Automated Quoting: How it Works
Step 1: Integration
Automated quoting usually means integrating your shop’s data like the number and types of machines, turnaround times, sizes and costs of past jobs, material types and costs, etc. Basically, everything your sales engineer uses to quote jobs manually. This information is usually stored on an Excel spreadsheet, which you can easily upload for simple customization.
That’s what happens behind the scenes with software like DigiFabster’s QuickQuote tool. The integration can be completed in a matter of hours, depending on the size of your business and the availability of its data, either by you or someone on your team, one of DigiFabster’s Application Engineers, or a combination of both.
Integration can be performed either on premises or remotely, depending again on the size and quality of your shop’s data, as well as compliance requirements such as ITAR.
Step 2: In-House & Customer-Facing Quotes
Once your shop’s data is integrated, you can decide how you want to use your new automated quoting feature.
Option 1: In-House, Fully Manual
Some shops start by only using DigiFabster internally, which means they receive RFQs the same way they always have (generally an email from a customer), upload the relevant STEP/STP or CAD file, and manually enter the job requirements into the DigiFabster interface to get an instant quote.
The benefit of this approach is that it allows a shop to get comfortable with the software and perform manual checks before sending the quote back to a customer.
Option 2: Customer-Facing & Semi-Manual
With this option, customers can upload their STEP/STP or CAD files through an interface that DigiFabster implements on your website. This is an off-the-shelf tool that’s personalized with your shop’s branding on the front end, and your sales data on the back end.
From here, it’s your choice whether you want customers to receive their instant quote directly, or wait for an email confirmation from your shop after your sales rep or engineer has reviewed and approved the instant quote that DigiFabster generated.
You can even set limits on customer-facing instant quotes. For example, if you want to manually review quotes greater than $500, your team will receive a notification to review such quotes, and the customer will wait for their quote to be delivered by your shop. In this scenario, any quote that’s under $499 will be delivered to the customer instantly after they upload their file and select the materials, technology, order quantity, etc.
Option 3: Fully automated, instant quoting for customers
With this option, your customers upload their STEP/STP files to the QuickQuote tool on your site and select the machining they want and the materials. They also select the quantity of parts and the turnaround time they need.
With the QuickQuote tool on your site, customers can also play around with different job options to see how it affects the overall price before they select the quote. The QuickQuote tool is also able to provide manufacturing feedback and file repairs before the quote is given to the customer.
As with the semi-manual option, you can still set a price threshold for larger quotes that may need an engineer’s review, but it’s not necessary.
If you’ve opted for DigiFabster’s Self-Checkout tool, your customer can place and pay for their order immediately upon receiving their instant quote.
All your shop needs to do from there is what it does best: manufacture the parts.
The Future is Flexible
Here’s a quick look at just a few ways you can customize automated quoting and payments with DigiFabster.
Instant Payment Mode
All orders are placed and paid for without being manually reviewed by your shop. When connected to DigiFabster’s e-Commerce tool, customers can place their order immediately upon receiving their quote.
Manual Mode
Shops can automatically receive and review files online 24/7, but a final manufacturing estimate will not be delivered to the customer until it’s reviewed by your shop.
Semi-Manual Mode
All orders up to a certain amount of U.S. dollars can be placed and paid for without being reviewed by your shop. You decide what your price threshold is. Orders that exceed your designated amount will be held for your shop’s review.
TBD Mode
Customers can upload, fix and view 3D models, choose material and other options, and place their order without seeing prices in the widget. Your shop can then perform a back-office inspection of the order and models, and send a quote to your customer within minutes.
“After working with hundreds of manufacturing businesses around the world, we know that customization is key. That’s why our order-review modes can be tailored to your shop’s specific needs.” Constantine Ivanov, Co-founder and CEO, DigiFabster
This article is an excerpt from our guidebook: A Guide to Today’s CNC Customer: Winning them over with sales automation
