Key Takeaways
- Trace for Business adds an enterprise‑grade subscription tier to Morpholio Trace, managed through the Vectorworks Customer Portal.
- Purchases are invoice‑based, allowing centralized procurement and license allocation across teams.
- The new tier supports Vectorworks Single Sign‑On (SSO) and Mobile Device Management (MDM) for tighter IT control.
- Organizations buying 5 + licenses receive premium phone support and a dedicated onboarding session.
- Early‑access to Trace Ultra—a vector‑based BIM/CAD companion slated for public release in late 2026—is bundled with the Business subscription.
Morpholio Expands Trace to Enterprise with “Trace for Business”
Morpholio, now part of the Vectorworks family, has introduced Trace for Business, an enterprise‑focused subscription that moves the iPad‑only sketching app out of the consumer‑centric Apple App Store and into the corporate procurement workflow. The new offering leverages the existing Vectorworks Customer Portal, giving firms a single point of purchase, license administration, and IT oversight for Morpholio Trace.
Why the Shift Matters
Historically, Trace subscriptions have been sold exclusively through the Apple App Store on a per‑device basis (USD $9.99/month or $99.99/year). While that model remains available for freelancers and small studios, larger firms often need:
| Feature | Apple App Store (Current) | Trace for Business (Enterprise) |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase method | Direct consumer checkout | Invoice‑based procurement via Vectorworks portal |
| Billing | Credit‑card or Apple ID | Net‑30/60 terms, PO‑ready invoices |
| License allocation | Tied to Apple ID | Admin‑assigned to individual Vectorworks accounts |
| Single Sign‑On (SSO) | Not supported | Vectorworks SSO enabled |
| Mobile Device Management (MDM) | No control | Full MDM integration (storage, export, AI toggles) |
| Support tier | Standard App Store support | Premium phone support + onboarding for ≥5 licenses |
| Early‑access features | None | Trace Ultra preview (planned public launch 2026) |
The table illustrates how the Business tier fills gaps that are critical for AEC firms, design consultancies, and any organization that must align software licensing with corporate finance and security policies.
Centralized Purchasing & License Management
Through the Vectorworks Customer Portal, procurement teams can submit a single invoice for any number of Trace licenses. Administrators then:
- Assign each license to a specific Vectorworks user account.
- Reallocate seats instantly as project staffing changes, without needing to contact Apple support.
- Track usage metrics (active devices, expiration dates) from a unified dashboard.
Existing Trace Pro customers retain their current subscriptions and will continue to receive all future updates, ensuring no disruption during the migration.
IT Controls & Deployment Flexibility
Trace for Business is built to cooperate with enterprise IT stacks:
- Single Sign‑On (SSO): Users log in with their corporate Vectorworks credentials, eliminating password sprawl.
- Mobile Device Management (MDM): IT admins can enforce policies on storage limits, export permissions, and even toggle AI‑driven features on or off, matching the organization’s data‑security posture.
- Scalable onboarding: Firms purchasing five or more seats automatically qualify for a dedicated onboarding specialist and 24/7 phone support, reducing rollout friction.
Early Access to Trace Ultra
A notable incentive for early adopters is pre‑release access to Trace Ultra. This upcoming tier is positioned as a vector‑based BIM and CAD companion, extending Trace’s sketch‑first workflow into full‑scale building information modeling. The first Ultra capability—unveiled in the Business subscription—raises the maximum vector file size from the standard 50 MB to 200 MB, allowing designers to work with richer, more detailed models directly on the iPad.
Migration Path for Current Users
Current Trace users can migrate projects, custom stencils, and color palettes into the new Vectorworks account structure with a simple import tool. The process preserves layer hierarchy and metadata, ensuring that legacy work remains fully functional under the Business subscription.
Bottom Line
Morpholio’s launch of Trace for Business transforms a popular iPad sketching tool into an enterprise‑ready solution. By moving licensing to the Vectorworks Customer Portal, the company delivers invoice‑based billing, centralized seat management, SSO, and MDM—all essential for large design firms. The inclusion of early Trace Ultra features and premium support for teams of five or more makes the offering compelling for organizations looking to integrate sketch‑first ideation with their broader BIM/CAD ecosystems. For firms that have outgrown the consumer App Store model, Trace for Business provides the control, compliance, and scalability required to keep creative workflows moving forward.