling you to explore your data in tools like Power BI, Automate, or directly via our SDKs.

‍All Next-Gen connectors support this workflow by default. It’s the foundational layer for all Speckle workflows!

What is the Design Coordination workflow?

‍This workflows comes with two versions: 

The lightweight version lets you load models fast from any Next-Gen connector as lightweight reference geometry. It’s designed for coordination and review across teams and tools.

Connectors like Revit, Rhino, SketchUp, and AutoCAD currently support this workflow. More connectors will be added as they mature.

In the high-quality geometry version of Design Coordination, you can publish and load models as native objects in your receiving application. It’s ideal for real-time collaboration on the same model across different tools.

Currently, Rhino, SketchUp, and AutoCAD support Multiplayer Modeling.

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For any further questions and support, our team is always there in the Community Forum!