Automated Quoting for Custom Work
The Problem
Custom manufacturers doing 20-30 quote requests per week often spend 2-3 hours per quote — 40-90 hours of administrative time. That's more than two full-time employees worth of work just on paperwork. Owners and estimators burn out, quotes get delayed, and customers go elsewhere.
What We Build
An AI-assisted quoting tool tailored to your products and pricing:
- Inputs: product specifications (size, material, hardware, finish)
- Pulls current material costs from your suppliers
- Calculates labor based on complexity rules you define
- Generates accurate quote in 10-15 minutes instead of 2-3 hours
- Produces a professional PDF with photos and specs
Potential Impact
Visual Job Tracking Dashboard
The Problem
A shop running 15-20 concurrent projects often relies on daily production meetings, manual spreadsheets, and whiteboards that are constantly out of date. Owners spend hours each week playing traffic cop — answering "where's my job?" from customers, chasing status updates from operators, and managing missed deadlines because priorities weren't clear.
What We Build
A simple visual dashboard designed for the shop floor:
- All jobs in progress with current status at a glance
- Operators mark tasks complete — dashboard updates automatically
- Overdue jobs highlighted so nothing slips through the cracks
- Machine capacity visible across the floor
- Automated customer notifications via text or email
Potential Impact
Automated Customer Status Updates
The Problem
Shops handling 30-50 status inquiries per week spend 2-8 hours on interruptions — looking up job status, calling back customers, and responding to emails. Every interruption pulls someone away from production. Customers get frustrated by slow responses.
What We Build
An automated update system that keeps customers informed without extra work:
- Automatic text/email when job enters production
- Photo updates at key milestones
- Notification when ready for pickup or delivery
- Self-service job status link customers can check anytime
- Answers to common questions handled automatically